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"You."

My wolf went dead still.

"You want to know who Rosalind Lobo needs protecting from?" Petrakis' swollen mouth curved without humor. "Take a look in the fucking mirror."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ROSALIND

After spending what felt like the GDP of a small island nation on clothes I would likely never wear, Astrid and I glided into an exclusive upscale bistro down the street for lunch.

I'd bought sweatpants. Pink sweatpants. Designer, obviously. There were limits to how far I was prepared to rebel.

I'd also bought a black dress, which was possibly the first black garment I'd ever willingly purchased in my life. It was the first time I'd been in a store without my mother looking over my shoulder or in my bags.

Then there were the sneakers. They were designer, too, covered in tiny crystals that winked at me from the shadow of my eyes. They weren't practical for running. Not that I could imagine a situation in which I'd ever need to run anywhere on two legs.

We checked the bags into coat check and were seated immediately. When the waiter placed two leather-bound menus on the table, I set mine aside without even opening it.

"Do you... need me to read the menu for you?" Astrid asked.

"No, I know what I want."

When the waiter returned, I ordered a ribeye steak. While we waited for our food, the atmosphere in the dining room shifted. My ears picked up the subtle change. Heartbeats nearby changed rhythm. A little faster. Breaths deepened. Chairs shifted as bodies turned in our direction. Cologne mingled with the musk of unfamiliar wolves. Beneath it all came that particular silence men fell into when something more interesting than their conversation had captured their attention.

I didn't need sight to know we were being watched.

"If you want to go grab a little amuse-bouche before our lunch arrives, it's fine by me," I said nonchalantly, gesturing vaguely toward the bar where I could make out the large forms of a couple of interested males.

Astrid let out an amused snort. "Yeah, right? Like I'd let either of those wolves sniff anywhere near me."

I tilted my head toward her, genuinely confused by her dismissal. "Why not?"

Across from me, Astrid went still. Water sloshed in her glass. Then the sound of a thunk as the full glass was set back down on the table. "I'm promised in marriage. I'm engaged to Elias Vane. Or O'Shea, or whatever. Damn, I don't even know what my new last name will be."

"You're not married yet," I pointed out with a shrug. "You fool around with your guards, right?"

Astrid choked on her water, setting the glass down again. This time water sloshed over the rim and onto the wooden table. "My guards? Absolutely not! Are you insane?"

I was truly baffled by her reaction. "Men do it all the time. They take mistresses, fool around with subordinates, and indulge themselves whenever they please. Why shouldn't women do the same?"

For a long moment, Astrid didn't answer. I could hear the rapid, shifting rhythm of her heartbeat. Heard her mouth open and close, her throat constricting, then relaxing as though she was trying to get words out. None came. I decided to try a different tactic.

We had had a lovely day together. Chatting as if we were almost friends. It had been nice while it lasted. But I had a job to do, and Astrid Blackwood was another pawn I could use toward my endgame.

"I'm surprised your parents matched you with Elias. I thought your families were against each other."

"My family believes in keeping your friends close and your enemies closer."

"My mother doesn't believe in having friends. Only family."

"How Vin Diesel of her."

I snorted. I'd enjoyed that street racing franchise. The soundtrack was very upbeat, even if the dialogue was lacking. Still, I got the reference to family.

I decided I liked Astrid. Too bad. I'd never had a girlfriend before. If I had a choice, I think I'd choose Astrid.

"Ma keeps me on such a tight leash it makes me want to scream. Do you know she's already scheduling my entire semester break around her calendar? Including her stupid quarterly matriarch summit this weekend."