The boy, who looked about fourteen, swallowed hard as his eyes bugged out.
“This is my grandson, Addison. He lives with me. Mr. Storms was generous enough to hire him as my kitchen help.”
Every time she mentioned the estate manager, her eyes sharpened to razor blades.
Well, she doesn’t have to worry about that bastard anymore. No one does.
“Pleased to meet you,” the boy mumbled.
“Same, man. Wait. Shouldn’t you be in school?”
“I do it on the computer,” he said, looking like each word hurt him to say.
“Gotcha. Well, have a good night. See you tomorrow,” my mouth said as my brain shouted,Go, go, go!
“Tomorrow.” Mrs. Wentzel gave me a nod and headed for the door, where she paused and half turned. Her brown eyes sparkling, she dropped a wink. “Oh, and Prince Zane? Whatever havoc you’re about to cause in here, I kindly request that you clean up after yourself.”
“Mrs. Wentzel, it’ll be like it never happened.” I swept her a bow even as I crossed my fingers behind my back.
#
Twenty-seven towels.
That’s how many I dumped on the kitchen island. One immediately became Brumous’ chew toy.
“Up you go, princess.” My hands spanned Seri’s waist as I lifted her onto the marble countertop. She weighed less than our dumbbells.
“Now lie back,” I ordered, rolling a towel beneath her neck so the sink gaped below her curls like a porcelain mouth.
Once I got her settled, and Brumous had parked himself inches from the fridge, nose quivering at the steak scent, I told her to wait, then raced out of the room.
I was halfway back from my glorious treasure hunt, arms fully loaded, when I nearly ran over Koa as he came out of our newly christened security room, a cookie in one hand and crumbs around hismouth as he chewed another. Cas loomed behind him, a few strands of blond hair actually daring to escape from his man bun.
“What.” Cas’ eyebrows did that twitchy thing, the same as the time I’d duct-taped swords to the ceiling fan blades.
“Just helping Seri with something,” I murmured as I trotted past them.
They followed, of course, and Ko’s slow, wicked grin was nearly worth the interference that was sure to come.
“Is Zane measuring you for a sarcophagus?” he chuckled.
Seri blinked at him.
“What’s that, Koko?”
“Coffin for fancy people. All the rage in ancient Egypt.” He plucked a towel, draping it over his arm like a waiter. “You’d make a gorgeous Nefertiti.”
“Hmm.” Cas’ grunt almost sounded affectionate. “Fitting for our queen.”
Our queen.
The words buzzed in my fangs as I thunked shampoo bottles onto the counter. Coconut, lavender, something called “dragon fruit dew” that smelled like a hard candy orgy, and even that citrus stuff Ko insisted on buying for us, but only he and Cas used.
What? Bar of soap worked just as good.
Then Seri sucker-punched me with a shiver.
“Cold?” I asked, already reaching for her.
