“Engagement?” Hudson asked like I’d promised Sebastian my hand in marriage.
I patted his chest. “No need for jealousy, Principal, I’m a one tiger girl. I told you about this already. My best friend needs my support to face down his parents. He’s about to give them some home truths, and I don’t expect it to be pleasant.”
“If Leon lays one finger on you, I will destroy him,” Hudson growled. Ha, this was quite the turnaround from the politically-driven motivation that had caused us to separate not so long ago. This was the devotion I needed, and I was going to covet it like Gollum and his precious.
“Let’s get you cleaned up first,” I told Hudson. I expected him to fight me, but apparently, me putting him before Sebastian made him more amenable.
Sebastian entered the house first and sat in the empty parlor, shrouded in darkness. Maggie was busy checking in a dainty female vampire with long dark hair. Rebecca poked her head out of the kitchen.
“Can you keep Sebastian company?” I asked.
She raised a brow at my state. “Are you okay?”
“It’s not mine,” I reassured her as I dragged Hudson down the stairs and into my office. I pointed at my chair. “Sit.”
He did as I instructed and I retrieved some antiseptic and dressings. I slid between his legs, and his hands wrapped around my thighs, holding me close as I began bathing the worst of his wounds on his neck.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. No apology cut it. There was no excuse.
“I think you need to let Indigo out more often,” Hudson said carefully, causing me to scowl.
“What possessed you to make that conclusion?”
“You need to become more in tune with her. If she didn’t feel oppressed, she wouldn’t overreact when she senses you’re in danger.”
Huh, that made sense I guess, and he did have his own beast to contend with, who he certainly had a better relationship with.
“I’ll make time to get to know her,” I said as I placed a dressing against his neck and moved to his arms. The puncture marks had almost closed over. I took my time cleaning the blood from his flesh anyway, wanting to erase the pain I’d caused.
Hudson caught my hand as I was repeating the wiping motion to get rid of the blood.
“Stop, I’m okay. I’ll be healed before you return with the vampire.”
As if on cue, Sebastian strode into the room. “Are you coming?” he snapped.
I rolled my eyes and gave Hudson a quick kiss, the lingering guilt still present between us.
“You can make kissy faces with the cat later. We need to hit the road and get this done before I back out.”
“Keep your panties on, I’m coming.”
“Not helping, Cora,” Hudson grumbled.
A blush filled my cheeks as his words penetrated.Cora Roberts—mistress of the innocent innuendo.
***
Castle Elliot was a lesson in gothic architecture. Built in the seventeenth century, the main building encompassed towers and turrets with gargoyles and arched stained glass windows. The inside had been modernized over the years by Aira, Sebastian’s mother, creating a perfect blend of historical and modern. I loved their home. But I hated Leon, he was an arrogant, unfeeling asshole. Vampires often became emotionless over time. I think it was a symptom of their extended lifespan, as they watched generations of humanity fall around them and the rise of new eras.
“You ready?” I asked Sebastian as he opened the front door.
“As I’ll ever be,” he grumbled. There was a hard set to his lips. He was determined to explain his avoidance of his parents’ marriage matches, but I couldn’t see this going well.
Aira appeared from the drawing room to the right. Like Rebecca, she was the epitome of royal elegance. Dressed in a simple but expensive black sheath dress, she oozed grace and decorum. Unlike me, whose clumsy feet got her into trouble more often than not.
“Sebastian, Cora, I wasn’t expecting you,” she said, her voice a tinkling sound. “Is there anything wrong?”
Sebastian shook his head and I stepped a little closer in a show of silent support. “I need to speak to you and father,” he said, pushing on through the house and into the drawing room.
