Griffin pulls away and snarls, “Fuck off!” loudly.
I blink several times, not sure what the heck just happened, but then he’s kissing me again. “Do you have multiple personalities?” I ask past a grin while he’s kissing me.
Griffin grunts and nips my bottom lip as the sweetest of punishments. “There’s someone near the door.” Then he adds, “Looking for death,” much louder.
I rub my hand over his back and start to push him away. He scowls down at me, causing me to snicker. “Don’t pout.”
“I’m gonna fucking pout. Do you know how many people have knocked on my door in the past decade?”
“Lots?” I shrug.
Griffin holds up four fingers. “Four. That security chick twice.” He’s talking about Letty. I like that he didn’t say her name. “This morning, and now.”
“They didn’t knock,” I taunt. That makes him narrow his eyes.
“Might as well have,” he grumbles.
“We should probably get going anyway.” I wipe my finger under each eye to catch any stray mascara that might be left over from yesterday and smooth my hand over my ponytail. Without the aid of the bathroom mirror, I have no idea if I’m a mess, not that it matters. I’m helping search for kids on a Saturday morning, not going to a fashion show.
I slip my feet into my Converse and tug the back up over my heel. I take another look at Griffin, we’re definitely a mismatched pair. My mother would love him at first sight. He’s all refined elegance and cultured grace. The moment you allow yourself to see past the exterior, though, you can perceive what’s truly lurking beneath. Not that he hides it, but he makes such an arresting picture, it’s hard to take everything in at once.
Griffin tilts his head to the side. “What are you thinking?”
I don’t blush because I got caught staring, but it does make me feel shy about answering. “You look very dapper,” I tell him.
Griffin runs his hand over his newly buttoned jacket. “Why do I feel like you’re making fun of me?”
“I’m not, not at all,” I say earnestly. He watches me a bit longer as if he doesn’t believe me. “Ready?” I prompt.
“For a great many things, Ms. Shaw.”
“I just bet you are, Headmaster Stone,” I tease with pouty lips and a little shimmy before pulling open the door.
Chapter 8
Griffin
We move through the main building easily but draw lots of attention. There isn’t one adult shifter or blooded vampire who wouldn’t be able to sense the change in Quinn. Evan’s scent is strongly mingled with hers now, more than if they would have just fucked.
Then there’s my bite on the side of her neck for everyone to see. Quinn pulled her hair back this morning as if she was putting the mark on display. If I didn’t know for certain she has no idea what she’s doing, I would assume she was making sure everyone sees it. Evan breaking the mirror might have worked in my favor. As mad as I was at him for claiming her without her permission, he’s not the only one to blame. She never agreed to wear my mark. While my transgression may be on a different scale than his, I still took her choice away. I spend way too much time thinking about what she’ll do when she finds out. Most of my thoughts end with her on top of me, taking out her aggression in a very healthy manner.
She squeezes my fingers, drawing my focus. “Where should we go?” She looks around the lobby, avoiding everyone’s gazes.
“Evan will most likely be in the briefing room.”
“I don’t know where that is,” she admits.
“Come.” Quinn doesn’t seem to mind my brash order as she lets me guide her to the small west ballroom. I’ve never liked this room, nor the blood sports my father performed in it. The double doors are already open as we approach. Evan is at the back of the room, his arms crossed over his chest, looking very much like a surly bear.
The change in his demeanor is apparent to everyone. I can hear the way their pulses flutter erratically, adding to the heavy sense of unease in the room.
Quinn’s sneakers make a squeaking sound on the polished wood floor when she stops mid-step just as we enter. I watch her wince, then she scrunches up her nose in embarrassment.
Evan gives me a chin jerk, asking us to join him. It says a lot about our friendship that he wants me anywhere near him when he knows I’m pissed. I see a few elbow jabs and some brow raising as Quinn and I make our way over to him. A fierce sense of possession fills me. While I could kill everyone in here, they are some of the most powerful supernaturals at Havenfall, and having them all so close to her sets my teeth on edge.
Quinn gives Evan a reassuring smile and asks softly, “Any news?”
“Not yet,” he tells her, then addresses those gathered. “Joe set up teams to search the property, but we still need to do a thorough exploration of the manor. Teams of at least two. Some start on the lower levels, others at the top. I want every inch of this building scoured.”
