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“She sends her best, and hopes we can get together before you leave again.”
“That would be great, if you can keep the fairies and vampires in line.”
“We’ll do our best,” he said earnestly. “How are you? How is Paris?”
“I’m good, and Paris is great.” I pointed to the ceiling. “It’s been a while since I was upstairs, so I gave the apartments a walk-through.”
“That must be a very strange feeling, to walk through your childhood room.”
“It was... odd,” was all I’d admit to.
• • •
Since I’d faced down my old monsters, it was time to go watch the new ones. Leaving my father and Uncle Malik to talk, and leaving my katana in his office for safekeeping, I took the House’s main hallway through the cafeteria—which was empty, given the spread on the lawn—and out onto the brick patio that stretched in a half moon along the back of the House.
Urns of white flowers scented the air, and while there was an abundance of magic along with it, the mix stifled the thrumming of my mother’s sword, so I wasn’t about to complain.
Vampires and other supernaturals strolled in the grass and near the long buffet tables set up a few dozen yards away near an oak tree whose branches nearly skimmed the ground.
I found Seri and Marion speaking with Scott Grey and Morgan Greer, Chicago’s other two Masters, who laughed as they watched the screen Scott held out.
Probably puppy videos. Even vampires liked puppy videos.
Having confirmed they were safe and sound, I looked for the waiter with the champagne I’d seen earlier. I’d earned a little relaxation.
And I turned to face down a wolf, albeit one in human clothes.
Connor stood behind me in a black tux that enhanced every bit of hard and sleek muscle and seemed to make his blue eyesglow. One dark lock curled across his forehead, and a day’s growth of stubble darkened his jaw. He looked, somehow, even more dangerous. Even more wicked.
That probably suited his escort just fine. Tabby stood beside him, gorgeous again tonight in a gold sequin dress with a deep V-neck and long sleeves that reflected sparks of light across her amazing face and carved cheekbones.
“Hello,” Connor said.
“Hello.” I shifted my gaze to his girlfriend. “And hello.”
“Brat, this is Tabby.”
“Hey,” Tabby said, fingers tangling in a lock of Connor’s hair in a way that looked more irritating than seductive. And the expression on her face was one of absolute boredom.
“It’s nice to meet you. Your magic at the reception was impressive.”
“Just part of what we do.” She dropped her hand, propped it on her hip. “I want something to drink. You?” she asked, glancing at Connor.
He held up a beer. “I’m good.”
“I’ll be back,” she said, then kissed him lavishly and slunk toward the bar.
“She is... really beautiful,” I said. It was the only compliment I could think of, and I didn’t think “She seems super comfy with PDA” would come off very well. Not that it would have been intended to.
“She is,” Connor said, and we watched as the waiter offered her a short glass of amber alcohol.
She downed it, held the glass out for another. And when a vampire approached the bar for a drink, she snapped her teeth at him in a show of... ferocity?
Beautiful. But maybe not very classy.
“That’s not leather.”
I shifted my gaze back to Connor. “What?”
