“I’m closing Lost Things until I can find a place to relocate.”
Silas frowned.“Business not what you thought it would be?”
“My reasons aren’t financial.It’s time for me to make a new start.”The demon shifted uneasily in the light of the fire.
“I’ll let Jason know.”
Ryker bowed and disappeared into the woods.The fire had completely burned out, and a cool breeze coursed through the crowd.A line of people had formed to shake the new mother’s hand.Others had drifted off to make their way home.
“Looks like everyone’s disbanding,” Meredith said.
“I know it’s late, but there’s somewhere I want to take you.”
“Other than home and to bed?”
Silas grinned mischievously.“Oh, I’ll get to that.But first I thought we could get something to eat.”
“Perfect.I’m starving.”She hooked her arm with his, and he led her to the car.
“Rivergate Manor.”Meredith eyed the sprawling front of the estate, thinking it hadn’t changed much since she’d last been there with her father.With its Italian marble floor and airy veranda, the mansion looked like it was plucked from a postcard of Venice.“I was expecting Valentine’s.Does this manor even have a restaurant?”
Silas flashed a roguish grin.“Not usually, but I pulled in a special favor.Trust me.”
“Special favors?In the middle of the night?”
“Well, I am special… and royal.Have I mentioned I’m the alpha?”
She laughed.“Maybe.I keep forgetting.”
He took her arm and led her inside.“This visit is about more than dinner.I thought it was time we discussed your apprehension regarding our shifting grounds.Now that we’ve been together for some time, I think it’s important for you to be reintroduced to pack royalty, begin coming to pack functions again.What do you think?Or do you plan to move back to the Catskills after your mom is released?”
Her eyes flicked to the floor and back up to meet his.“I love you, Silas.I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good.”He reached out and briefly touched her face.“I love you too.”
“So you don’t mind having a partner long-term?”she asked, poking him in the side.
His eyes wrinkled slightly at the edges.“I think I can live with it.Come on.”
He led her across the veranda and through the ballroom to a set of glass doors that opened onto the main garden.Red hibiscus the size of dinner plates welcomed them.Roses in a spectrum of cherry hues rivaled white hydrangeas for her attention, rioting below the twisted branches of blooming trees.There were more varieties of plants and flowers here than she could name.
“This is new!”The last time she was here with her father, the garden was a simple square of bushes and evergreens.
“Cameron planted this last year.Smell.”
She inhaled deeply.“Gorgeous.”
“So that our wolves always know which way is home.”
She looked up at the stars just as Silas flipped a switch on the side of the building and strings of large white lights glowed to life overhead.A table for two was set and waiting at the center of the garden.
“What is this, Silas?”she asked.
A waiter in a black-and-white tuxedo stepped out of the north entrance to fill two champagne glasses.
“Dinner.I thought we established that.”
“Fancy dinner.I feel underdressed.”The jeans and dressy black sweater she’d worn to the outdoor funeral suddenly seemed inappropriate.
