Devils Roses 05 - Death

Oliver and I want him. I feel the magic that could force him to me crawling around under my skin. I sigh and push it back.

Chapter Five

    Aimee

    "These guys hate me." I lean in and whisper to Ari.
    She nods. "Me too. When they found out me and Lucas were mated his uncle punched him in the face."
    We aren’t allowed to sit at the table where they discuss Aleks's father. Instead we sit back against the wall in the huge log home.
    Aleks glances back at me, still smirking.
    "Why is everyone giving me that shitty grin?"
    Ari's face split. Her black eyes fill with humor, "What grin?"
    I tilt my head. She grins at me, like everyone else has.
    I point. "That stupid grin."
    "Oh my god Aimes. They can all smell the sex on Aleks. He reeks of it. They can smell the demon on you. They know you are a succubus like demon. They can't help but smell the sex on you two and imagine the way you suck from him while you're doing it."
    I grimace. "They can smell all that?" My face is glowing red. I scowl at Aleks. He tries to look innocently at me.
    Ari fights the giggle bubbling from her lips. She covers her face where the piercing in her mouth used to be and nods.
    I glare and purse my lips. "Great. Just great."
    "We don’t really want to get involved in this. It's Rose's trouble, not a pack problem. What do you really expect us to do?"
    I'm tapping my feet listening to them. I want to intercede and get this over with. But Lucas is diplomatic.
    "We need your help sir."
    "Lorri has asked this of us before. We told her what we are telling you. No."
    "Uncle, be reasonable."
    "No Lucas, you be reasonable. You and Ben are the first of the Fae to choose to become Roses. We didn’t support your decision then because we know what the Roses are, they meddle."
    Ben slaps the table. "Our kind has been killing and raping and committing crimes against the humans. It's up to us to monitor that. The Roses are the law. That is all. We are the justice for all. How can you disagree with that?"
    Their uncle looks savagely at them. "I am alpha."
    "Uncle this is a pack problem. His father kills chaotically and indiscreetly. He leaves raped dead women and girls." Lucas's tone is strong but kind.
    His uncle's face reddens. "What does this have to do with us?" His voice booms across the room. My jaw is clenched. Sparks are flying from my fingers like a sparkler.
    Ben clears his throat, "Uhm, well, he does his attacking as a wolf. Sometimes part wolf." I gag. I turn my face away. The image of my mother splayed across the hood of her car, is forcing its way into my mind.
    Ari puts her hand over mine and kills the sparks. I close my eyes and force in thoughts of happier times. Times that included Sam.
    "If it ever got out that shifters coexist with humans, well I'm certain you can imagine how that would be. Experiments and all."
    His red-faced uncle looks like he might process the idea. He nods and looks at Aleks, "We will help but we will need everything. Every offense, dates and locations."
    Aleks nods and puts a hand out across the table. "Done."
    They all stand and I can't help but feel lost. I lean into Ari and whisper, "That was weird."
    She nudges into me. "I know right. They make it look like they are the ones making the choices and that they could deny you, but they don’t. Bravado."
    I snort and stand to leave with Aleks, but Lucas and his uncle corner him. A silky haired blonde strolls up in short cutoffs and a tiny tank top. She smiles too much and stands too close to Aleks. My blood is boiling.
    "Come on champ." A huge hand grabs my arm and drags me from the room.
Ben smirks and kisses the side of my head. "Down girl."
    I relax my muscles and let him drag me from the building.
    "Her name is Janine. She is always on the prowl. You know Aleks better than that."
    I sigh and nod but the frown stays plastered to my face.
    Ari is standing outside with the same haunted look on her face.
    "What's up with her?" I whisper into Ben. "She seemed good a minute ago?"
    "Sam," he whispers back. "Every time we go outside she starts to get that same haunted look."
    I feel sick.
    He pulls me the other way and continues, "I can't imagine what it's all been like for her. She changes things and then has to run around like the movie Ground Hog Day and fix everything she has undone."
    I kick a small pebble. "I know. She doesn’t talk about it, but if you ever share a bed with her you know it bugs her. She has bad dreams still."
    He shivers. "From the orphanage. She