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Laurie raised his brows. "That was a rather quick denial."
Nora willed her cheeks not to flush under her brother's stare. Despite his jovial nature, Laurie could be extremely observant. She didn't want him to guess how River's touch had made her feel things she'd never felt before.
And those unnamed responses scared Nora out of her wits, and she didn't want to talk about it, not even with her extremely open-minded brother.
Laurie cleared his throat. "Rumor says your fated lord is Yesenia's fae witch half brother. Is that true?" She nodded. "Is he a right old bastard? Do Joseph and I need to pay him a visit?"
Joseph had been Laurie's friend for as long as Nora could remember, and they did almost everything together. Although her brother had never said anything, Nora suspected at one time they'd been more to each other than mere friends.
Even if she'd almost never left her brother's gaming hell, Nora had seen enough to know a few eyebrow-raising things most didn't, or if they did, they scoffed at them. But Laurie wasn't the only one she knew who liked more than one bed partner at a time, with either sex. "No, you two most certainly do not need to visit him. River seems nice enough, but I don't need a husband. I have Ambrose. That's enough."
Laurie smirked. "River is it?"
"He asked me to call him that, and he's our brother-in-law."
"He's Leo's brother-in-law, not yours."
She sighed. "And that matters why?"
"Because you might use that excuse to hide from him." She opened her mouth, but Laurie beat her to it. "Look, Nora, I know you had a bloody awful time all those years ago. We both did." He paused, closed his eyes, and then opened them before continuing, "But fated ones are supposed to be a good fit. I would give anything to find mine, and I wish you wouldn't dismiss yours so easily."
She grumbled, "I wish I could transfer him over to you."
He laughed. "I may fancy both males and females, but I'm rather particular and don't want to be second best. River is yours and yours alone, little sister. You should enjoy him."
Nora sighed. "Laurie…"
He put up his hands. "I know, I know. You want me to stop. One day I hope teasing about sex and desire and lust won't make you uncomfortable, but I understand you're not there yet." He steepled his fingers in front of him. "Although maybe I do need to meet this fae witch male. With Leo being so bloody in love with his new wife, he won't check him out properly and ensure he's good enough for our sister."
It'd been a long time since anger churned in her belly for Laurie, but it did now. "I'm the only judge that matters, brother, when it comes to River Vale. Stay out of it. Besides, why are you here anyway?"
He raised his brows, acknowledging the change of topic. When he shrugged, Nora released her breath. The less she had to talk about her fated lord with her brother, the better. "I've been helping Leo with his little French vampire problem."
The French vampires had been responsible for kidnapping Ambrose, and seemed determined to bring Leo down as well for crimes committed during the Napoleonic Wars against their females. Her brother had been a child then, but the French vampires didn't care. Any British vampire was a target, but especially those in power. "And? Did you find the bastards?"
Laurie grinned. "Am I supposed to criticize your language now?" She glared and Laurie laughed. "Fine, fine. There's not too much to tell that we don't already know. However, the French have opened yet another gaming hell, but this time just outside of the fae witch territory. And their proximity is scaring the fae witches."
"Because of what our father and uncle did."
Laurie bobbed his head.
Their father had been a horrible person all around. Even putting aside what he'd done to all of his children—using them in different ways and nearly ruining their lives—he'd been determined to subjugate the fae witches and make them bow down to him.
He'd failed, thank goodness, although the damage had been done. Even after a decade of peace, thanks to a treaty negotiated by Leo—one between all the paranormal creatures of London—tensions remained. As it stood, very few fae witches ventured into the vampire's territory in the East End, afraid they might be kidnapped and violated, like during her father's reign.
Nora leaned back in her chair. "I wish I could help you and Leo more with this problem."
Laurie leaned forward. "You do help us, Nora, more than you know. What with Yesenia trying so hard to learn how to control her magic, and Leo's duties, they depend on you running the household side of things."
She glanced down at the ledger on the desk and traced the edge of it. In a way, she enjoyed running a household and the kitchen side of things for the gaming hell. Although for the first time in her life since Leo had taken over as a Dark Lord of London, she wondered if it was enough.
But to do more would mean leaving the building and facing the whispers and stares.
It'd been decades since she'd set foot outside the property, beyond a balcony or courtyard, but she still remembered the whispers as if it were yesterday:
"She allowedfour males to take liberties with her, without being married. I won't have her near me or my sisters. Her behavior might be contagious."
"She's a whore,plain and simple. I'd never let my son marry her, not even if they're fated ones."
