A choking noise erupted in her throat, and her hand went to the back of her neck in a jerking motion. She began rubbing her muscles, staring wide-eyed at the fox shifter as confusion and misery both swirled around her head, so potent I could almost feel it.
More confusion. And more confusion.
The redhead took a step toward him.
She finally garbled, “You met someone too?”
Cass’s mouth opened and closed, like a floundering fish caught in a net. His cheeks flushed so suddenly it was like someone had stamped him with red ink. He sputtered in a hurry, “No. I…no… Fuck no. Just no. I meant—”
“Alaric and I are getting married,” I cut in, saving him from whatever the fuck that was. “Cass isn’t marrying anyone. Not that I know of.”
Her brown eyes flicked back up to the man standing next to her, a silent question in the tilt of her eyebrows.
“No,” Cassander growled adamantly, finding himself again. He straightened his sagging shoulders and crossed his arms over his chest, hovering over her like a pissed off…predator. “I’m not the marrying type.”
She stared for another beat and then turned her back on the most dangerous shifter there was. With her back to him, she flicked her gaze between Alaric and me as a gradual smirk curved her lips. “So when’s the date? I need to buy the perfect gift.” Poppy tapped her pointer finger against her lips, mumbling so quietly that only we could hear her, “What to get for a fuzzy-wuzzy bear…”
I snorted with a laugh, and then quickly coughed over it.
A little guilty, I peered up at Alaric.
But he was grinning at the redhead, too. “You’re such a bitch. And if I have to get married, you better get us something amazing.”
Instantly, her eyes snapped down to my stomach. “Youhaveto get married?”
“I am not pregnant,” I clarified. My tummy was nice and flat, full of muscle. “But I am almost twenty-five.”
Her eyes snapped up to mine, growling, “That stupid damn law.”
“Exactly.”
We nodded our heads in mutual agreement.
Alaric held up his hands, joking, “Before a female uprising occurs, we actually came here for a favor.”
“What’s that?” Poppy asked. “I’m at your service.”
Cass was still glaring at the back of her head.
Alaric explained, “Guest list. I need you to check out the people Faith wants to have there.”
My eyes went heavenward in exasperation. “And if he would have asked before we came here, I could have told him. Easy.” I peered back down at the woman across from me. “I only have one. His name is Butch Reynolds. He works down at the docks. He’s a fisherman.”
“Only one?” she asked, already typing on her silver bracelet. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. If I invited anyone from New City Orphanage, I’d have to invite them all. And you don’t want them there. It would be a madhouse.”
She cleared her throat, pointedly not asking me about my past. Instead, she peeked up, and mentioned, “It looks like Mr. Reynolds has a previous criminal background.”
“For what?” I asked bluntly. It could be anything.
“Attempted murder. He was never formally charged, though.”
“On who?”
“A person named David—”
I snickered instantly. “I wondered why that asshole never tried to grab my ass again.”
