“Understood.”
To Remi, he simply nodded.
Vander went first, leaping off the stairs and transforming midair so that he landed in the grass a sleek, silver wolf.
Showoff.
Remi went next, his transition smooth and efficient. Then he stretched his long limbs and arched his back before somersaulting off the deck to join the sheriff.
Watching the pair pounce and wrestle reminded him of a documentary about how some zoos raised cheetah cubs and puppies together to help boost the kittens’ confidence. Somehow, he didn’t think either of them would appreciate the comparison.
He’d have to remember to inform them when they returned from their run.
“Why are you smiling?”
He shook his head.“I’ll tell you later.”
Crouching down on the deck, he closed his eyes, purring as he felt the change rush over him. Once the shift was complete, he took his time, settling into the form before pushing to his feet.
He padded over to his mate, winding through his legs and rubbing against his muscled thigh with a playful chirp.
Luka chuckled and reached down to scratch behind his ears.
He had never allowed anyone to pet or stroke him in this form before, but he saw no reason to reject the affection. Besides, it actually felt really nice.
“Ready?”
Luka straightened and looked skyward. “Lead the way.”
Chapter seven
WiththeManor’sannualHalloween festival in full swing, anxiety had become Luka’s constant companion.
Every day, more people flooded onto the grounds, arriving in flashy carriages and fancy clothes. The extra bodies didn’t bother him. It was the waiting.
According to Ruger, the rest of the musical group had arrived on schedule, but Castor—or Envy as he went by now—hadn’t been among them.
For a moment, he had allowed himself to hope that meant the mystic had changed his mind about attending the party. Deep down, however, he knew better. Castor craved attention and adoration too much to resist making an appearance.
Perched on the second-floor railing that overlooked the lobby, he kept one eye on his mate and the other on the heavy double doors at the entrance. He had received a few strange looks from the other guests, but a silent glare or quiet growl had been enough to move them along.
Sure, he could have achieved the same goal from the cafe or the sitting area beneath the chandelier, but he preferredthe vantage point of the upper floor. From there, he could see everything from the welcome desks to the bank of elevators without needing to turn his head.
While he had decided to dislike the Celeste brothers on principle since they had caused his mate so much trouble, he couldn’t deny Aether and Ivy certainly had talent. Only a few days ago, the space had been lavish but otherwise ordinary.
Then, seemingly overnight, it had been transformed into a moody, haunted library, complete with floating books that wailed at passersby. He had been somewhat disappointed by the lack of volcanoes with purple lava, but Ruger had been pleased with the new direction.
The décor wasn’t the only thing that had changed, either. The entire Manor seemed to thrum with a restless energy that set Luka’s nerves on edge.
The corridors now flickered with dim candlelight and shifting shadows, and every corner had been transformed into a tableau of ghostly imagery. Cobwebs draped from gilded frames filled with spectral figures. Enchanted spiders the size of his fist skittered up the walls and across the ceiling.
Gods, he hated spiders.
The faint scent of leather and musty book pages filled the air. Though sometimes, when the doors opened and the breeze shifted, he caught the aroma of brewed coffee and warm sugar.
Laughter pealed through the castle, sometimes bright, sometimes edged with something wild. Every so often, though, a hush would fall over the crowd as if everyone sensed the approach of something significant.
Near the grand staircase, a ghostly quartet played eerie melodies on violins and flutes, their music weaving in and out of whispered conversations and nervous giggles.
