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If Eve had been half as tempting as Connor Keene with a Red Delicious, I felt a sudden sympathy for Adam.
“I’m... fine,” I said.
He cocked an eyebrow, smile spreading slowly. “Are you?”
“I am. Why are you flirting with me? Do you need gummi bears?”
He snorted, took another bite of his apple. “Yes, the Pack has been updated. Pops is irritated by the Obsideo, but fine with the result.”
“You fix the clan?”
“No,” he said, and took a final bite. “We fix the clan.”
***
We found Alexei still on the steps, chewing on the end of a scarlet red rope of licorice. And staring at a wall of gleaming white aluminum.
“What is... ,” I began, taking in forty feet of vehicle. “Why is there a motor home parked in front of our cabin?”
“It arrived two hours ago,” Alexei said, taking another bite. “Hasn’t done anything since it arrived.”
“So it’s probably not an immediate risk?” I asked flatly, as he chewed, watched the door contemplatively.
“Not unless you’re waiting to be attacked by retirees.”
The door opened, and we looked into the green eyes of a very pissed-off-looking cat.
“Shit,” Connor muttered, stepping behind me. “Devil cat.”
Eleanor of Aquitaine hissed at the sight of him. Which made me feel a little better about our tumultuous relationship, but didn’t make me any less surprised to see her sitting there.
“Did she open the door?” Connor’s question was soft, and there was a cautious edge to it. Smart boy.
“I doubt she’s mastered that without opposable thumbs,” I said. “She does look pissed at you, though. What did you do?”
“I exist. That seems to be enough.”
As if in agreement, the cat swished her tail while Lulu stepped behind her. She wore a white ringer T-shirt with red at the collar and sleeves and “Lovers Love Minnesota” across the front.
“Hello, Minnesota!” she said brightly, then looked down. “Pardon me,” she said, and the cat turned around, flicked its tail in the air, and trotted deeper into the RV.
“Your cat?” Alexei asked.
“Ah, he deigns to speak to me. And no, Eleanor of Aquitaine does not admit to ownership. She allows us to live in her loft.”
“You brought a cat into a compound of shifters,” Connor said.
“She brought herself,” Lulu said, stepping onto the asphalt. She opened her arms, and I gave her a hug.
“I’m really glad to see you,” I said. “But why are you here?”
Theo stepped into the doorway. “We’re the roaming Ombudsman’s office.”
“Anyone else in that clown car?” Connor asked.
“Just us,” Theo said, stepping onto the asphalt. He nodded at me and Connor, then at Alexei.
“Alexei, Theo,” I said, introducing them. They exchanged nods. “And why is the Ombudsman’s office here?”
