Endgame |18+ (Ménage)✔

|19|

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~Year 2085-Winter-

Standing on the stones and leaning my back against the wall of my estate, I gaze up at the sky. Tilting my head back against the wall, the waxing moon casts its light upon the expanse of grass, a light glow overtaking the tents in the distance. The snowflake crystals capture the glimmering light from the moon, catching their radiance from the corners of my eyes.

My arms are crossed in front of my chest, thinking about what poor girl I'm going to select to be my pick for The Hunt. I'd rather spare their lives, hunt and capture for myself. However, that's not our way...or so to speak, Arthur's way.

Risk vs. reward...yet we don't take a single risk and reap the entire reward, the fruit of the humans' labors.

Somehow, that doesn't appear cowardly in his eyes.

"Well then," Taft's voice comes from my left, the door opening and closing before I glance toward him, "why are you out here instead of playing your part as the host?"

"You know very well how much I love being a host," the sarcasm drips and is evident when Taft chuckles, moving away from the door while his eyes fall on the tents.

After a few moments he states, "Whether you like it or not, you know Arthur will be after you if you don't make your presence known."

"Oh, my presence is known," I watch as he arches a brow before finishing, "I'd just rather figure out who I'm going to select before I won't have a moment to myself for the rest of the evening."

Taft nods and offers, "If you can't decide, I brought a few of my own slaves that you can select from...considering how attached you become with yours."

"I'd rather not kill what I own, thank you very much," I retort, Taft knowing all too well that my selections hardly ever survive. I feel pity for them, forced to play a part in this game set up by Walter and Arthur...only Walter wanted to end it after the first winter solstice...after he caught Laura...

I shake the memories, knowing nothing good can come from digging up the past. What happened between Walter and Laura was something that should never have happened. It's not his fault though, Arthur, Taft, and Aohdan pressuring him to keep what he captured as a pet as a sign that the first winter solstice establishing this ritual would bring many fruitful ones in the future.

A twisted game evolved from a harmless play between the vampires and werewolves...

This is what we've become...

"That's right!" Taft chimes and faces me, "Still haven't found your beloved have you?"

"Not actively searching," I brush him off at the simple thought of being bound to someone. I mention, "How's Delaney these days?"

Taft's eyes light up the second I say her name, the one thing that always brings him joy...his beloved and Aohdan's sister.

"She's visiting with her mother, taking a trip to Paris and will be back just after the winter solstice comes to an end," Taft informs me just as the sound of the back door opening again meets my ears. I glance around him and notice Aohdan peek his head out, catching my gaze before he shoots a glare in my direction.

"Speaking of her brother..." my voice trails off as displeasure courses through my veins, but before I let anything surface or show, Arthur follows and closes the door behind him.

Silence ensues, Taft turning around as both Aohdan and Arthur draw closer until they're standing across from us. Arthur stares at me hard, my eyes slowly lifting as the first of the many shooting stars fly across the sky. I'm not the only one to notice this, all of us marveling at the sight.