A Forever Series Box Set: A Paranormal Reverse Harem-(Book 1-5)

“You,” I snarl at him. His eyes find mine and he adjusts his features. Quickly. “You have an issue with me, deal with me. You do not ever bring them into our fight again. Do you hear me?”

He looks at me warily, never having been on the receiving end of a sire’s wrath before. “I didn’t,” he says cautiously.

“Whether you meant to or not, your actions started this. You were the butterfly.” But then I think back, yes, he riled Constantine with his comments about Eloise but really, it was Devon who started this. Rounding on my older charge, I snap, “No, you were the butterfly. If you had just kept your trap shut about Eloise’s blood, this would never have happened.”

“I think you will find, my sweet, that you were in fact the butterfly, by telling our secrets. We agreed the naming of the castle was ours to know and ours alone,” Constantine, smarmy as ever, points out and I realize in horror that he is right. It was me. I’m the butterfly and the hurricane was the fight between my sire and my charge.

“Shit,” I mumble, abashed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It was me. I shouldn’t have told but then Devon shouldn’t have either and Cole should not have said what he did.” I try to shift at least some of the blame.

“So, in fact the only one innocent in all of this is me. Me and my God complex,” Constantine smirks.

“Humph,” I say rudely. “You are never innocent. It was you who brought the whole thing up in the first place.”

Looking amused, he says, “I mentioned an email I received so we could discuss it, Aefre. Like adults. Clearly, I was mistaken that despite our collective years, we are still just the young fools we were when we were turned.”

Devon and I glance at each and burst out laughing at this most hilarious comment, coming from Constantine of all people. I’m delighted to note he included himself in his statement. Even Cole snorts at that and all seems to have calmed down again. I wonder how this argument got so out of control. Especially after everything that we just shared with each other.

“So,” I say, “bringing the conversation back around, in an adult manner, to Harlow’s email. What I should have asked was, why is he contacting you about my interest in his property?”

“He is under the impression that I can talk you out of pursuing it.”

I sigh. “So, he’s not budging then?”

“Doesn’t appear to be. Is this what you wanted to talk to me about last week that we never got around to discussing?”

“Yes. I was hoping you could get him to change his mind.”

“Seems that I’m the middleman in this, even though I sold it nearly five hundred years ago,” he grouses.

“Seems so. Please try and get him to sell it to me. It means a lot to me,” I ask him quietly.

“Well, how can I refuse when you ask me like that?” he says just as quietly.

“Thank you.” I turn to Cole again and say, “We need to talk. Alone, please.”

“The rules are the same, Aefre. We don’t split up.”

“Then put some earphones in or something. I need to talk to Cole. Alone.”

“Fine,” they both agree.

I drag Cole back to the bathroom for maximum privacy.

“And play nice,” I yell back at them over my shoulder as Devon goes to light the candles.

“In three’s!” I hear CK snap quietly and Devon’s, “I know!” snap back.

Closing the door, I take a deep breath. “Did she really feed from you or were you just saying that to piss me off?” I ask.

He takes my hand and pulls it up to his lips. “She did. Only for a second. Devon made her stop.”

I close my eyes and slide down the door to sit in a heap on the floor. “A second is still a second,” I say miserably.

He sits too. “I know. I’m sorry. Although, I’d say we are even now as I know that Gregor drank from you,” he says with a pointed look.

Well, I can’t argue with that.

“And,” he adds, “you also have those two out there snacking on you whenever they feel like it.” He smiles though to show he’s not angry.