“Don’t mind the bitch in heat comment,” she says and I meet Veronica’s dark eyes. “You can’t help the heat, and there’s nothing wrong with being a bitch.” She turns in Vince’s arms and starts to lead him toward the hall.
“You’re turning your back on the Authority, sweetheart?” Natalia casually calls out with a cocked brow.
Veronica offers up the same threatening smirk in return and answers easily. “My back, no, but I’ve been known to turn a blind eye. Wouldn’t you agree, darling?” The older vampire pales and her thin lips press into a hard line.
“Come, pup, this doesn’t concern us. You need to show me around.” She grins deviously and takes his hand as she waltzes to the doorway. “Start with your bedroom. I have a treat for you.”
He flashes her an asymmetric grin and says, “Yes, Mistress.” Watching the massive, rugged beast allow his small, feminine mate to lead him away from us makes me smile.
Dom
The sofa groans as I sit back in the seat, but then I immediately lean forward, the nervousness refusing to let go of me. Fuck, I hate that I’m not sitting next to her. Carol bursts through the door in her typical melodramatic fashion. She pops a stick of gum in her mouth and removes her earbuds. The noise flowing from them fills the room. It’s a wonder she’s not deaf.
Clearing my throat, I attempt to relax but it’s next to impossible. The only piece of this situation keeping me steady is that Caleb is right there. Just like I would, he’d give up his life to protect her if anything happened. It offers little relief, though.
Carol smiles brightly as she enters. “So, where are my humans?” Her singsong voice bounces off the walls. She reminds me of Lizzie as she waltzes across the room with confidence. Back before I got ahold of my mate, she had the same carefree air. The thought makes my scowl deepen.
She stands in front of my mate and gasps looking between Caleb and myself. Pointing her finger at the two of us Carol says, “Well, well, congrats to you, lovely lady. A ménage à trois mating; now that’s something you don’t see every day.” Lizzie’s cheeks blaze and that faint change in her makes me long for her. To touch her, to run the back of my hand down her cheek and nip the curve of her neck playfully.
Instead, my fingers steeple together in my lap and I sit with this emptiness on my own.
“Fate has certainly blessed you, little human.” Her eyebrows raise and she takes one of Lizzie’s small hands in both of hers. “Good luck taming these two.” Caleb bellows a laugh and Lizzie smiles shyly.
“She’s wolf,” I say, correcting Carol. “Latent.” I say the words with pride; nonetheless Lizzie’s smile falls, and she recoils into Caleb. I wish I’d kept my stupid mouth shut. I can’t do a damn thing right by her.
“Oh.” Carol perks up even more and says, “Well that’s wonderful, dear.” She purses her lips and taps her heel. “But it’s a PR nightmare.” My brow creases and Carol answers my unasked question. “A latent wolf on human territory?” She shakes her head. “It’ll be called a conspiracy, of course. That we set her up as a spy of sorts.” She tsks. “It’s a shame, but we’re going to have to stay with the human version.”
“We’re on in five.” Alec positions a chair angled toward the sofa and turns the camera on, extending a screen and flipping it so we can view the human newscasters.
“All right, Daddy,” Carol answers him easily.
“Daddy?” Grace’s curious look almost makes me smile. Devin is going to have his hands full answering our Alpha mate’s questions after this morning. She truly has been thrown to the wolves.
“He’s not really my daddy.” Carol winks at Grace and takes a seat, fixing her skirt and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She flashes her pearly whites and asks, “No lipstick, right?” She sucks at her teeth while Grace shakes her head, grinning at Carol. A warmth settles through me as I watch Lizzie relax. Carol and Grace are good for her.
Maybe Grace doesn’t realize it, but she set the mood the moment we walked in here. Devin’s appraising gaze tells me he’s aware of it as well. It provides an unexpected comfort.
“She’ll be all right.” Caleb’s words sound in my head as he pats Lizzie’s knee and kisses her forehead. A faint blush appears on her cheeks. I love the look of her flushed skin.
“Okay, ladies and gents, I’ll field the questions. You just play along.” Caleb and Devin nod slightly as Lizzie fidgets with her fingers until Grace takes her hand and squeezes. “Any questions? It’s now or never.” Grace shakes her head and Lizzie follows suit.