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Connor looked at his father for a moment, then sighed. “Berna’s still angry.”
“And passive-aggressive.”
Connor looked at me, humor and apology mixing in his eyes. “I guess you took my punishment for me.”
At least it let me ignore the vampires for a while. “What did you do to deserve that?”
“I forgot her birthday.”
“Dangerous,” I said.
Gabriel clucked his tongue. “He’s learned his lesson now. As for the incident, I assume it’s about Carlie?”
“It is,” Connor said, and he laid it out, from the late-night visit to the confrontation at the Grove.
“Showed up at your door,” Gabriel said, linking his hands behind his head. “That takes guts or stupidity.”
“Or both,” Connor said. “The arrogance to try and the belief that what you’re doing is necessary.”
Gabriel glanced at me. “Nice sword work.”
“Thanks. Practice.”
“Good. Your parents still gone?”
“For now,” I said. But I had a feeling it wouldn’t be the case for long.
“That explains the AAM’s timing.” He frowned. “What do they want?”
“Testing and my agreement to join a House.”
He looked at me for a very long time. Long enough that I began to wonder if he’d seen the monster lurking behind my eyes.
“I’d have fought back, too,” Gabriel finally said, his voice utterly casual. “Did the vamps think you’d just go along with it?”
“I’m not sure,” I decided. “The leader looked eager for a fight, and more than a little thrilled when I said no.”
“So he could then use you as an example?”
“Maybe,” I said. “I’m going to talk to my parents when I get home. They’ll have contacted the AAM by now, and they might have more information.”
I nodded, and Gabriel shifted his gaze to Connor.
“As for the fighting, while I absolutely encourage a good old-fashioned brawl, it’s best to avoid political nonsense when we can. Vampire problems are not Pack problems. On the other hand,” he added, before Connor could interject, “many vampires and members of the Pack are friends, and they help each other. And sometimes,” he said, that knowing gaze landing on me, “helping results in consequences that seem unfair.”
And what, I wondered, would have been a fair consequence? In its most technical sense, I had broken the AAM’s rules, and the unspoken covenant with humans that we wouldn’t treat them like prey or potentials—unless they asked nicely. Yes, I’d done it for good reason, but the rule had still been broken.
“I’d do the same thing again,” I said.
“That’s because you have honor,” Gabriel said. “I’d have expected nothing less of a Sullivan kid.”
“What about sanctuary?” Connor asked. “The Pack could give her protection until the AAM gives up. We’ve offered it before.”
“And I’d decline if you offered it,” I said.
Gabriel’s brows lifted with interest; Connor’s furrowed with obvious frustration.
“You’d decline it,” he said, voice flat and suddenly angry.
