She had taken control, altering the sequence of compounds.Just a few lines of code changed, subtle enough not to trip alarms.Instead of triggering a fatal collapse, the virus would weaken a shifter for only a minute or two, then pass without lasting harm.
Violet had stared at her.“Why?Why not just kill the damn thing outright?”
Klarissa’s voice had been steady.“Because if they don’t see a reaction in the shifter, they’ll kill him anyway.A bullet to the head or the heart will do what their virus can’t.But if I can buy them time—even seconds—then maybe someone lives who wouldn’t have.”
The memory made her throat tight.In that moment, she had felt both the weight of her work and the glimmer of control.Maybe she couldn’t stop her father, not yet.But she could stall him.
A voice behind her had cut through her thoughts.“That’s our mate,suuway.Fucking brilliant.”Rune’s tone had been smug with pride.
Kamon’s chuckle had followed.“Lucky bastards, aren’t we?”
Violet had snorted, spinning her chair around.“Damn right you are.Do you even realize how rare it is to get beauty, brains, and badass all rolled into one?You two hit the jackpot.”
Klarissa had turned then—and nearly lost her composure.Rune and Kamon stood in the doorway, dressed to kill in tailored black trousers and crisp shirts, sleeves rolled back to reveal strong forearms.Polished shoes, perfectly fitted jackets.The kind of sight that made her stomach swoop and her mouth go dry.
She fought the urge to gape.“What—what are you two doing dressed like that?”
Rune grinned, slow and wolfish.“Taking you to dinner.”
Klarissa blinked.“Dinner?Now?Are you insane?There’s too much to do.Time is running out—”
“Life’s too short to chain yourself to a keyboard twenty-four-seven,” Violet cut in, eyes dancing with amusement.“Trust me, I’ve tried.You’ll fry your brain if you don’t take a break.Go.Eat.Pretend the world isn’t ending for a couple of hours.”
Before Klarissa could marshal another argument, Violet was hauling her up, muttering something about how no bestie of hers was going to show up to a date in lab clothes.Klarissa found herself hustled upstairs, deposited in Violet’s rooms and then there was the raiding of closets for something suitable.
Rune and Kamon waited in the lounge, settling in with Jacob and Mason, their easy banter filling the space while Klarissa was transformed.And for the first time in far too long, Klarissa let herself imagine what it might feel like to be just a woman going to dinner with two men who looked at her like she was their whole world.
****
Klarissa stepped outof Violet’s room and into the open-plan lounge, the soft click of her heels announcing her before Rune even looked up.And when he did, the air left his lungs in a rush.Her red hair had been swept up artfully, leaving the graceful line of her neck exposed.The cream dress clung to her curves, off the shoulder, fitted through the waist before sweeping out gently at the hips to end just above her knees.Makeup highlighted the glow in her eyes without hiding a single freckle, and her scent was subtle, delicate—but it wrapped around him like silk.She was stunning, and for a moment Rune could only stare.
Beside him, Kamon muttered a low curse, awe bleeding through his voice.Rune caught the dazed look on his twin’s face and felt the same thunder of recognition.Their mate.Absolutely radiant.
Rune forced himself to his feet, a grin tugging at his lips even as his chest pounded.“Suuway,” he said reverently.“If you wanted to kill us with one look, mission accomplished.”
Klarissa flushed, ducking her head slightly as she crossed the room toward them both.“I’m dressed okay?”She asked, her voice a little uncertain.“You didn’t tell me where we were going to eat.”
Kamon stepped forward and took her right hand in his left.“Rune and I wanted to make sure we could spend time together, so we’ve cooked for you.”
Rune loved the delighted look of surprise that swept across her beautiful face.“You did?”
Not to be outdone by his brother, he stepped forward and took her left hand in his right.“We sure did, and it is all set up downstairs.”He and Kamon swept the hands they held into their elbows and began to lead her toward the elevator when a burst of laughter cut through the room.
Violet smacked both Jacob and Mason on the arms.“When exactly are you two going to cook me a full spread and treat me like a damn princess?”
Jacob arched a brow.“Didn’t we just do that last week with the candlelit takeout from the Thai place you love?”
Mason grinned.“Yeah, except she demanded extra spring rolls and stole all of mine.”
Violet gasped theatrically, then broke into giggles before Jacob swept her up over his shoulder.“You’re in trouble now,” he muttered as she laughed and kicked, and Mason followed them toward their bedroom shaking his head.
Kamon chuckled.“Pretty sure we know what they’ll be doing later.”
Klarissa mumbled under her breath, “Lucky Violet.”
Rune’s grin widened as he leaned down, his lips brushing her ear.“You know we have better than normal hearing,Suuway.We heard that.”
Her cheeks flushed crimson, and laughter bubbled between the three of them as they exited the elevator and made their way to Violet’s guest apartment.
