Then Nate stopped dead as a huge creature—a miniature mountain lion?—with thick soot-gray fur and an orange ruff waddled past, ignoring them, its belly almost dragging on the ground. “What the hell is that?”
“Oh, it’s the king of the castle and our pet, Bob.”
“A cat named Bob?” He shook his head, and could feel Ely’s grin as the feline went into stalking mode. Who the hell knew what it saw in the snow-covered garden?
“He’s actually Echo’s pet. Don’t worry, sooner or later, he’ll let you know if you’re acceptable or not.”
Ely tugged him away from the cat, and they approached another terrace cleared of snow and edged with potted plants. A wrought iron table and chairs took up space on his left, the icy air heavily scented with fragrant herbs.
Her grip on his hand tightened as they took the few steps up. Hell, he wasn’t one for talking to groups of people, let alone his former enemies, but for her, he’d rearrange the stars in the sky if she wanted.
Ely opened one of the French doors and entered. He followed, stepping into the warmth of an enormous, open-plan kitchen and dining room, the air redolent with the scent of something savory cooking.
Several females were there, chatting and laughing with a tall male with steel-gray hair who worked at the window counter. The woman with the spiral auburn hair he’d met last night, Kira, hacked away at some veggies on the isle counter. His kin, Shadow, stood opposite her and was laying…salami? On bread already slathered with peanut butter. She rolled the thing up and took a bite.
Hades! That didn’t look good at all.
Since they all were facing away from the doors, no one noticed them. Yet.
Then Kira looked up, and grinned, revealing dimples. “Hey.”
Shadow pivoted. The chatter dropped. All eyes focused on them.
“You guys are here!” A wide smile split Shadow’s face. Weird sandwich in hand, she hurried over and gave them both a quick one-armed hug.
“Shadow,” he greeted.
“We, ah, overslept,” Ely said, her cheeks reddening, giving lie to her comment.
Shadow waved it off. “No worries—”
“What do you mean,no worries?” Kira laughed. “When we’re all dying with impatience here, waiting for you two to come over.”
Nate felt an unexpected smile start at the female’s effervescent exuberance. The other three females seated at the table with cups in front of them rose. All of them watched the scene with little smiles.
A beaming Ely put her hand on his arm. “Nate, these are my dearest friends. That’s Shae with the red hair, her mom, Jenna,” she pointed to the smaller woman with darker red hair, “and Darci.” She waved to the taller, curvy brunette. “Echo’s not here. She’s in a healing sleep. You’ll meet her in a few days. And that—” She indicated the male with the steel-colored hair. “Is Hedori. Our friend, butler, and bodyguard extraordinaire.”
“Everyone, this is my mate, Nate.”
Helloandhi, Nate,erupted from the females.
Hedori nodded. Though his expression remained neutral, his eyes were warm. Nate could feel the male’s affection for Ely.
“It’s good to see you happy, finally, my lady.”
“Hedori, please. It’s still Ely.”
Smiling at her grumbling, he inclined his head.
“It’s lunch soon. You guys are staying, yes?” Kira asked, scooping all her greens into a bowl.
Are you okay with that?Ely telepathed him.
I’m not gonna deny you time with your family,laika.
“Yes, we will,” she said, a wave of her happiness sweeping through him like a caress. “Anyway, I also need to move my clothes and other stuff to the boathouse.”
“Oh, Ely,” Shadow said, picking up a familiar obsidian dagger from the sideboard. You dropped this outside on the front portico.”
