The Devil's Wolf
Chapter 38

Ashlynn regarded him as she licked her fingers. "You should have a sleep, Elior," she said handing the rest of the chicken to Cael. "You are very tired. Rest a while, and have a shower, and you will feel better. Cael and I will leave you to sleep." She leaned over and brushed a kiss over the vampire's eyes. "Please, do this for me, my love."

She nudged, murmured, and stroked Elior until he settled beneath the blankets and complied. When she was sure he was asleep, she gathered her sweats from the floor and indicated with her head for Cael to follow her. The devil dumped the chicken on the kitchen bench before pausing to drag on his sweatpants. "We are not just leaving him to sleep, are we?" He asked, reclaiming his sword from where he had left it by the front door. "No, we are not. Our mate is killing himself trying to lead his people in a war that they shouldn't be fighting alone." She led him into the elevator and pressed the button for the floor below. "It is time we tore down the veil of glamour." The elevator opened and she strode across the foyer, identical to Elior's the floor above, and up to the door. She knocked loudly.

There was a long pause and then it opened.

Rebecca raised her eyebrows. "How can I help you mates of my father?"

"You can help," Ashlynn told her. "By getting us some clothes, and I need you to put together one of those social media announcements that Elior's always doing." Rebecca inhaled. "You stink of come and fried chicken. If you want to wear our clothing, you will need to shower first."

"Sure thing," Ashlynn pushed past her, into the room. It was laid out identically to Elior's, she noted, but the furnishing reflected the women's tastes - the couch here was a lush midnight blue velvet rather than a masculine leather, the artwork on the walls were of softly focused nudes, and there was a thick, fluffy rug on the floor that invited her to sink her toes into it. "Where is the bathroom?"

"Ugh," Rebecca complained as Cael followed Ashlynn, looking around with interest and picking at his teeth. "Both of you can shower in the guest bathroom. Jacinta," she called as she closed the door behind them.

"Yes, my love?" Jacinta stepped out of the bedroom. She was not surprised to see their visitors.

"Our father's mates need clothing, and a shower."

"Something backless would be great if you have it, but practical, not like an evening dress. Trousers and a top would be best. And shoes," Ashlynn looked down at her feet. "If either of you are near my size." "Would you like jewels and a crown with that?" Rebecca sneered.

"Not right now, but a couple of towels would be great. And we need to be quick. Elior's having a little nap, but he won't sleep long and when he wakes, he will wonder where we are."

When they stepped out of their quick shower in the guest bathroom, she was not surprised to see two complete and stylish outfits laid out on the guest room bed. Cael sniffed his clothing as he put it on and grumbled under his breath. "What is wrong?" She asked. She was pleased with the clothing they had brought her - form fitting trousers, a slit-backed top, and a pair of biker-style boots with just enough heel, and not too much. The slit-backed top was perfect, she thought. She would have to replace out where it came from, and stock her wardrobe with multiple items, or she would be constantly tearing through tops whenever she wanted to take her wings for a spin. "You look good."

He did, the clothing the vampires had provided for him was dark in tone, and consisted of trousers and a soft, thin long-sleeved top that to his perfect body in a way that made her want to peel it off of him again. "Stinks of vampire. Not of our vampire," he corrected. "I am used to his stink now. It is almost pleasant."

Ashlynn smiled. Her devil was becoming fond of their vampire, she thought, her heart warming.

"I imagine they are Nate's clothes, then," she speculated. "Be grateful for the loan, especially as you will trash the top at least, anyway, when you open your wings. You look very pretty, which is what we are after."

She ran a comb through both their hair. "That will have to do, I guess," she decided, wishing she had some lipstick at least. She sighed and shrugged it off, she had bigger things to worry about than pasty-lips. Jacinta and Rebecca were waiting for them in the living area and stood as they entered.

"You have done great," Ashlynn told them. "Thank you."

Jacinta stepped forward and tilted Ashlynn's chin up with a finger. Rebecca held out a make-up compact, and the blonde-haired vampire applied a full face of makeup with a speed that left Ashlynn dazzled, before fluffing her fingers through Ashlynn's hair and arranging it how she liked.

Jacinta stepped back and her eyes narrowed as she inspected her work. "It will do," she decided.

Rebecca blurred from sight and re-appeared empty handed - the make-up stashed away back into their bedroom.

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"So, I am guessing you have both had my mum's blood recently," Ashlynn commented, blinking at the speed of the vampires and the casualness with which they used it. "The font has been generous," Rebecca sniffed. "In light of the approaching battle."

"Elior's been topped up too, different vintage, hopefully same result," Ashlynn told her. "That is why he is having a little nap right now. This vintage makes him happy, horny, and then sleepy." She grinned, wrinkling her nose at her own sense of humor.

"Good," Jacinta was approving, her demeanor softening. "It is good that you have provided for him and good that he is resting. He has been working very hard." The blonde vampire was fond of her father, Ashlynn thought, warmed by the evidence of affection by his children towards her mate.

"He is my mate," Ashlynn felt embarrassed under what, for the vampire couple, was an abundance of praise. "Now, onto the social media post..."

"What is it that you wish?" Rebecca had drawn her phone from her pocket and flicked it to camera, turning as she considered the lighting. "Over there is best," she pointed.

"It needs to be a long shot," Ashlynn said. "I need to get the entirety of Cael and I in the frame."

Rebecca raised both eyebrows. "We can edit before posting."

"Okay," Ashlynn shuffled her and the devil into the required spot. "Here?"

Rebecca inclined her head.

"Now?" Ashlynn asked.

"If now is when you wish to start."

"One moment," Ashlynn turned to Cael. "Just stand there until my signal, okay? Hold the sword out of sight until the signal, too."

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He shrugged, bored but complicit, the sword gripped casually in one hand. "As you say."

"Alright," Ashlynn drew a deep breath as she turned back to face Rebecca. Her heart was racing. "Here's to starting shit. Now, Rebecca."

She waited until the vampire woman met her eyes, and then looked at the lens of the phone.

"My name is Ashlynn Grenmeyer. I am the daughter of Raiden and Cecelia Grenmeyer. To some of you, that will mean something, to others nothing at all. It is those that it means something to, that I am addressing today.

"Twenty odd years ago, a vampire named Lucian attempted a coups, attacking the hierarchy of the vampires, and attempting to conquer the humans with whom we share this world. He lost because of the actions of the vampire Elior and his children, but also because of the actions of my parents, and my extended family.

"In the intervening years, we have let the vampires hold the gates between the humans and the rest of us. You know of which I speak. As a result, the vampires have become the target of human fear and violence, and now the human world stands in open warfare against them.

"We say to ourselves that the vampires owe a debt, owe us this service, for the crimes of Lucian. We say so because we are cowards. We would allow the decimation of our vampire allies rather than risk our own exposure.

"Don't let your fear be your dishonor. There is power in numbers. Step out of the shadows and stand with the vampires. Let us present a unified front to the humans and show them the true might of what they seek to destroy. Let us show them that their fear is unfounded, and that we have been here, amongst them, all along, living harmoniously with them.

"That we are them. Their friends. Their neighbors. Their bosses. Their employees. Their family. I will be first to step forward, it is only right. I am Ashlynn Grenmeyer, mate of Elior and Cael, daughter of Cecelia and Raiden Grenmeyer, and I am a devil hybrid." She tried to suppress her grimace as her wings pressed through her skin and spread behind her. "We fight with the vampires. Will you?"

"It's done," Rebecca murmured, and lowered the phone. "And it was well done. I don't think we need to over edit it," she turned her phone to show the playback to Jacinta, and Ashlynn heard her voice, sounding strange to her ears, challenge the Other world to come forth from behind the veil of their glamours.

"We can only hope, it is heard," Ashlynn said.

"Oh, it will be heard," Rebecca looked at her. "Whether they come forth or come for your head for the threat to their secrecy, however, mate of our father, that is anyone's guess. If we post this, it might increase the enemies we fight against." "Or it might increase our allies," Jacinta added.

Rebecca's lip curled up at the corner, in a snarling, ferocious smirk. "Shall I post it?"

Ashlynn reached behind her and felt Cael take her hand. With the warmth and callouses of his palm against hers, she nodded. "Do it."