I shrug mysteriously. “I know people. I did some things. I collaborated a bit.”
“What did you settle on for themes?” Hex asks around a mouthful of bobby pins. He’s finished Sandrine, and he’s now prepping Siren for her time in the chair. “You said that you were having trouble deciding on them.”
“I was,” I agree, wrinkling my nose and then wincing when it earns me a pinch. “I went with Hidden Desires, Speaking the Truth, Lost Inhibitions, Kinky, True Self, and Switch-a-roo.”
Rafe stops, pulls back, and gives me an annoyed look. “So much for avoiding controversy and conflict, woman. There’s not a thing on that list that doesn’t scare the tight pants right off me.”
I snort and shrug. “People are here to have fun and mingle. I don’t expect a lot of problems from most of them. The ones who would cause trouble will do it regardless of the room. At least this promises to give us some interesting stories.”
“Let me get this straight: when they walk in the room, the door will close and the magick will begin, right? The room will affect them in a perception-altering way, like a bending of reality that they play out until the door gets opened?” Caesar scratches his head as if trying to figure out the mechanics in a way that only a master engineer would.
“Speaking of people who would love to break down how it all works, where’s Victor?” Sandrine asks.
Hex chuckles. “He’s ready. He’s been monitoring the early arrivals and keeping an ear on the kitchen staff while we finish. He’s waiting for reinforcements, for sure. Leave him alone with Chance, Aidan, and Preston long enough and someone will go missing.”
Rafe stops, steps back, and grins. “Voila!”
I look in the mirror. Every bit of my makeup and hair is in perfect symmetry. “I look like the cat that ate the canary.”
“Indeed, my night bloom,” he says, kissing my nose. “Now, shoo. I have several other people to finish in a short amount of time.”
“Thank you.” Turning to my family, I tilt my head. “Are everyone's guests coming? I know Dona and Lucinda are not coming over, which is disappointing, but is everyone else good?”
Leo grins. “All our buddies are coming, and my girl’s here.”
“I think she’s coming with that crowd of sodding loonies,” Hex says, looking forlorn. “I haven’t heard from her in a while.”
I wonder, not for the first time, how much the divide in the families is making his relationship with Chaos suffer. He doesn’t show it much. Siren is scowling, and I frown, not sure what has set her off.
“Agreed. The boys will be here when their family arrives,” Philomena says, sipping her martini as if she couldn’t care less. She’s putting on a show; I see the tiniest wrinkle at the corner of her eyes that means she’s worried about Roman and Janus.
Damn it. I hate that this is affecting them.
I hate that it’s affecting my family—all my family—even the ones who don’t have a damned thing to do with the whole mishegoss?1. “Okay. Let’s finish getting ready and have a party!”
At least I can pretend I think everything will be all right—maybe that’ll make it so.
The Bird Prepares An Entrance
TAURUS
My primary is in the next room on the phone.
She’s irritated, which is why she walked away with her cell rather than take it in here. I guess she didn’t trust me not to insert my worthy opinion into whatever nonsense she’s discussing. Standing in the master bedroom at our first home—not the one we share with our mates now, but our original homestead—I hear her as if she is right in front of me. She’s as close as being in my skin, and that’s more noteworthy than not, but it’s always been that way.
To say we’re bonded would be a cliché, that’s for sure.
No need to surmise what she’s irritated about. I know very well which phone number called, and the only person who calls from that number is gnawing on some offense I’ve committed. It’s the only reason he ever calls, I swear. Okay, that’s not true, but it’s the only reason that he calls that leaves my woman’s patience in tatters. Not that her threshold is high on any day, but as that’s one of the many reasons I love her, I’m good with that.
Or I would be, except that after these calls, it’s me she’s irritated with.
I sigh, wondering if I’m going to be dodging a rain of steel before we leave.
Damn Mikhail.
That sod has radar for when I’ve been coloring outside of the lines. Twisting the sapphire stud in my ear, I stare down at the clothing on the bed while I try to buffer some sharp, pointy waves of emotion coming from her. There’ll be time for her to hit me with the big stuff later if I’m in for it. I’ve got enough on my plate trying to focus on preparing for this little soiree without worrying about Mikhail’s hissy fit.
For the moment, I’m standing there trying to figure out how in the bloody hell I got myself into this mess. I don’t mean the rule-breaking mess, as I never need to buy a clue to how to get into that; I seek it out. What I’m wondering is how I’m supposed to get myself into the mess of not-really clothing on the bed.
