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“You can’t be serious.”Sunny stood blocking the front entrance, mouth hanging open. “He—he can’t come in here,” she stuttered. “The king will have a fit,” she whispered to me.
I winked at Jaxson, whose gaze bounced from me to Sunny. He’d changed his look from yesterday’s copper wig and false lashes to his clean-shaven head and thick winged liner, giving him a sexy pharaoh vibe. At least from the neck up. The overalls and purple cropped tee underneath screamed 90s in the best possible way.
“The king will get over it,” I said and grabbed my friend’s hand. “Wait till you see the courtyard.” I took the bag Jaxson had slung over his shoulder and plopped it next to the first sofa we passed.
Arm in arm, we walked through the great room like we owned the place.
“What is going on, Eeds? Why are you in the fucking king’s compound?”
I paused, taking in my friend’s profile for a moment before I took a breath and let it rip. “I tried to steal from him. Now he thinks I’m his mate, and he’s trying to get me to steal from a rival king across the river so they can end their Cold War bullshit.”
Jaxson’s complexion went ashen. “He wants you to steal from Titus?”
“Yeah. You know him?”
“Eden.” Jaxson took both my hands in his, pinning me with a severe amber gaze. “You have to be careful. That vampire is ruthless. He’s awful. But if you can help bring an end to his reign across the river, my pack will be safer, and I’d be grateful.”
I sucked in a breath. I hadn’t expected that. “What does your pack have to do with Titus and Julian’s war?” I asked as we continued toward the courtyard.
“Right. You don’t know. Um, let’s see, the short version is wolf shifters used to be subservient to vampires. They made us stay in our wolf forms and act as guard dogs for their lands, keeping rival nests from taking land or property or food. My entire pack used to belong to Titus.” Jaxson smiled at me. “It was a long time ago, so don’t make that face.”
I pulled my drooping mouth corners up and did my best not to feel sorry for someone who didn’t need or want it.
“From what I understand, King Julian is the reason Titus let us go. He negotiated for our release in that year’s incursion.”
I nodded slowly, taking in his words, and the timeline of events. “But if we lose this time, Titus might want your pack back.”
Jaxson said nothing for what felt like an eternity.
“Every seventeen and some-odd months, we say a prayer to the old wolves that we get to keep our human form for the next cycle. So far, we’ve been lucky. Both clans are equally matched, and each incursion has ended in a stalemate.”
“But how long until that stalemate ends and luck runs out?” I was getting a clearer picture of things.
Why hadn’t Julian just fucking told me?
He’d negotiated for an entire wolf pack?
Jesus.
I had some crow to eat.
But that was for sure after I kicked his ass for being a smug shit and not telling me up front.
“Whoa, this can’t be real.” Jaxson stepped down the three steps to the cobblestone path and into the interior courtyard. “It’s inside but outside?”
“Weird, right? It might be my favorite thing about this place.”
He gave me a knowing look. “Already scoping out your favorite spots in the new digs, huh?”
“New digs? Uh, no. I don’t live here.”
Jax went to the seating area and made himself comfortable, taking in the topiary bushes, exotic flowers, and strange birds that lived here. “Not yet, you mean. If you’re his mate, then it’s only a matter of time, Eden.”
I joined him on the black rattan loveseat. “I’m not doing anything or moving anywhere until I know this guy. And so far, the only thing he’s shown me is that he’s cocky and secretive.”
Jax nodded, pulling me into him. “Remember, you two are coming from two entirely different cultures. What he sees as necessary, you might see as something negative.”
“Yeah. I get that. But that’s even more reason for me to take my goddamn time. Right?”
