NINETEEN (RUBY POV)

"It's not half bad," I smile closing the room door while Terra and Iselen drop our bags on the dark hardwood floor. "I told the guy at the reception desk that we've been traveling all night long and will sleep in so they don't disturb us in the morning. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, this is different..." The vampire looks around and seems to be slightly bewildered. I admit this place is not as fancy as the Wind Rose but the Blue Lake Hotel is new and very clean, the room walls are painted in light grey shades and gorgeous tartan blankets in light blue and green shades cover the beds, there's a bathroom with white tiles, a glass table with three chairs and a small kitchenette inside a big cabinet with a microwave to reheat the breakfast we've bought on the way here. We have all we need. "There are two beds, why?"

"Because we're three girls and it'd be strange if we booked just one room with one bed, according to Maeve," I smile amused while taking our food out of the paper bags. "But don't worry, we can still sleep together, although we'll be a little tight... Mattresses are bigger in your house, I think."

"I don't mind sleeping stuck to your body," Iselen answers smirking mischievously and Terra rolls her eyes hard behind her.

"Of course you do not..."

"I also love sleeping stuck to your body... in winter," The vampire shrugs. "But you're too hot in summer, I don't know what the hell is going on with werewolves, it feels like they have some kind of internal heating... maybe it's because you're furry."

"I'm not furry when I'm human, well, I only have hair on my head," Terra complains.

"It doesn't matter, babe, I've always been sensitive to the cold," I answer taking a thermos full of coffee. "I'll be happy getting stuck to you and using you as a blanket. And now sit down, I've only eaten some cookies tonight and I'm starving. It's decaf," I warn them pointing at the vampire. "You won't have problems to sleep but Terra and I shouldn't drink caffeine. There's orange juice in that bottle and bagels in the bag, sandwiches, sausages for a hungry wolf, banana pancakes with peanut butter, blueberry jam, lemon madeleines, avocado and tomato for those bagels... Oh great, there's an electric toaster in the cabinet..."

"Not bad for a breakfast we bought in a convenience store," Iselen admits chewing and licking jam from her fingers. "What are we going to do with that window? I don't think those delicate grey curtains are going to cover it all."

"Don't worry. Maeve has put a big and thick piece of black canvas in my suitcase, enough to cover that window, and it will block every sun ray. You'll be able to sleep without burning."

"Maybe I should stay awake and watch the door," the wolf frowns while holding her cup of coffee. "Those charms will protect us against demons for a few days but a human could get too close and..."

"You don't need to do that, my vampire instinct wakes me up immediately if I feel there's a danger close and you need to rest." Iselen points at her lover with a madeleine, frowning. "You've been working hard lately and have been through a lot concerning your pack, demons and the Wind Rose guests... too much stress. She always does the same..." The vampire turns her head to look at me angrily.

"What?" I ask confused.

"When her anxiety levels skyrocket, she can't stop... She's always doing something: cooking, cleaning, working in the garden, running through the forest... You get on my nerves sometimes." Iselen looks at Terra again, frowning, and the werewolf opens her mouth, ready to fight her, but my laugh interrupts them. "What's so funny?"

"You're like an old married couple."

"That's what we are... I guess," Terra admits reluctantly before smiling. "This conversation would've led to an epic argument in the old days, we wouldn't talked to each other for at least a week. But you help us to control our temper and not to take things too seriously... it's a relief." The vampire nods and leans back on her chair, sipping at her coffee.

"I think I have to go out and look for an unwary human to hypnotize and get my daily dose of..."

"No way," I cut her off taking a small thermal backpack. "Maeve put two bags of blood inside with some ice packs. Ouch!" The hard and sharp edge of a plastic bag has cut my finger and I flinch, looking around to find a tissue or something like that, but the vampire's hand holding my wrist stops me.

"Wait! What do you think you're doing? It'd be a shame to waste the finest nectar..." Iselen's eyes have turned red and shine mesmerizingly while her lips get closer to my hand, I watch her entranced sticking her tongue out and licking my blood slowly, sucking my finger, enjoying the taste while the heat of her mouth on my skin tears a moan from my throat. "Fuck, you taste so good, baby... You're both delicious... You're going to kill me, seriously." The vampire sighs with her eyes closed, getting relaxed on her chair while I stare at my finger skin that's completely healed. I still don't understand how I'm not crazy after all the incredible things I've seen these past days...

"Do not fall asleep, bloodsucker," Terra laughs amused and rubs Iselen's cheek with her thumb gently before getting up. "You should help Ruby to put that black canvas on the window while I clear the breakfast table, we can take a shower later and go to bed together... Where this pretty human will tell us everything she knows about that David Eric Marsh who behaves like an unbearable asshole."

"I don't know if he's the man we're looking for," I reply looking at them concerned. "There could be lot of people with that name living in LA."

"He's the best lead we have for now."

Twenty minutes later, the three of us are sitting on the mattress with our backs leaned against the headboard and pillows, a little tight but the bed is comfortable and, even if it's true that Terra's skin is hot, it's raining outside now and cold wind is blowing. I smile happily between my girls while the vampire yawns and Terra extends her arm to turn off one of the bedside lamps after sending a text to the druid to tell her everything's fine. Iselen frowns staring at the old T-shirts we're all wearing, she wanted to go to bed naked but I replied that I didn't trust her and we had a lot of important subjects to talk about, it's not the right moment to be naughty.

"Okay," I take a deep breath. "David E. Marsh is one of the most successful action film producers in Hollywood and he's also an asshole, sexist, ambitious, arrogant, toxic, unbearable narcissist..."

"I get it: a gem of a man," the wolf chuckles. "How is it possible that people are willing to work with him even if he's that bad?"

"Because he's successful and turns into gold every film he produces... and also, because other options are not better, to be honest. There're some producers in the city that are kind and decent people, I admit it, but only a few. Most of them are evil, jerks that only care about money, they pay shitty salaries to their assistants and yell at them like crazy when they don't meet their expectations, they're jealous of other people's success, they try to ruin their rival's plans, they compete to get laid with the most beautiful actresses... and the younger they are, the better. In the Hollywood fishbowl, they're sharks and actors like me are the clown fish at their service."

"That's our man, for sure," Iselen nods firmly and I look at her bewildered. "You've talked about greed, wrath, envy, lust, pride and arrogance... Except for gluttony and sloth, he has all the sins in the list."

"Oh, well, all producers love eating in the most famous and expensive restaurants, those run by acclaimed around the world chefs, and let their assistants do the dirty work. They're very comfortable in their offices downtown LA handling other people's lives as they please and ruining the career of actors that refuse to play their toxic games. I know that well... It makes sense that he's a half-demon," I answer fixing the sheets around my waist, keeping my eyes on my hands while clenching my jaw.

"Who has made you cry, Ruby Rose?" Iselen whispers in my ear and her hot breath fanning my skin sends a shiver down my spine. "Tell me their names, baby, so I can skin them alive. I'm really good at that."

"But I'll break all their bones first," Terra whispers in my other ear and I stare at her puzzled. She's usually kinder and a peacemaker but now she's looking at me with a furrowed brow and her hand touches my neck gently. "You're not alone anymore, Ruby, we'll fight next to you, we'll protect you and take care of you... we'll produce your next film." I can't help bursting into laughing, shaking my head.

"You'd need lot of money to do that..."

"We have lot of money, jewels, shares of important companies..." Iselen shrugs. "And we're nicer than Marsh the Douche Producer."

"How do you...?" I close my mouth awkwardly. The truth is that how they got all that money they say they have is none of my business.

"At the beginning we built the Wind Rose with our effort and Iselen's money, the pack kept my share of the common purse and I could only work hard with my hands," Terra admits and the vampire nods taking her hand and entwining their fingers, leaning them on the blanket on my lap. "We told magical creatures that we accepted donations in exchange for our help, they spent a few days in a safe refuge and gave us whatever they could afford: food or money, furniture, jewels, vases or paintings sometimes. All these things are very precious antiques now. Other people only helped us working with their hands the way I did but years later, when they luck had changed, they came back to give us a bag full of gold coins, later we got gold bars and bank notes, shares of railway companies, and nowadays there're Apple, American Airlines or Samsung shares..."

"Really?" I ask shocked.

"The refuge is no longer necessary since the war is over and we get less gifts but we were able to amass considerable wealth and, even if we haven't interacted with lot of humans during this time, we've always had financial advisors and brokers working for us. It's easier nowadays and lot of stuff is handled online, thank God. All supernatural creatures have resorted to the services of someone like Wayne to have a house, money and other properties... We pretend to die and inherit our wealth again and again for centuries. We have to pay bills, buy supplies and Iselen's blood too... We're the owners of a small pharmaceutical lab in order to justify the purchase of those bags."

"It makes sense, I guess, I never thought how difficult it is for you to keep the Wind Rose off the grid and unnoticed by the authorities... the logistics are complicated..." I frown pensively and the vampire nods.

"And now we have to think about the logistics to go to Los Angeles and take a look at the stupid producer."

"That's easy, you'll stay in my house," I answer immediately.

"I'll have to ask my witch friends for some favors to be able to protect your house with powerful spells," the wolf whispers lost in her thought.

"You seem to have lot of witch friends..." I look at her confused till Iselen snorts next to me and rolls her eyes hard.

"Werewolves and those bitches forged an alliance to kill vampires centuries ago... It didn't work, obviously. But the plush toy is still friends with them..."

"For the umpteenth time, Iselen, I never had sex with Isobel. I told you that to annoy the hell out of you but it wasn't true..." Terra leans forward to be able to look at the vampire's face, furiously, and she answers raising an eyebrow. "You're so stubborn..."

"Isobel is a witch, I presume," I whisper felling the tension.

"She's my friend and lives in Scotland now," Terra explains calmly. "Her coven is powerful and she knows a lot about magic, she gives good advice and we get on well... But nothing happened between us!"

"I believe you..." I whisper.

"Oh, come on." Iselen cuts me off rudely, leaning forward to stare at the wolf, getting angry too. "That red-haired bitch melts every time you look at her. I can smell her, you know. She's crazy for you."

"Well, I'm sorry for her because I'm crazy for you, damned moody vampire..." Both women stop growling when I put my hands on their cheeks and they look at me confused.

"Iselen is terrified of losing you, Terra, this is why she's jealous of the potential rivals that get close to you. She gets irrationally angry and jokes like a clown because that's her protective mechanism," I whisper and the wolf opens her pretty blue eyes wide in shock. "She's not going to leave you, babe..." I turn my head to look at the vampire and she tries to avert her eyes but my hand on her jaw stops her movement. "Terra adores you, Iselen, she's been loving you for centuries... She's always been by your side and will stay here, no matter how many times you try to sabotage this relationship thinking that's better for you if you cut your losses instead of crying in pain after she leaves you, because she's not going anywhere," I emphasize the last words and the werewolf nods.

"You're my pack, Iselen, you and Ruby, Maeve and Raven, the ghosts and the Wind Rose guests... My home is wherever you are. You're my Beta, I can't live without you..." The wolf shakes her head, frustrated, grabbing the vampire's T-shirt and pulling. "Come here, bloodsucker..." Both women kiss each other in front of my face and I watch them quietly, leaned against the pillows, satisfied. So this is my role, I'll be the peacemaker between these lovers till... well, I don't know how long I'll be with them but I don't think this is the right time to talk about it.

"You're a smart human," Iselen whispers staring at me amused.

"I know," I answer smiling cockily. "You'd do well to remember that... I want a kiss too." The vampire smiles and gets closer, her mouth grazes mine and the weight of her torso pushes me against the pillows for a second before I pull away, frowning. "No, not this way... Why are you always on top? Lie down."

"Yes, madam." Iselen obeys lying face up on the mattress and stays still, smirking mischievously and waiting for my next movement. She looks very happy suddenly and I stare at her suspiciously. "I don't mind giving up control to you, babe."

"She's very ticklish around her groin," Terra whispers in my ear while kneeling down next to me.

"Eh, not cheating, that's not fair," Iselen growls pretending to be angry. "What are you going to do?" My hands slip up her thighs slowly, my thumbs rub her labia and pubis over the panties, teasing her, her abdomen clenches when I get closer to her groin but I avoid it at the last second and go up her sides till cupping her breasts, pushing the T-shirt up at the same time. Her nipples get hard immediately feeling the fresh air in the room while her eyes are still fixed on my face.

"So pretty," I whisper touching the soft flesh with my fingers.

"And so sweet," Terra answers leaning forward. Iselen gets tensed when the wolf's tongue circles her nipple and bites gently while I'm still cupping the breasts for her. I can hear her licking and sucking greedily but the vampire keeps staring at me although she bites her lower lip when Terra jumps to the other breast, worshiping the soft flesh, while chuckling. "You're wet, Iselen, I can smell you..."

I move my hands down touching her abdomen again and the werewolf cradles her breasts now to keep feasting on them, my fingertips graze the pretty brunette's panties and yes, they're wet, definitely. Iselen holds her breath while I keep rubbing the fabric with my fingers and she puts her arm around Terra's shoulders to hold her in place but her eyes are fixed on my face. I find her sensitive node, hard under my fingertips, and her hips buck against my hand.

"Babe, please," she begs when the wolf nibbles at her skin again and I pull her panties, sliding them down her legs. "Ruby..." she gasps desperate. She doesn't look like the arrogant vampire I know anymore when I lean my head between her silky thighs, her pink pussy shines under the bedside lamp, drenched in her juices. I can't wait anymore...

"Delicious," I think when my mouth melds with her core and her entire body shudders. I suck her labia and circle her opening with the tip of my tongue, the vampire is burning, I lick her clit with my flat tongue and her hips flutter against my face.

"Terra," I hear her begging while I start sucking and licking aggressively and my naughty finger circles her opening.

"It's okay, my love, hug me tight, don't worry, you cannot hurt me..." I can hear both women kissing each other but I'm too busy focusing on this sweet and juicy pussy. I enter her with my finger and Iselen's moan echoes against the room walls, I can feel her clenching around my finger while I flick her sensitive node nonstop. "Harder, babe, hold onto me... Dig your nails into my shoulders, you can do it, it's okay..."

"Yes, oh God, Ruby, don't stop..." The vampire's thighs shake while I work harder on her clit, keeping a steady pace, moving my tongue and pumping the finger inside her pussy in sync, rubbing the soft walls. She's getting even wetter... "Fuck," her body writhes when she feels a second finger inside, my jaw is getting sore but I don't care, I can only focus on her taste, her warmth, the heady perfume that's getting me drunk... Suddenly, Iselen's muscles get tensed and her pussy clenches around my finger while my tongue flicks her clit, Terra muffles her cries with her own mouth, both women kiss while I try to extend her pleasure as long as I can, feeling her body convulsing under me till she collapses on the bed.

"It's okay, baby, calm down..." I hear the wolf whispering and raise my head, confused. The vampire sobs hugging her tight while she tries to catch her breath and I crawl across the mattress to get closer, worried.

"Iselen? What's wrong?"

"If it was you... I would've broken your bones..." she answers releasing Terra and leaning against the pillows. Her skin is beautifully flushed, her lips swollen and nipples hard... so gorgeous.

"But she was not," the wolf answers firmly. "It was me and you can't hurt me even if you lose control. And now it's time to sleep, stubborn bloodsucker, the sun is rising out there." Iselen nods, closing her eyes and getting relaxed but her hands look for my body blindly and I lie down next to her to hug her, kissing her neck. The vampire smiles and relaxes even more when Terra lies down on the other side and puts her arm around her waist, leaning forward to kiss my lips gently. "Everything is all right, no one is going to leave this pack."