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We approached as a group, the entire Blackthorne family staring at us with eyes the same disarming amber hue as Noah’s. Well, except for the woman I assumed was his mother, who was clearly human.
“Mother, Father, I’d like you to meet Sunday Fallon. My bonded mate.” Noah’s voice was strong, but I felt a tremor of fear from him.
The human I’d clocked as his mom smiled in welcome as Noah introduced me. Then the tall, devastatingly handsome man who looked so much like Noah I had to do a double take stepped forward and extended a hand. “Cashel Blackthorne. You are welcome to take sanctuary in our home as long as you need, Sunday.” He cocked a brow at the ragtag crew I brought with me. His gaze lingered on Caleb, a fraction of a second too long and my priest’s jaw ticked in discomfort.
“You and your... friends.”
I blushed. “Thank you. I wish we were meeting under more pleasant circumstances.”
His eyes dropped to my stomach, his expression impassive as he said, “Nonsense. Please, come in.”
I started up the steps, Noah’s arm tightly banded around me as he escorted me inside. I was well ahead of her, but there was no missing Ash’s trembling whisper.
“This is not a good place. The dead are restless. So many have died here.”
“Yes. That’s true. Countless lives have been lost in Blackthorne Manor,” Cashel said, his words draining the color from Ash and Moira’s cheeks. “But don’t worry. We have changed our ways. Mostly.”
We walked through the halls, the eyes of every single Blackthorne heavy on us. “Noah, why does it feel like they don’t want us here?”
“They do. They’re just... wary. Shifters and vampires typically don’t mix, remember?”
“Neither do vampires and witches,” Moira said, her voice sullen.
“You’re the one who hitched a ride,” Noah reminded her. “Don’t act like you’re here against your will, Belladonna.”
“Someone has to keep their eye on you,” she snapped back.
It was so easy to forget that while Moira didn’t have fangs, her bite was every bit as painful as ours could be.
“Brother, how could you be so rude as to pass by me without introducing us?” A striking woman with pure alabaster skin and wide amber eyes approached us. She looked exactly like a porcelain doll I’d once played with as a child—long dark hair falling to her waist, a beauty mark on her right cheek, perfect cupid’s bow mouth, and a thick fringe of lashes framing those Blackthorne eyes.
Noah’s whole attitude changed when she came into the room. “Rosie, I’m sorry, love. I just needed to get Sunday into the safety of the house.”
She rolled her eyes at him and shoved him out of the way so she could stand in front of me. “So this is the mate I’ve heard so much about. I guess I can forgive my big brother for leaving me with his mess to clean up now that I see the reason for him breaking his betrothal.”
“And saddling you with an unwanted fiancé.” Noah had the grace to look abashed.
“That too. Ugh, Gavin is insufferable.”
“That’s not what you were saying a few years ago.”
“Just because I used to fancy him when I was a child doesn’t mean he’s worthy of my affection now.” She dropped her gaze and her cheeks reddened before she jabbed him with her elbow.
“And neither are you.”
“I love you already,” I told her. “I’m Sunday.”
“Roslyn, though you may as well call me Rosie. Everyone else does.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Rosie.”
Her smile was genuine, and not a hint of fang. She looped our arms together and began pulling me toward the massive staircase. “Come along, everyone. I’ll show you to your rooms.”
I glanced back over my shoulder, giving him theis she going to eat me?stare. He smirked and shook his head. Before I turned back, I caught Noah’s father stopping him with a hand on the shoulder.
“A word, Noah. If you will.”
“But I—”
