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"My dear mate has no favorites," Asterion said.
"On the contrary," I said, meaning the words for his ears only but aware that the room's conversation had paused to watch us instead. "I havefour."
Asterion's lips twitched.
I frowned. "You don't believe me?"
"I do," he said, brushing his nose and mouth over my forehead. "I am learning to."
"I am very happy for you, my friend," Esther said, patting Asterion's shoulder. She beamed at me. "Your gentleman did me a good turn a year ago, and I will not forget it."
"It was a small favor," Asterion muttered, and I could've sworn the soft skin over his face was coloring slightly. "And if I recall correctly, you sought to repay me by disappearing and giving us all quite a scare."
"She's a pretty little ball of trouble, this one," a roguish and cheerful voice announced from Esther's side.
Esther waved her hand airily. "My vampire needed me. All worked out in the end."
"For everyone but Birsha," the disembodied Ezra noted.
Esther's pretty features twisted in a scowl. "I should've thrust the knife even deeper."
My eyes widened, and Esther twitched as if someone had nudged her. She glanced at me, paling briefly, and then spoke in such a scramble I could barely make the words out.
"Asterion, have you heard the latest goings on of your house? It is a great and delightful scandal, after all the trouble she has given you!"
"My house?" Asterion asked, blinking at the young woman.
But I knew her meaning almost right away. "You mean Isabel?"
Esther rushed out a breath and nodded, dark curls bouncing. "Yes! After all her squawking, to bring a monster in—"
"A monster?" Asterion prompted, head tilting.
Esther flapped her hands. "Well, I mean, it's only Byron, but—"
"Byron?" Asterion pressed, even more surprised now.
"Who is Byron?" I whispered.
A voice appeared so suddenly and unexpectedly—given the man was still staying invisible—it made me jump. "The guardian of the house camping in the woods, another werewolf."
"Isabel installed Byroninsidethe house?" Asterion asked.
"Oh, you haven't heard," Esther said, eyes widening. "Oh, dear. Perhaps…"
"Miss Reed," Asterion rumbled in warning.
"Amon, come explain the London latest to Asterion!" Esther called.
Strangely, I found myself withholding laughter. The music had paused, and the room was gathering together at Esther's call, Asterion looking flustered and annoyed and too polite to say so directly.
"Someone please come tell me about Grace House," he said tersely.
"It was attacked, Asterion. Last week, shortly after you left." It was not Amon who spoke, but the most well-dressed and composed orc I had ever met.
"Attacked?" Asterion gasped. "Why did no one say anything before now?"
"It was over before it properly began, my friend," Amon said. "Byron did his job admirably and killed the villains. No one made it farther than the woods, didn't set so much as a toe to the front steps."
