“But,” Callon said, his tone clipped as he looked at her, “the females are not a part of the plan.”
“Agreed,” Gage said, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned back in his chair, looking like a judge presiding over a courtroom.
Rafe raised his bowl in salute. “Here’s to both you males, it was nice knowing you. Mostly. Sort of.”
Bane muttered,“Bloody hell.” Then lowered his eyes as if he didn’t want to witness the carnage about to happen.
Smart cat,Lola thought.
Wyatt pouted. “Mate problems.”
Drystan snorted. “Once you have a mate, you won’t be so keen on the problems.”
Lola ignored the two males and focused on her mate. “You can’t actually expect me to simply ‘do what you say.’ You know that, right?”
“I know that I am your mate and that I’ve been a part of this world a hell of a lot longer than you. I’ve been a warrior, trained from the time I was a cub, and can handle myself in any situation.” His words weren’t meant to be cruel, at least Lola didn’t think they were. She knew he was right. What could she possibly do to help? But that didn’t make it any easier to give in.
“This is Maddie we’re talking about, Callon,” she said, her voice softening. “How can I just sit here and wait for news?”
“You sit in chair, it not hard,” Otto said in an exasperated tone as if he was talking to an exhausting toddler.
“Not a good time to chime in, O,” Katy said. The lizard grumbled under his breath, no doubt threatening to bite someone.
Callon held her stare for several seconds before he said, “We’ll wait one more day to hear from Nico. If he doesn’t call, we’ll go in.” His eyes didn’t leave her face even though his words had been for everyone. “I’ll still need to clear it with my father. Gage, do you need to speak to Nox about it?”
Katy snorted. “You seriously didn’t just ask that.”
“What my mate said,” Gage answered dryly.
“What about us?” Lola motioned to herself and then Katy.
Callon shrugged. “Katy’s not my problem. You and I will discuss this in private.”
Lola felt the lioness in her growing more agitated with her mate. She wanted to swipe him with her claws and remind him that she wasn’t human. She might be new to all of this, but she was a shifter. She had a beast with fangs and claws. Her inner feline didn’t seem worried about handling any trouble theymight face. “Fine,” she snapped, picking up his plate and her own and carrying them to the kitchen.
She started to open the dishwasher but Wyatt took the plates from her hand, and Drystan shouldered her out of the way.
“We’ll do the dishes, Little Cat,” Wyatt said gently. It was as if he was apologizing for Callon’s harshness. “Go easy on him,” he continued. “Every mated male's first instinct is to protect their mate at all costs. You’re asking him to go against that. It’s not an easy thing for him to capitulate to.”
“Oh, nice word,” Katy said as she entered the kitchen. “I’m impressed with your linguistics, Wyatt.”
“Don’t be,” Gage growled as he grabbed his mate's hand and pulled her towards another doorway that Lola knew was their bedroom.
“Where are we going?” Katy asked. She looked over her shoulder at Lola and mouthed “save me.”
“To bed,” Gage said, his tone no less grumpy than it had been from the moment everyone invaded his home.
“It’s not time for bed,” Katy argued.
The door closed, but not before Lola heard Gage respond. “I think I can change your mind.”
Lola chuckled as she shook her head. It was totally unfair that these supernatural men were so hot and actually very sweet and romantic. Until they weren’t. Then they were just growling buttheads.
“Lo?” Callon said, his voice soft as he stuck his head in the kitchen.
“Let me guess,” Lola narrowed her eyes on him. “You’ve decided it’s bedtime, too?”
Callon shook his head. “I need to run.”
