“Hey, take it outside. I have a strict no violence policy in the house. Break it, and you’ll be out of here faster than a cat dodging bath time.”
They ignored me. The White Furry Menace decided to join the spectators and appeared from the stairs. She glanced at the dueling duo and padded off into the parlor.
Ezra glared at Rebecca, and the corner of her lip twitched.
“I needed sustenance,” she said in her soft, lilting voice as she stretched out her hand and checked her nails. “You know, blood, being a vampire. So now, I’m warning you. Touch my food, and I’ll skin you alive and make myself a nice furry rug.”
“I’ll provide it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Been there, done that. You’re a little watery for my taste.”
Oh shit.
Ezra released the poor unsuspecting shifter and threw him to the side. He gasped and stumbled toward me. He glanced at the stairs like he was debating making a break for his bedroom, or worse, hers.
“Outside,” I warned him. “Run, while you can.”
He at least didn’t ignore me and stumbled out of the door and disappeared. Awesome. Now that no one was in imminent danger…
“Cora, my beautiful niece,” Lucifer drawled. I poked at my boundary wards. Still there, still active, just ignoring the devil at my door. Fantastic.
“If you need blood, you will take it from me, and me alone, Becca,” Ezra said, crowding her against the wall. Her eyes flared, and my muscles tensed to intervene. “I won’t warn you again. Next time you go for someone’s throat, I’ll take their heart.”
“That’s not the artery I prefer to pop,” Rebecca taunted.
Shut up. Please, for my sanity, shut up.
Ezra slammed his hand against the wall. Kudos to the incredible workmanship of my home that it didn’t crumble. His other hand moved to grab her throat. My feet powered forward, and then I was running in the air due to the giant arm banded around my waist that had hoisted me off the floor.
Rebecca, in a move so fast and fluid I couldn’t even follow it, threw Ezra to the floor and rested her dainty foot on his chest.
“Never put your hands on me in anger,” she said, calm as a cucumber.
Ezra smirked, put his hands underneath his head, and gazed up at her like she was his entire world. “I knew you liked me.” She huffed and stormed up the stairs. He glanced at us. “I think I’m in love.”
“Shifters,” I growled, tapping Hudson’s arm. “Let me go.”
“You sure you won’t get violent?” he uttered in my ear.
“Only if you continue to hold me like a child.”
He chuckled and released me. I spun to face my uncle. “What are you doing here?” He jerked his head at the stairs leading down to my office. Ugh, fine.
I stalked forward, glancing at Ezra. “Go make sure my vampire princess isn’t hungry,” I snapped. “Also, the house rules state that if you break it, you buy it. That goes for everything, from vases to my guests.” He snorted and jumped to his feet without putting his hands on the floor before disappearing up the stairs in a blur.
I ushered the devil, my stupid mate, and Sebastian into my office. “No Liz?” I checked, finding my aunt had stayed upstairs.
“She is checking in on Maggie after the big shifter power display,” Sebastian said as I closed the door, sealing us inside. I spun around and found my uncle in my chair, and the other two men in my patient ones. Alrighty, then. I dragged the last chair over from the corner and parked it between the angel, the shifter, and the vampire. Quite the party we were having.
“What’s up?” I asked. I had questions of the spiritual kind for him, so may as well get my devil bank account in the plus. The alternative was asking my father, and that was less appealing.
“I paid your grandmother a visit,” he drawled as he cast a glance around my office.
“And?” Hudson growled.
“She was a little surprised, but that might have been her naked state with shampoo running down her face while in the shower.”
I shuddered. Why? Just why? I could have lived a very happy life without that visual. “What happened?”
