“They do. We’re safe here,” Locheran says, answering my silent inquiries.
He’s walking fast enough that my short legs struggle to keep up. I’m seconds from asking him to slow down before he stops in front of a beautifully crafted wooden door. Flowers and religious figures that I couldn’t begin to name decorate the sides, leading to a massive cross in the middle.
Locheran lifts our embraced hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles.
Something else he likes to do.
He’s such a gentleman when he wants to be.
Gentlegoyle. Gargoman?
“Ready?” he asks, smiling.
“Ready,” I say with a firm nod.
He opens the door and all conversations pause; heads turn our way.
My heart responds to the sudden attention by drumming frantically inside my chest. Everyone here being a monster doesn’t help my anxiety because now they can hear just how nervous I am.
Locheran squeezes my hand, which offers some comfort. He pulls us inside the room and closes the door behind me.
“Hello everyone,” he says. His arm snakes around my waist and tugs me to his side. “This is Farrah, my mate.”
I recognize Rorik. Evangeline and Xander are here.
There’s Thorne, the massive gargoyle with a scar slashed diagonally across his face. I met him briefly at Evangeline’s wedding before he had to leave. He stands on the other side of a long conference table where stacks of paper and other materials pile up. His muscular dark purple arms are crossed over his chest and instead of appearing intimidating, he smirks.
It’s a bit unnerving because I have no doubt he could kill me with his pinky, but his smile says he’s kind and happy we’re here.
Two women approach me. A stunning creature with golden fur and wings of golden feathers. Her blonde hair is styled in loose curls around her head. The other womanhas light brown skin, despite the deathly pallor of a vampire, and auburn hair that she has styled up in an elegant bun. She’s short and thick, but not as short and thick as me.
The sphinx and the vampire queen—Thorne’s two mates.
They were both at the supernatural conference, but Locheran literally kidnapped me before we could properly meet and when we returned from the rooftop, they were gone. And even though they’re not technically on the team to track down the hunters, Locheran said they’d be here tonight because they wanted to meet me.
“I’m Vara,” the sphinx says, noticing me gawking at her beauty. She waves her hand in front of the vampire queen. “This is Layla.”
I have the urge to curtsy, and I’m on my way to doing so before Layla reaches out to stop me. Her cold hand lands on my forearm.
“Please, there’s no need for that,” she says, her velvet voice like a wonderful song.
She’s gorgeous, and I struggle to form words. “Hi. Um, nice to officially meet you. Both of you.”
Layla drops her hand and bursts into laughter. She raises a brow to Locheran. “How on earth did you convince this adorable woman to be your mate?”
Locheran flips her off, which doesn’t have the impact he’s intending with just four fingers.
“She’s so quiet,” Vara adds. She places a paw on my shoulder. I try not to stare at her sharp claws out of my peripheral vision. “Does he not annoy you?”
My face heats. Not just my cheeks, my entire face, and it spills onto my neck and chest.
“Um… well, we haven’t really spent too much time together, so…”
The two women give each other a look and fall into a fit of laughter again.
“Do you two mind?” Locheran says, huffing.
“Sorry,” Layla says when her giggles wane. She holds out her hand. “Please, Farrah, give me your phone so I can put my number in there. You’ll call anytime you need a break?”
