“He never stays on the red carpet.”
“Who is she?”
“What’s she wearing?”
“Can anyone see a ring?”
“Is that a bump or her dress?”
“Holy shit. Prothero is out with another human being.”
The buzz made me smile.
I tugged on Lielit’s hand, and we turned away. As we walked, a barrage of shouted questions followed us—but we ignored them.
The mystery would rile countless people.
“Stay close tonight,” I reminded her.“Most of these people are cutthroat.”
“I can handle you, can’t I?” she murmured, smiling at the young man holding the door open for us.
“Stop smiling at men,” I hissed when I saw his eyes drop to her breasts.
“I’d suggest the same for you,” she said sweetly,“but your smile would scare off men and women.”
She wasn’t wrong.
“Fenrir doesn’t like it,” I said as we stepped inside.
“Blame the wolf.”
“If we were bonded, you’d be able to communicate with him,” I said as we reached the banquet hall.
“I would?” she asked, turning to look at me.
“In your hyena form,” I whispered.
I’d hidden Fenrir for decades, and I sure as hell didn’t want anyone discovering Bouda.
“The Stewarts are coming over,” I said, deliberately distracting her—though I hoped the seed had been planted.
I made the introductions before scanning the room. Animosity wasn’t new to me, but this level of curiosity directed at Lielit was. Before long, a small cluster formed around us, people waiting their turn to be introduced to her.
I glanced up and spotted a man standing alone on the upper level, drink in hand, watching us. A slow sweep of the room revealed two others who didn’t quite belong.
It seemed David hadn’t appreciated being coerced.
I snapped a photo of two of them. They bolted immediately, murmuring into their earpieces as they went.
Amateurs.
“Where have you been hiding this beauty?” Mandelson asked.
He didn’t touch Lielit, but the open appreciation in his eyes made me want to pluck them out.
“Held captive on a deserted island,” Lielit said pleasantly.
“Behave,” I hissed when I noticed a few people exchanging looks.
