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Marco nodded. Then he swept his arm expansively toward the bunch of us. “We’re good to go now. My staff have prepared an informal luncheon-slash-meet-and-greet. I’d tell you to behave yourselves, but my kin probably won’t, so just do as you seefit.”
Alice fell into step with me as we headed for the plane’s door. “I’ll keep an extra eye on your friend if youwant.”
My eyes widened. “If it’s anytrouble—”
“None,” she said firmly. “Friends are important. Lord knows you’re going to need as many as you can get, and I don’t see any point in discriminating about who or what they are. If she’s important to you, that’s good enough forme.”
I smiled at her, more touched than I knew how to say. Apparently I’d made at least one more solid friend during my time with the shifterkin.
Marco’s estate was farther inland than Aaron’s, but the salt in the breeze told me there was a brackish lake nearby. Otherwise the place felt totally different from either of the other estates I’d visited. Lush tropical vegetation grew all around the paths, palm trees shading us with their fronds overhead. The summer heat had a damp weight toit.
The house, when we reached it, was a massive colonial mansion, all peach except the ornate white trim around the windows and doors. A greenhouse almost the same size as the rest of the building, its glass tinted to prevent anyone from looking in, jutted from the northernwing.
Having stayed briefly in one of the feline alpha’s guesthouses, I knew what to expect from the inside of the mansion: thick rugs, Victorian antique furnishings, and velvet basically everywhere. I felt underdressed the second I walked in the door. Marco led the way to the expansive ballroom where his “informal luncheon” was takingplace.
A few dozen feline shifters—the ones who lived on the estate grounds, I assumed—were already gathered there, snacking on tidbits from the platters set on tables along the walls. Most of them glanced our way, but no one hurried over to greetus.
Typical cat aloofness, I found myself thinking, and caught myself before I smirked. Yeah, the feline shifters certainly kept to the attitudes of their animalcounterparts.
But one of the kin around me might be scheming right now to overthrow all of us. I studied each of them as Marco ushered me deeper into theroom.
“Alpha,” a woman in the first group we approached said, with the slightest bob of her head in deference. Her scent told me she was a lion. She turned her golden eyes on me. “And this is the dragon shifter.” Her tone gave away no clear emotion, but I felt her sizing me up. I lifted my chin instinctively, wishing I’d insisted on changing into something more elegant than jeans and a T-shirt.
“This is the great Serenity herself,” Marco said languidly but without any hint of irony. “I hope all of my kin will make her feelwelcome.”
“Naturally,” the lion shifter said. She offered an elegant hand for me to shake. “Coreen of theBushnells.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” I said, biting back any other comments I might have made about the warmth of her welcome—or lackthereof.
The other introductions went pretty much the same way. A cryptic remark, a once-over, a mild show of respect. The feline kin were definitely a lot different from the other shifters I’d met. I didn’t get hostile vibes from any of them, but really, it was hard to tell who might have been simply unaffected and who outrightdismissive.
“Are they always like this?” I murmured to Marco when we stopped by one of the tables for a moment alone. “Or are they insulting you—or me—orsomeone?”
He chuckled. “Princess, this is about as enthusiastic for leadership as my kin ever get. I’m actually impressed.” His head turned, and he sighed. “Well, I was. Prepareyourself.”
For what?I wanted to ask, but the problem he’d seen coming was already onus.
“Wellthen,” purred the lynx shifter who’d sidled up at my right. I couldn’t tell whether the flecks of silver in his tawny hair were part of his animal’s coloring or a reflection of age, but if he was any more than thirty-five, he wore the years well. He gave me a sly grin as he considered me. “Aren’t you the loveliest shifter I’ve ever seen walk in that door. No offense meant to myalpha.”
He winked at Marco, who smiled indulgently. “None taken, Silvan. I know exactly how lovely I am without you buttering meup.”
“Perhaps while you’re busy with your duties, I could take this treasure on a tour of the estate.” Silvan’s attention came back to me. His voice practically dripped with flirtation. “There are somanythings I could showyou.”
I’d bet there were. I clamped my jaw, not sure whether I was more likely to laugh or sputter in indignation. Was he seriously propositioning me right in front of mymate?
Marco didn’t seem to care—but then, Marco made a habit of appearing not to care about anything. And maybe this guy thought he could get away with the flirtation because his alphawasn’tfully my mateyet.
Any good humor I’d been feeling about the encounter died. I gave the lynx shifter a firm stare. “I appreciate the offer, but I know Marco will look after me just fine.” I tucked my hand around Marco’s elbow at the same time. My jaguar shifter didn’t say anything, but I felt a tremor of pleased energy travel through hisposture.
Silvan seemed unfazed. “Well, if you should change your mind, I’m sure you can find me.” He saunteredoff.
“Wow,” I said. “That was...something.”
“I should probably warn you that you’re likely to get at least three similar offers before the day is over,” Marco said. His smile turnedcrooked.
A murmur rose up near the doorway at the far end of the ballroom. I glanced over, and my gaze caught in a shock of neon pink hair. My heartleapt.
“Kylie!”
