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I narrowed my eyes. “Damn it, Connor. Did Alexei eat the starter?”
He pulled out the empty jar, held it up. “I suspect he did.”
Honestly, directing shifters not to eat my homemade bread prep work wasn’t something I’d thought I’d ever have to say. “Is he nursing the mother of all stomachaches?”
As if on cue, Alexei padded into the kitchen, this time in gym shorts. He nodded at us, pulled a gallon of milk from the refrigerator, and disappeared again.
“Probably,” Connor concluded.
I looked back at him. “Shifters eat a lot.”
Connor’s look was bone-dry. “You eat people.”
“Only in a manner of speaking.” I let my grin go wicked. “And only if they ask nicely.”
He moved forward, caught me with an arm around the waist. “Oh, I’ll ask nicely.”
I smiled. “Thanks for making me laugh.”
“Feeling better?”
“I’m... ready,” I decided. “Ready to end both very uncomfortable chapters of my life.” I looked back at him. “There will be more than this. Probably worse than this.”
“My cousin’s friends tried to kill you.”
“Good point. Go get dressed.”
***
Lulu appeared in the doorway of the master bedroom after I’d showered, and wasn’t wearing her paint-spattered clothes.
“You aren’t working tonight?”
“Not tonight. Alexei thought it would be better if I stayed here, just in case the AAM tries some kind of double cross.”
“Right. Super smart.”
“So what are you wearing?” she asked, and there was actualsuspicion in her eyes, and it felt so gloriously normal—so us—that I nearly cried.
I pulled out the military-style black jacket I’d hung in the master bedroom closet. “I was thinking about this.”
“That could work,” she said and sat down on the bed. “Fancy in here.”
“They like their creature comforts,” I said, pulling leggings from the pile of clothes I’d brought back from the loft. I looked up at her. “And how are you?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Better, I guess. I think Mateo was kind of self-centered.”
“Based on what you told me, I’d say definitely.” I sat down beside her. “You are, of course, invited to tonight’s nonsense if you don’t want to stay here. You could hang in the Cadogan House library.”
“Too much magic,” she said. “I’m good here. He’s got every option on that wall screen, so I’ll binge my way out of grief.”
“Want me to steal some art from the House for you to critique?”
“No,” she said with a laugh, “but thanks for the offer.” She leveled her gaze. “You aren’t going to do anything ridiculous tonight, are you?”
“You mean other than possibly dueling a vampire? Of course not. That would be silly.”
She shook her head. “Reason forty-two why I hate supernatural drama. It’s always life or death with these people.”
