Victoria frowned. “That girl is permanently glued to her phone and has an abnormal fondness for taffeta.”
“And I grow hairy every full moon,”I pointed out. “Besides, I can see why they’d get along. They share common interests, what with Hugh being the pack’s digital strategist and all.”
Even I had come to appreciate Hugh’s social media skills after the whole Vampire Purity scandal involving Ludvik Bludworth. He’d fielded enquiries from the supernatural press camped outside Hawthorne & Associates like a pro and hadn’t even broken a sweat when he’d been ambushed in an elevator by a bevy of news hungry vampires who’d managed to get past Charlene and Fred.
Victoria drummed her fingers on the table in a way that I was certain violated some kind of etiquette but was definitely not going to comment on.
“The Luptons might view this as another opportunity.” Her frown deepened. “They’ve been looking for ways to strengthen ties with our pack since the mate bond situation didn’t go their way.”
I shifted uncomfortably. The mate bond situation being, of course, me.
Samuel sighed. “I doubt that’s at the top of Danielle Lupton’s mind right now, what with the Holts still deciding whether to accept Lauren into their pack as Marcus’s mate. Besides, Hugh’s an adult. He can date whoever he wants.”
He was taking this far better than I’d expected.
Victoria frowned. “Of course he can.” She picked up her newspaper again. “I just hope he knows what he’s getting himself into.”
“Her taffeta dress by the sounds of it,” Bo said spiritedly under the table.
Samuel swallowed a snort before assuming an innocent air in the face of Victoria’s loaded stare.
Pearl sniffed. “Ten bucks says he does something embarrassing within the hour.”
“I’m not taking that bet,” Bo huffed. “That’s just giving away money.”
For once, we all agreed on something.
Nora began clearing plates with ghoulish deftness.
“More coffee, Mrs. Hawthorne?” Bernard asked politely.
“Yes, thank you, Bernard.” Victoria accepted the refill gratefully.
“And perhaps something stronger for later?” the butler suggested with a raised eyebrow.
“You read my mind,” Victoria muttered.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I fished it out under Victoria’s narrow-eyed gaze, which silently warned that this could be etiquette violation number fifteen.
It was a text from Ellie.
Don’t forget. We have a building meeting tonight. 7p.m. sharp. Mrs. Chen’s apartment. You’re still technically a resident until you finish moving your stuff out, so attendance is MANDATORY. Virgil will be there.
I swallowed a groan.
I’d completely forgotten about our building’s supernatural residents’ association. Not that Ellie and I had even known one existed until a couple of weeks ago. With everything going on at the mansion, my old apartment had been the last thing on my mind. I still had boxes there—books, winter clothes,that one lava lamp Ellie kept threatening to throw away and that Bo was fervently praying would make the trip to the Hawthorne mansion.
“Everything alright?” Samuel asked, catching my expression.
“Yeah. Just Ellie reminding me about the residents’ association meeting tonight.” I sighed and pocketed my phone.
Victoria raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize your building had that many supernatural residents.”
“Neither did I.”
“Would you like company?” Samuel offered.
Victoria and I stared at him like he’d suggested we skip the next full moon shift.
