The day I was crowned the Rossey boss and announced I was moving to Montana, he got those sleeves. Standing next to me as my second, he showed the world that he might be a demon, but he was a wolf at heart.
I threw my bag in the back and climbed into the passenger seat. “Think you can make it in seven minutes?”
He slid behind the wheel, revved the engine, and grinned. “Hells yeah! Wave goodbye to the gym, Nov. We’re blasting off!”
The jeep shot forward, pressing me into the seat as we whipped out of the lot and onto the road skirting around Whitefish Lake. My ponytail snapped against my face, but even that couldn’t stop me from drinking in the crisp air. Vegas would always be home, but this—trees, earth, wild green—was in my blood.
I closed my eyes, spread my arms wide, and drew in a deep breath. My wolf stirred faintly, warmth flickering in my chest, content.
The jeep lurched. My eyes snapped open, a glare locked on Zeth. He wouldn’t meet my gaze, but his neck was getting all red. I bet he nearly hit another deer. Idiot.
“Need me to drive?” I shouted into the whipping wind.
He shook his head, hair flying around his face, wild and boyish. “No! Just didn’t want to hit a rabbit!”
Biting back a laugh, I turned away. He was such a softie when it came to animals. You’d never guess he was a demon if you didn’t feel his aura.
He veered sharply onto a dirt path, and I grabbed the bar overhead to keep from sliding out. My own fault since I told him to go fast.
Glancing at my watch, I muttered, “We’re cutting it close.”
“I’ll get you there, Nov. Don’t worry your pretty little head.”
I choked. “Little?! There’s nothing little about what’s in this head!”
His grin slid sideways. “Exactly my point. Big head, big ego, dangerous combo.”
I smacked his arm, and he barked out a laugh, which only made the jeep fishtail harder. Those bright turquoise eyes twinkled at the corners like they’d caught starlight, and he said, “I just meant, I got you.Always.”
Butterflies erupted in my stomach, but I strangled them quickly. Nope! No, stomach. He meant as a friend. Ally. Confidant. Nothing more.
The forest broke into a clearing where my Calix-upgraded cabin-mansion rose, luxury dressed up in rustic charm. A mixture of dark, rich wood, glass walls, and steel accents with magic carved into them. Calix even installed a sliding wolf door just for me.
I checked the time. No second to spare. As Zeth steered toward the garage, I leapt out, shifting into my wolf form mid-air.
Behind me, his voice called, “I’ll park it and toss your clothes in the wash! I’ll be in the casita if you need me!”
Running on all fours, I dodged through the deadly traps that lined the way up to the patio—Calix’s extra security after what happened with Aniyah.
The wolf door scanned my fur and eyes before beeping green and sliding open. I bounded up the stairs and smashed into my office, shifting back just in time to snatch the robe hanging on my door. No way in hell was I giving my siblings a free show. I wasn’t like Aniyah and her damn honeymoon phase.
Dropping into my chair, I slammed on the conference button. Holograms of Calix, Ezra, and Riot flickered to life, all of them sitting and looking at me, but no Aniyah.Yes! Beat her.
“Nova!” Calix gasped, clutching his chest in mock horror. “We don’t care what you do with your personal time, but did you really need to show up in a robe?”
He slammed his hands over his eyes like I was blinding him.
I breathed in, counted to three, and let my voice drip sweet and sharp. “Some of us actually step outside and do things. Unlikeyou.” My gaze dropped to the dark stain on his shirt. I arched a brow. “Is that day-old blood I see, dear brother?”
He glanced down and grimaced. My grin went feral. “Mom taught you better than that.”
“Nah,” he chuckled. “Mom would’ve laughed at the mess. It’d be Papa Avery giving me shit, demanding I take a shower and look like a decent member of society.” He rolled his eyes, and I swore I could hear his voice in my head saying exactly that.
I missed my parents. For almost five years, they’d been traipsing across the globe, leaving us to solidify our place as leaders. It was long enough.
A soft, sweet giggle drifted from the speaker as Aniyah’s hologram flickered to life. Head down at her desk, she murmured something in a hushed tone before looking up, trying to school her expression.
“How nice of you to grace us with your presence, Boss Glovefox.”
