“And while we are at it, Star and I really need some fucking privacy right now.” I snapped at him next, making his eyes widen. “Natasha might have loved having you all in her mind every freaking second, but I’m not her, and my mind isn’t an all-you-can-eat buffet, so get the hell out of it!”
A holy shit kind of silence swept the entire room while a satisfied smirk curved our Vampir Mother’s red lips…
“Yeah, take that!”Star added, making me almost smile.
The guys exchanged a solemn glance, and to my surprise, I felt the instant Dante’s shadows slowly drifted away from my mind. I could no longer sense him there, or the others.
“Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit! There has never been a better introduction than this in the history of the entire world, y’all.”
The peculiar accent brought my attention to the door, where a sultry brunette stood, dressed in the same outfit the rest of the Countess’s guard wore. The rivetted look on her face said this was just the kind of drama she thrived off.
“Georgette, I’m glad you could join us,” Mother welcomed. “I’m afraid we need your help with something. But before we proceed, have you eaten, would you like to sit down?”
“Not yet. It can wait depending on what you need, Countess.”
“Natalia, this is Georgette. Georgette, this is my latest newborn, Natalia.”
“Pleasure to meet you, sugar.”
“Nice to meet you too,” I offered, kind of charmed by her. She was so different.
“Bitch, I like her…”
“Me too.”
My narrowed gaze swept over Dante, Hannes, and André just to double-check they hadn’t heard us, but the looks on their faces said it all. Good.
“Natalia seems unable to access certain memories, and we are hoping you could help.”
“Of course, Countess! It’ll be over faster than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking competition.”
Chuckles spread around the table, breaking the tension as our Vampiri Mother stood. “Perfect. Your room?” she asked, glancing at me. “This should be done in private.”
“Yes,” I agreed, standing as well and instantly seeing all three of our mates rise right after me, like my shadows.
“Now, just to keep me going.” Georgette grabbed the infamous wine glass from the tray, swinging it back like a shot of liquor. “Ready when you are, sugar.”
“Oh, thank the Goddess.”
Star’s relief wasn’t lost on me.
Her confidence in me being able to resist it without anyone taking my choice away would have been nice, but whatever.
“Thanks for having lunch with me,” I offered Isis and everyone else who stood from the table. They had welcomed me even thoughtheirNatasha wasn’t the one here.
“Of course, girl. We’ll see you later,” Vanessa offered with a sweet smile that Alyce mirrored, but a hint of worry slipped through them.
“Would you like me to come?” Isis asked while Bjørn took her hand in his, squeezing it.
“I think he’s giving her strength in case you say you don’t need her.”
Right.
“I’m not that big of a bitch.”
Star huffed.
“Yeah, sure,” I offered Isis.
