My Childhood Friend is a Werewolf

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The foyer was grand, yet antique, Dren thought as a Fae patted him down to make sure he wasn't concealing a weapon. The manor had been around for what felt like forever but the wood in the interior was fairly new, speaking to constant renovations by the Fae to maintain it. Ancient and priceless fabrics adorned the room, carpets and drapes that held the styles of a hundred years past... but Dren was not stupid. The Fae had the ability to weave illusions; they could make him see whatever they wanted.

Werewolves were the supernatural species that held the closest resemblance to humans, thereby making them much more susceptible to Fae enchantments than other races like, say, vampires. While one of his kind was much more difficult to enchant, it certainly wasn't impossible, but a Fae usually never bothered to attempt it given how much time and effort it took.

The Fae cleared him and he was then led into a small sitting area to the right of the foyer. All the furniture was antique with velvet upholstery, made of a deep brown walnut. A tea set sat on the coffee table but Dren didn't bother touching it, not willing to take chances that it had been spiked with something. The porcelain of the teapot was pretty, though, and he thought that Emma might like something similar to it.

"Well, I suppose late is better than never."

He looked up at Maeve, who had somehow silently entered the foyer without his hearing her. Dren's eyes narrowed, but he nodded his head in greeting. "Maeve."

She was wearing a nightgown under a gossamer robe, the shimmer of the fabric lending itself to her inherent Fae glow. No wonder many of the stories of Faeries past included hazy memories and lots of bright, warm colours; they all bled light like fireflies. "What brings you here, and so late as well?" she asked, gliding into the seat across from him, her eyes wide but the emotions behind them impossible to read.

"Do you truly not know?" Dren asked, cocking a brow at her. The smirk that lifted her lips was quick.

"Half of Alpha Cyrus' pack at my door is certainly a mystery to me," she sighed, leaning back against the velvet and parting her gossamer robe slightly. The translucent fabric wasn't meant to cover anything, Dren knew as she sensually crossed her legs, revealing more skin to him. "Won't they come inside and join us?"

Dren snorted. "My alpha is keen to rip your throat out right now. Inviting him inside is likely not a good idea." Maeve's half-hearted 'oh my' would be amusing if he wasn't already in a hurry to be back at Emma's side, so he cut to the chase. "Is Lord Ardelean here?"

Maeve's platinum blonde hair draped down her shoulder like a river flowing gently into a lake. Fae were hauntingly beautiful and Dren knew he would probably be captivated by her if he hadn't already been ensnared by his mate's essence. "Why would he be? His mansion is far larger than mine," she said. Her smile was coy, hinting that she was dancing around the issue and knew very well why he was there and what he wanted. The Fae loved to play mind games, even more so if they could use some of their illusion charms.

"Maeve," he had to stop himself short of snarling at her, "we know Lord Ardelean visits you frequently, and we have good reason to suspect that he took Luna Yoko. I do not have time for games."

Maeve sighed in disappointment as she eyed Dren's serious gaze, realising that prolonging the issue would be poking the wolf a little too hard. "Lord Ardelean doesn't visit me," she said, and then gestured to her Fae guard standing nearby. She whispered something in his ear and he disappeared into thin air. "Not that I would want him to. He's such a bore."

"So who does he visit?" Dren asked, eyes narrowing at her.

Two Fae then appeared from thin air, the guard holding the other's arm. Maeve gestured to the new Fae, a youthful brown-haired male with large pixie wings adorning his shoulder blades. He eyed Dren with suspicion. "Kealan," Maeve addressed the young-looking Fae, "This werewolf would like to know why Lord Ardelean comes to visit so much."