“Come on,” he said, pulling back and trying to drag her with him. “Leave your car. You’re coming over.”
She smiled, batted her eyelashes, and did a twist-yank to get her arm out of his grasp. He stumbled backward in surprise.
“I have to go. I’ll call you. I promise.” She opened the door as he was regaining his balance, and slipped into the car as he started back toward her.
He stopped beside the closed door, leaning down to the window. His eyes cleared of their lust, but didn’t lose their determination. He nodded, grinned like this was a game, and lightly tapped the top of the door.
“Okay then, play hard to get.” He stepped away like it was no biggie, slipping his hands into his pockets. “You’ll be mine yet.”
“We’ll see,” she said, playing the game.
She’d repeat that back to him before lights out. If she got the chance…
Her mind raced as she drove home. She crept through the quiet neighborhood to the house near the dual-society zone. Strangely, cars lined the curbs and a few windows in both residences glowed their welcome.
What was everyone doing here? There weren’t any family dinners planned.
She glanced at her phone. No missed calls. There couldn’t be any emergencies.
The front door was unlocked. They were clearly expecting her home. Very presumptuous of them. She’d told Mordie she was going out on a date. Granted, she’d also told him it was with the Chester-hating bartender she’d met last week…
Ah, how stupid of her. Everyone was here because they were worried about her. Or worried she’d have a body on her hands and need help to make it disappear.
If it wasn’t for those questions she had…she would’ve. But she had to know. She had to know if that fae had been blowing smoke that other night in the hotel room…
He must have been, right? How would he even know when she kissed someone? The books said magic didn’t travel across the divide between the realms. It couldn’t. That was what kept humans safe from the wyld fae magic. If he wasn’t here, if he didn’t physicallysee, he couldn’t possibly know.
Right?
Shivers ran down her length, chilling her blood. She didn’t belong to anyone. No part of her did. She certainly didn’t belong to a fucking fae.
Did I unknowingly strike a deal? Without words?
Warm light and the familiar smells of home greeted her. Voices murmured softly in the kitchen, past the foyer. The door clicked softly when she closed it. The voices hushed.
Yup, they were here for her.
Bria sat at the island with a half-finished bottleof Jack Daniel’s beside her, her fingers wrapped around a glass of mostly ice. She swayed when she spied Daisy, and a smirk played across her lips.
“Well hello there, little masochist,” she said, slurring her words. “Hanging out with people who hate everything you are, I hear. How’d that go? More importantly, did you take Zorn’s teachings to heart and ensure not to leave any evidence at the crime scene?”
Thane sat at the table with his back to the window. A beer bottle was sweating in front of him. At the end of the table sat Dylan in a rumpled shirt he wore so well, with tousled hair and bedroom eyes. The guy didsexywithout trying. He probably wished he could turn that facet of himself off, though. He certainly wasn’t ready to be touched by anyone other than supportive family members for a short hug. He’d had a tough past.
The only other person in the kitchen was Zorn, sitting at the end of the table with a scotch on the rocks, or some other brown liquor. He wore sports sweats and a white T-shirt, like he was just about to go to bed. His gray eyes missed nothing as they assessed her.
“Hey,” she said as she pulled out a chair. “What’s the occasion?”
Thane’s eyebrows lifted. He thought that was a stupid question.
“Do you want a drink?” Zorn asked. He wanted the gossip. They probably all did. Tomorrow, Lexi or Mordecai—or both—would probably lecture her. She had a great many mother hens in thisoutfit.
“Sure, why not?” she said breezily, sitting. “A nightcap might be nice.”
“You didn’t have one of those earlier with your new beau?” Thane asked, his voice laced with a growl.
“Another nightcap, then.”
Thane’s expression darkened.
