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Horatiu let out a predatory rumble so deep it shook the floorboards beneath Phoenix’s feet. The older woman’s eyes widened. Only protectors could shake the floors with their growls. Maybe now she’d believe he was an alpha.
“Mama, I won’t tolerate anyone disrespecting my mate,” he said as his teeth lengthened to sharp fangs.
“It’s fine.” Daeva looked at Horatiu with a frozen smile. “We need to see Eilea before it gets too late.”
Mama Albescu gasped. “I didn’t get to spend more than a few moments with my Beniamin, and you’re taking him from me again.”
“She never took me from anyone,” Horatiu said from between gritted teeth. “The Albescus did a good enough job driving me away.”
“Beniamin, please,” Mama Albescu cried, clutching the wall as if she might fall.
“Horatiu,” he corrected, latching onto Daeva’s elbow. “We have to go.”
“That’s it?” She blinked at him, her lower lip trembling. “You don’t wish to know how I’m doing?”
“I know you’re in good hands,” Horatiu answered curtly. “You have capable chieftains.”
“Those imposters!” She waved a fist in his face. “They stole the chiefdom from your grandparents and then forced us to leave our homeland.”
“Goodbye, Mama,” he said and jerked open the door.
Phoenix quickly followed them out the door, tossing a glance behind her when Tor joined them. She gave him a dark look when he grinned at her. He didn’t need to use the bathroom. He probably just wanted to avoid drama. She didn’t know if she should smack him or pat him on the back.
“I’m sorry about her,” Horatiu said to Daeva as he opened her car door.
“Don’t be.” Cupping his cheeks in both hands, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his nose. “Are you okay?”
A flaming knot twisted in Phoenix’s stomach as she watched their affectionate exchange with envy.
“I used to think of her as a victim,” Horatiu said as he stroked Daeva’s arms, “but she’s just like them.”
“She is,” Daeva said as she scooted across the back seat.
Phoenix sat in the front, ignoring the backpack that rattled at her feet. She had to work hard to unclench her teeth at her mother’s screams echoing from inside her lamp. “I’ll trade you her for Jezebeth.”
“No, thanks,” Daeva blurted behind her.
“I don’t consider her my mother anymore, anyway,” Horatiu said.
Tor’s eyes bulged as he opened the door and sat beside her. Phoenix could only imagine what he was thinking. The Alaskan chieftain probably resented Daeva and Horatiu for turning up their noses at their Amaroki heritage. Discarding their Amaroki names was bad enough, but then they’d turned away Horatiu’s/Beniamin’s mother. Didn’t they realize they needed Tor on their side to help convince Boris Lupescu to let Eilea come with them?
Phoenix gave Horatiu a cool look from over her shoulder. “I suppose you don’t need her now you have Hecate.”
Ignoring Daeva’s growl, she turned back around, crossing her arms as Tor backed the car out of the long drive.
“Let’s get this other meeting over with, so we can go home,” Daeva grumbled.
Phoenix tensed as she watched frost spread over Tor’s features. They certainly weren’t earning any sympathy points with him. She had a sinking feeling this meeting wouldn’t end well.
