AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Only the fundamentally unreasonable ones,” I said. “Which Clive plainly is. Unfortunately, they’ve made family problems everyone’s problems, and I’m on cleanup duty.” I put an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll be fine.”
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“No,” I agreed. “I can’t guarantee anything. None of us can. But I’m in the best position to stop this, so I’m going to try my damnedest.”
She put her head on my shoulder. “Sometimes I wish you were a lazy-ass slacker.”
I acknowledged the little knot of fear in my gut. “Sometimes I do, too.”
***
I went downstairs wearing black—jacket to leggings to boots—accented by the bright red of my katana scabbard. And got a wolf whistle for my trouble.
“You clean up good,” Connor said, snatching me toward him with a hand at my waist. He kissed me solidly, left me more than a little breathless.
“You’re in a good mood,” I said. He wasn’t dressed for combat, but then shifters rarely were.
“I’m feeling optimistic.”
The monster lifted its metaphorical head. And instead of trying to wrestle control from me, asked me a question.
please?
I considered. Clive and the others already thought I was damaged or different, so fighting with exceptional skill wasn’t going to change that. With one caveat.Can you keep my eyes from changing?
Silence, then:will try
If you can prevent that,I told it,I’ll invite you out when the time is right.
There was thrill in its answer, and delicious warmth as it settled into bone and muscle. No friction between us, just ease and readiness for action. It had wiped away the lingering nerves, the jitteriness of adrenaline, leaving only calm behind.
I closed my eyes, breathed in deeply, exhaled hugely.
“I should be the only one who makes you sound like that.”
I glanced at Connor, grinned. “We’re going to fight together. The monster and me. In public.”
“Good.”
“It’s just—I’m worried about my eyes.”
“Still green now. I’ll signal you if they change.” He stepped to me and tipped up my face, kissed me well and properly. “You’ll be careful.”
“Yes. But if it comes down to me and Clive and a katana, I take him on my own.”
“Of course. And I’ll have your back. Let’s send this asshole home.”
It was my entire agenda.
***
Connor and I met Petra, Gwen, and Theo outside Cadogan House shortly before midnight. We’d parked in front of the House; they’d parked a few blocks away, to keep our vehicles from being too noticeable.
My father had spared no expense making Cadogan look exactly like Petra had promised: soft music flowed from speakers on the lawn, and the grounds were lit for a gathering, with path lights and torches burning.
“It really does look like a party,” Gwen said. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re welcome to a tour when this is all done. Your people in position?”
