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Yuen lifted his hand. “Hey, Lis.”
“Hi,” I said, then again when my mother walked into the room with a bottle of blood and considerably more clothing—a singlet, cropped leggings, and running shoes. She was lean like my father,her long dark hair pulled into a ponytail, which was part of her uniform. Her skin was pale, her eyes light blue.
“No hugs,” she said, pointing at herself. “I am disgusting.”
“So I hear. Training run?”
“We’re going to do the Chicago Marathon,” my father said. “There’s a new Supernatural division.”
A good idea, since many Sups—vampires included—could easily outrun humans. “That’s cool. How did today’s run go?”
“Not as fast as I’d have liked,” he said, and slid my mother a glance.
“I beat him by fourteen seconds,” she said with a grin. “Fourteen delicious seconds.”
More than twenty years together and my parents were still very much in love, with humor and competition the background music of their relationship.
“They both smoked me,” Yuen said. He had medium brown skin, dark hair, and dark eyes and, like my parents, the build of a long-distance runner. “But I’ll be in the human division,” he said philosophically.
“And you’re going to do great,” my mother said, taking a sip of her blood. Then she looked at me. “How was the party?”
“Good,” I said. “Lulu finished the mural, and everybody seemed to have a good time. That’s actually why I’m here.”
“Did you have too much of a good time?” my father asked, eyebrow arched.
“No. Connor invited me to Grand Bay, Minnesota, to attend a Pack initiation.”
The room went quiet, and the reactions were priceless: My mother looked pleased. My father looked displeased. And Yuen looked giddy.
“An actual initiation?” he asked.
I nodded. “For his relative. This particular clan has a base in the North Woods, so he’s invited me to go up with him.”
“I’m torn between pointing out that you’re an adult,” my father said, “and driving to his home to threaten him within an inch of his wolfish life.”
My mother snickered. “That wouldn’t do much for Pack-House relations.”
“Those aren’t the relations I’m worried about.”
“Oh, my god,” I murmured, and felt my cheeks heat. “I’m only here to talk about the politics. I’m not going to discuss the rest of it.”
My mother grinned at me. “I want to discuss the rest of it. You and Connor! On a trip! I need to call Mallory.”
Mallory was Lulu’s mother. “You absolutely do not,” I said. “Look, it’s a big deal that a vampire would be going to a Pack event, so I wanted to check with you first, get your okays.” I smiled at Yuen. “Super handy that you’re already here. Saves me a trip.”
“I also appreciate efficiency,” he said with a smile.
“At the risk of putting you on the spot, are you okay with it? I’ll have to miss a few nights of work. I’m not sure how many yet, but I’d guess at least three—two to travel, one for the event.”
“We’ll miss you at the office,” Yuen said, “but it’s a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the relationship and learn more about the Pack and the ritual. I’ve heard it’s beautiful.”
“There will be Yeats,” my mother said with a smile. “There always is.”
Yuen looked at my father. “Are there any vampires in the area?”
My father frowned. “Near Grand Bay?” he repeated, then considered. “I recall there may be a small coven near there. Ronan is the Master, last I heard.”
Covens were communities of Rogue vampires that lived together but weren’t organized into formal Houses recognized by the Assembly of American Masters.
