Haru nodded his agreement, his dark brown eyes, the identical shade of his brother’s, were intense. “The siren triplets will seem like snuggly puppies if we don’t get Evie to shut the gate.”
Sabine crossed her arms across her chest in defiance, but her hands shook a little. “Then give me a way to allow you to train her that doesn’t endanger the well-being of my alpha’s woman and his baby.”
My heart thumped and all thoughts of evil sirens and other underworldly beasts fled my mind. Sabine considered me Brock’swoman? I worked to school my features, but I couldn’t keep a grin from creeping up my face. Good thing everyone else was—appropriately—concerned about the whole life and death deal to notice my love-struck expression. I was in so much trouble, falling for the alpha.
Reo and Haru opened their mouths, to continue the circular argument from before, no doubt, when a sharp rap rattled the cabin’s front door. I jumped as if Calista and her two sisters were poised on the doorstep.
Cass offered me a look that said,Jumpy, are we?I flicked my bestie the finger and pushed my chair back.
But before I could even stand, the door swung open.
Reo, Haru, Sabine, and Cass were on their feet in a heartbeat. My Japanese protectors drew their swords with a telltaleshliiingbefore I could even make out who it was at the door. Sabine’s eyes were wild, two seconds away from shifting, and Cass’ favorite Gucci fanny pack was already unzipped, exposing a row of Gran’s vials—magic swirling at the ready. My fingers twitched above my gun, which rested in its holster at my hip, right where it belonged. I could have it in my hand, aimed, and fired in half a second flat.
“Whoa, you guys are the coolest.” Molly’s voice dripped with awe, before remembering herself and her new role as a supernatural bounty hunter apprentice. She stood to join the rest of us, shifting to the balls of her feet. She had no weapon, but she looked like she’d charge the intruder regardless.
A woman strolled into the cabin then as if she owned the place—and a bunch of trained warriors weren’t staring her down with itchy reflexes. I drew my gun and aimed it at the middle of her chest, right between her ample boobs. Sabine started shifting behind me, the sound of cracking bones signaling the coming wolf.
But the woman barely spared us a glance. She either had a death wish or she knew something I didn’t—like that she could deflect bullets or some shit. With supes, you never knew. And she wasn’t a supe I was familiar with.
I followed her movements into my house while sighting with my Glock. “Who the fuck are you?” I asked in my best Dirty Harry voice.
“Don’t shoot,” Reo said suddenly. “This is Tianna, the half fae, half witch my brother and I told you about.”
“Who’s apparently forgotten her manners,” Haru added, sheathing his katana.
“You were expecting me, so what’s the big deal?” the woman, who appeared to be six-feet tall, said as she stalked toward the kitchen, studying the space before returning to the living and dining area.
“We were expecting you tomorrow,” Reo said. “You’re early.”
“What can I say? I’m the best at what I do. I finished my job more quickly than expected.”
“What job were you on?” Molly asked, since she seemed to be the only one not to notice that this woman was broadcasting awatch out! danger!signal like she was a damn radio tower.
Tianna swiveled in mid-step, her shoulder-length copper hair fanning out behind her like a shampoo commercial. When she pinned Molly with her emerald green eyes, Molly swallowed. My apprentice was reading the danger vibe loud and clear now.
Tianna’s wide mouth parted in a wicked smile. “That’s none of your business, now is it?”
“Hey,” I started, but Cass cut me off.
“Every good woman should have her mysteries.” My bestie’s voice was smoky and better suited to a late-night lounge with deep shadows and loose morals.
Tianna’s expression softened a touch at the demon imp’s words. “Exactly,” she purred.
My attention snapped to Cass, holstering my gun. My badass bounty-hunting partner had zipped his fanny pack back up and smoothed the hair atop his head, tucking it all in between his little blue horns. “I like a woman who knows her worth,” he added.
I rolled my eyes so hard that Molly barked out a laugh before swallowing it. “Sorry,” she scrambled to say to the Amazonian redhead in our midst, flailing her hands nervously in front of her. “It was ... never mind.”
Cass slid stubby four-fingered hands across his tiny booty shorts—undoubtedly wishing he’d worn a fancier set than his utilitarian shiny gold ones. When he patted his round belly, Tianna was tracking every one of his movements with her gaze.
I figured she’d be grossed out by the imp, whose looks usually needed time to grow on you, but damn if her eyes didn’t glaze over—for a flicker of a second—before she stashed her reaction.
Of course.She was half fae, and fae was Cass’ favorite flavor.
I didn’t understand the sex appeal. Pretty sure I never would.
Cass opened his arms wide, licking his dark lips and patting his belly again. “Welcome to our humble home.” Then he gave his little rump a shake.
Tianna, who towered over him, cocked a curvaceous hip. With a dagger hanging from her waist and the magic sparking in her aura, she looked like she could eat my BFF as a light snack.
