Three Times The Normal Size

“Shit,” I cursed as I rushed to Vera, not knowing what to do. “Are you hurt?”

She waved her other hand, still holding her nose as she said, “Oh, no. I'm fine. It’s just a little–It’s not serious.”

It was bleeding, blood dripping down her hand, and staining her gown so I was sure it was serious.

“Come, let’s get that cleaned up,” I said gently as I held her by the shoulder. But just as we were about to leave, Father came out of his study, a cigar between his lips, pinning his wife with a bored look. Vera stiffened as soon as she saw him, lowering her head.

“Eavesdropping, were we?” he said, his voice flat as he took a long drag from his cigar, blowing it in her direction.

She stiffened even more, completely freezing. “N-no… I w-was just–” she stammered, unable to get a full sentence out.

I looked at Father before I looked back at her, looking beyond her broken nose and seeing how she really was. She looked thin and pale, like she’s been barely eating or sleeping.

I looked back at Father before I shook my head, leading Vera away. Sometimes it was hard to believe this man had raised me and I once idolized him.

I called for Gabriel as I took Vera into the living room, sitting her down. Gabriel immediately came with the first aid kit and I took it from him, waving him away.

“Oh, no, I can do that,” Vera protested as I moved to clean her wound. “No need to go through all that.”

“It’s okay.”

I cleaned the blood out in tense silence, focusing. But I could tell Vera wasn't comfortable with me doing this, so when I was done cleaning, I left the rest for her. She gave me a grateful smile, taking care of her own injury, and I could immediately tell it wasn't the first. Even though she had been a bad mother to Rosette—which I don't know the details of—she was still a person. A person who looked like she needed help with more than just her injury.

“Does my father put his hands on you?” I asked, my voice tight, my fists clenched.

She went still, her eyes going wide. “Oh, no. No. No. No. Why would you think that?”

I said nothing, watching her for any sign that she was lying, but she seemed genuinely shocked by the question so I just shook my head. “Forget about that. Why do you look like that? Pale and thin. Are you not eating?”

She looked away, color finally entering her face as she blushed. “I eat well. It’s just… Your father… He–” She paused, swallowing. She looked at me and then she looked away. “This week has been hard because something seems to be going on with your father. He… His body suddenly went hot three nights ago and he hasn't let me rest since then. Do… do you know what I mean?”

I knew what she meant. I could tell she didn't want to be vulgar and was trying to be appropriate with this. Father was in his rutting season. He did it with her? A human and she was still here? But she didn't look so good.

“You’re not humans, are you?”

My head snapped to her, my eyes wide. She was watching me with a look in her eyes. A look that says she has seen things she wasn't supposed to see.

“Humans can't grow their dicks to three times the normal size when having intercourse with their partners. Humans don’t burn hot like fire. And humans’ eyes don't glow.” She stood up, abandoning nursing her broken nose, and walked to me, her steps unstable. “What are you, Kross? You, your brothers, your fathers. Why did he marry me? Why did he want Rose to stay with you and your brothers? Tell me. Please tell me before I fucking go insane!”

At one point, as she spoke, she grabbed my arm, shaking me as she screamed. She was alive. She survived staying with Father during his rut, but that doesn't mean she survived mentally—I could see it in her eyes. She looked feral and lost.

And this was why we kept our existence a secret; most humans couldn't handle it.

I peeled her hands off me gently. “You should probably see the doctor about that nose.” It was starting to bleed again. “Goodbye, Vera.”

“How’s Rosette?” she asked as I headed to the door, her voice suddenly quiet.

“Alive,” was all I said before I left.

She was alive. Her mental state was still intact, but for how long, though? How long before she started noticing things and asking questions? How long before her sanity slowly slips from her grip? How long until she knew she was a prey in a house full of predators?

***

ROSETTE

After Kross left, I stayed in my room, doing nothing but just sitting in the same spot and staring at the wall. I couldn't stop thinking about last night. Not the hot sex—though that was just as mindblowing—but Alex.

What was wrong with him yesterday? Why were his eyes glowing and how? How was it even possible for his body to burn that hot? And that last question that had me rolling in bed all night—was his dick finally growing? What did he mean by knot in me? How did he jump down that window so effortlessly?

When it felt like I was going to go crazy, I left the room and wandered the mansion. I was home alone, just as Kross said I would be. And so I wandered, went to the greenhouse for a little while, and when it was time, I showered, dressed, and entered the elevator.

Kross had said he would send a driver to come pick me up, but he must have forgotten so I was going to have to order a ride.

I was trying on my phone when the elevator opened and I stepped out without raising my head from my phone.

“Miss Jansen.”

I screamed, my phone flying out of my hand, and landing somewhere far from me. It felt like my heart almost stopped. I didn't know anybody would be here, and this tall, bulky man in a suit and sunglasses nearly scared my soul out of me.

“What… Who are you?!” I asked, my voice loud, my heart pounding against my chest, my eyes still wide.

The man gave a small nod. “Forgive me for scaring you. I'm Christopher, your personal driver assigned by Sir Kross.”