“Smurf girl. They turned my daughter into aSmurf girl.”
“Buuut, they didn’t get any pictures of it,” Sally pointed out.
“Which means I win.” Jen stuck her nose in the air, obviously proud of herself.
“You do realize that not everything is a competition, right?” Crina asked.
“Keep telling yourself that, fae lover, but expect to lose at everything in life.”
“Wow, that escalated really fast.” Zara’s eyes widened.
“That’s pretty much Jen’s m.o..” Jacque nodded. “She goes from friendly to‘I’ll slit your throat’in about two point five seconds.”
“Speaking of two point five seconds…” Jen glanced at her watch.“We need to pick up the cakes.”
“What does two point five seconds have to do with picking up cakes?” Sally asked.
Jen shrugged. “I don’t know. I just needed a segue to a new conversation.” She turned to Peri and Elle,who were sitting on the couch munching on popcorn and watching everyone else as if they were a television show. “Can you two take all of us? There’s quite a few cakes to bring back.”
Suddenly the popcorn was gone and the two fae were up, holding out their arms. “We live to serve,” Peri said dryly.
“What is it you’re serving? B.S.?” Zara asked.
Jacque snorted.
“I like you, history boy’s mate,” said Peri. “And because I like you, I will refrain from actually putting B.S. in your cute little pie hole.”
“I’d like to just throw it out there that I am appreciative of your self-control.” Zara eased over to where Elle stood and laid a hand on one of her outstretched arms.
Bethany was just about to grab Peri’s handwhenher mate appearedout of nowhere. He swept her up into his arms—awesome werewolf strength—and strode from the room. “You seriously thought you were going to leave the bloody country without me?” Jacque heard Drake’s voice as they disappeared around the corner.
“She left the bond open.” Sally motioned to where the couple had just been.
“Amateur mistake.” Jacque nodded.
“Everyone on?” Jen asked.
“We are not a damn amusement park ride.” Peri’s eyes flashed with irritation.
“What kind of ride are you?” Jen’s voice was ripe with suggestion.
“Would anyone betooupset if Jennifer suddenly developed laryngitis?” Peri asked just before she flashed them from the mansion.
Chapter 10
“On the tenth day of Christmas my werewolf gave to me ten Jen cakes, nine werewolves prancing, eight laughing females, seven perfect kisses, six packs of Oreos, five satisfied smiles, four hours of hotness, three growling males, two cursingpups, and a furball in a fir tree.” ~Jen
“But really. Just wait. I can’t even.” ~Sally
“Ithought you ladies were just going to pick up cakes,”Costin said to Sally through their bond.
“That was the original plan,”she agreed.“But the cakes weren’t all done, so we figured we’d do some Christmas shopping while we were out.”
“And you have so much Christmas shopping to do that you won’t be home until tomorrow?”
Sally did not miss the displeasure in her mate’s voice.“Peri and Elle will have us back in the blink of an eye. Literally.”
“Costin is not happy about this impromptu shopping trip,” Sally said as they stood at the entrance to a huge mall in Dallas, Texas.
