ChapterNineteen
Angelina
My nerves were driving me insane. It was stupid to feel this way, I realised that. The main reason was meeting Donna for the first time. My circle of friends had always been extremely small. I’d met Antoine before, but hadn’t really spoken much to him. He’d seen me at my very worst. I wondered what he’d told his mate about me. As I sat on the edge of our bed, wondering what I should wear, I imagined what Cassie would say to me if she was there.
“Angelina, stop being such a pussy and get ready. You’ll be fine.”
A sad smile forced its way onto my lips; that was exactly what she’d have told me. In the end, I decided to wear my smart skinny jeans and teamed them up with my favourite deep blue blouse and matching pumps. Luca and Salvatore had left me alone, but I could sense their presence just outside the bedroom door.
“You can come in,” I called out to them.
When the door opened, my heart was in my mouth. Each time I saw them, it was as though I was meeting them for the first time. A blush crept up my neck and filled my cheeks with warmth when they smiled and nodded their approval.
“Do I look okay?”
The lust that clouded their eyes told me all I needed to know. Using their preternatural speed, they were by my side in a nanosecond.
“Hmm, ravishing,” Luca murmured as he placed a soft kiss on my lips.
“I agree. I can’t wait until we help you out of these clothes later.” Salvatore ran his fingers down my spine, his mouth at my neck.
My God, I was so wet.
“We know, we can smell your scent.”
I pushed Luca away, quickly followed by Salvatore. Running my fingers through my hair, I attempted to regain control of my breathing. Something I’d wondered, but never asked, crossed my mind.
“Is it only you who can smell my scent when I’m turned on, or others of our kind too?”
They chuckled.
“Please, be serious.” I glanced from one to the other.
“The answer,” said Luca as he and Salvatore took my hands, “is no. Only mates can smell each other when they’re aroused. Demons can smell it before those of our kind mate, but not afterwards.”
“Thank God for that.”
Salvatore broke into a dirty chuckle. “Yeah, otherwise they’d smell ours all the time.”
“Not funny, Salvatore De Laurentis,” I warned.
By the time we got downstairs, Michael was at the door, ushering Antoine and Donna inside. The moment I saw her, I relaxed. She was dressed in very much the same way as me. Jeans and a bright red shirt. The shirt looked great against her long honey blonde hair and huge green eyes as vivid as the sea. She walked straight up to me and hugged me close. She was my height, but her body was lithe and well-toned, as though she worked out a lot.
“Hey, it’s great to finally meet you. Welcome to our new and crazy world.” Her smile was infectious. This girl was going to be good company, I could tell.
“Do we get a hug?” Luca asked.
“Yeah, I guess so.” Donna grinned.
Antoine moved to me and gathered me up in an embrace. “How are you holding up?” he asked in a low voice.
“I feel pretty torn up. Not sure I’ll get over what that monster did to Cas.”
“He’s not long for this world. Now he knows you’re fully mated, he’ll panic and do something reckless. Then you can take him down for good.” Antoine’s words gave me confidence that this would happen.
“I thought you’d prefer to eat in the kitchen.” Diane’s words halted any other discussion relating to Viktor.
Donna linked her arm through mine as we followed the others to the kitchen.
“I’m so glad to meet a normal woman.”
I laughed. “I’m far from normal, Donna.”
“Trust me, you are. I was dreading coming here and seeing you dressed in an evening gown. Or even worse, making me sit in a formal dining room.”
Despite Cassie’s loss and my nerves at meeting Antoine’s mate, I giggled at her admission.
“I hate formality of any kind. This ceremony and dress shopping are going to be the worst kind of torture for me. I’d rather go out demon chasing.”
“Couldn’t agree more. The ceremony isn’t so bad, and you’ll have all of us with you. Hey, and rumour has it that Sal and Luca’s parents love you already. It’ll be cool… apart from one thing.”
Donna stopped, and I paused by her side. The guys turned around. “We won’t be long,” I assured them.
Once they’d disappeared from view, I led Donna inside the library and shut the door behind us.
“What one thing?”
“I had the same problem when I attended my ceremony. Antoine, like your mates, had been single for a very long time. Some of the female vamps at this ceremony, the ones without mates, have… you know.”
I should have been jealous at her statement. Honestly, I didn’t care one little bit. Luca and Salvatore were mine.
“Love the possessiveness of your thoughts, bella.”Luca was such a tease.
“So, I have to prepare for the evil eye then?”
Donna laughed. “Yeah. As the ‘new kid on the block’ they’ll try to wind you up. Don’t let them.”
“Ain’t gonna happen.”
“Good girl. Now I guess we’d better eat and discuss the dreaded clothes shopping.”
We both groaned at the thought.
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