“Your life IS fake.” Krystin returned to her perch behind the counter. “You married a wolf king because of a spell you found in your grandma’s basement. That’s not real life. That’s a Hallmark movie on acid.”
“Hallmark doesn’t have that much sex,” Daphne said.
“How would you know?”
“I watch a LOT of Hallmark.”
We settled into our usual spots, me in my favorite chair, Krystin leaning over the counter, Bella and Daphne claiming the couch. Daphne had portaled earlier from Noctherion, where she lived with her mate, Aurion. Mal’s brother. Our little group spanned two worlds now, but somehow we made it work.
“How’s Killian?” Bella asked.
“Four years old and absolutely feral.” I pulled out my phone, scrolling to the photos I’d taken this morning. Data didn’t work in Lytopia, but at least the camera did. “He ate an entire jar of honey before breakfast.”
“Like... a big jar?” Krystin leaned forward.
“The biggest jar. With his hands.” I showed them the picture of Killian, covered in honey, grinning like a maniac.
Daphne laughed so hard she snorted. “Did he survive?”
“He’s literally vibrating. I left Mal dealing with the sugar crash.”
“Speaking of mates who make questionable parenting decisions,” Bella said, tucking her feet under her, “Logan let the pack pups ‘teach’ him TikTok dances last week.”
“Oh no.”
“Oh yes. There’s video evidence. I’m saving it for divorce leverage.”
“You’re not getting divorced,” I said.
“Not yet. But when I do, I’ll have ammunition. Logan asks about you all the time,” she added. “Wants to know when you’re visiting again.”
“How is pack life treating you?”
Bella’s mate was a wolf king too - different pack, based on Earth instead of in Lytopia. Their romance had been its own kind of chaos.
“Exhausting but good.” She smiled that secret smile she got whenever she talked about him. “He’s doing the possessive lurking thing again.”
“The standing-behind-you-while-you-talk-to-other-men thing?”
“And the growling. So much unnecessary growling. Last week a barista called me ‘sweetheart’ and I thought Logan was going to vault over the counter.”
“Mal does that too!” I laughed. “Must be a wolf king thing.”
“It’s ridiculous.” Bella paused. “But also kind of hot?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Meanwhile,” Krystin cut in, “I’m single while you three are literally queens. How is that fair? We all joined the same book club. We all read the same vampire romances. Why did YOU get the supernatural soulmates?”
“Not sure. The Society of Edward’s Sparkles didn’t prepare any of us for this,” Daphne said. “I’m sure your king is out there somewhere.”
“Remember when we thought the most unrealistic part of Twilight was that Edward watched Bella sleep?” I shook my head. “I woke up to Mal standing over my bed like three times after we were married.”
“That’s creepy,” Krystin said.
“It was terrifying. I threw a lamp at him once.”
“Did it hurt him?”
