• • •
We walked in silence through the crowd, accepted with nods and polite smiles the thank-yous and pats on the back. We were tired enough that the nods and smiles were the only responses we could muster.
“Sire,” Brody said, opening the door of the large black SUV he’d driven to pick us up. It would undoubtedly handle better in the snow than Ethan’s current wheels—a sleek sports car that was better equipped for straightaways than freezing roads.
To his credit, Brody had turned up the heat and the seat warmers. I was asleep before we left the Loop, my head propped on Ethan’s shoulder.
I woke again as Brody pulled the vehicle to a stop in front of the gate, then climbed out of the car to open the door for us. The gate was closed, but the human guards opened it quickly enough at the sight of us. For the first time, we walked into the grounds of Cadogan House as husband and wife.
Before I could argue, Ethan picked me up.
I put an arm around his neck. “I think it’s a little late for this, isn’t it?”
“Carrying your wife over the threshold is a tradition. And maybe it will be good luck. We could use a little of that.”
No argument there.
“Congratulations!”
The door opened to another cacophony of sound, but this cacophony was a lot better than the last one. Lindsey, Luc, Malik, and two dozen more vampires stood in the foyer beneath a gold CONGRATULATIONS banner hung from the coffered ceiling. They blew gold paper horns and bubbles from tiny gold bottles while Margot passed out steaming cups of hot chocolate and warmed blood.
“You didn’t get a honeymoon,” Lindsey said, “so we decided you at least needed a welcome-home hello. And a warming-up opportunity.”
“You must be frozen through!” Margot said.
“I’ve been warmer,” I agreed. “And the temperature is still dropping.”
“You did an amazing job,” Malik said.
“It’s been quite a night so far,” Ethan said, shaking his head at the offer of hot chocolate. “The mayor was concerned, but seems to be directing the pressure at the Ombudsman’s office, rather than us.”
“He can handle it,” Malik said as I took the cup of hot chocolate and sipped deeply. Brody had offered to stop for coffee, but I’d mostly wanted to get home as quickly as possible.
“He can,” Ethan agreed. “And we’ll help as we can. Seeing the river freeze—that was something altogether different.”
“Not a soul lost,” Luc said, patting his arm in congratulations. “So that’s something else to celebrate.”
“It is,” Ethan agreed. “But Sorcha’s involvement is not. The snow and temperature seem to be her first steps. You’ve seen Towerline?”
“Most stations are showing live footage,” Luc said. “It’s hard to avoid. What is it?”
“The source of the weather,” I said, and shivered involuntarily.
“Beyond that, we don’t know,” Ethan said. “She needs to change clothes. Give us a few minutes; then we’ll meet in the Ops Room. We’ll discuss the details then.”
Luc saluted. “Sire.” He glanced at me, grinned. “Mrs. Sire.”
“Nope,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m going to nope that one right there.”
We made it to the staircase but stopped when we saw the obstacle that awaited us. Helen stood there, hands clasped in front of her. Waiting.
Steady, now, Sentinel. She isn’t so bad as delusional humans.
Easy for him to say. Helen adored Ethan. Although when she looked up, she gave us both hard stares.
“Your suitcases have been taken back upstairs, and the wedding guests have left.”
Ethan nodded. “Thank you, Helen.” He took a step forward to continue up the stairs, but she held up a hand.