“Not to let anyone speak to the kids, and not to leave his post until I tell him to,” Evan answers. “He hasn’t phoned you, has he? I told him to call you if there was an issue before I got my phone working again.”
“No, nothing,” Griffin confirms. “Did they tell you anything else?”
“No, I didn’t want to question them with Letty there.”
“Why not?” I inquire. I’ve been wondering about this since it became clear he was suspicious she was involved. “Why not just ask her what the heck is going on if you think she’s tangled up in this?”
“Because I need to know how deep it goes. I need to make sure I’m not missing something. We dismissed the shit that happened to you before the attack as childish, but maybe it was just supposed to look that way,” Evan informs me while letting his eyes roam over my face. He sounds completely focused on our discussion, but his eyes are saying something entirely different.
I tuck my hair behind my ear, feeling a little self-conscious. I haven’t even looked into a mirror today. “You’re not freaking out,” he observes after his long examination.
I immediately start thinking about my personal life instead of allowing the distraction to divert my thoughts. “Should I be?” I look him over. His long hair is tied up in a way that isn’t quite a bun, but not a ponytail either. His short, groomed beard would make a hipster weep with envy, and those impossibly dark eyes hold nothing but the warmest intent.
The first time I saw him, his size and demeanor made me take notice, and the fact that he had a gun on his hip was a little surprising too, but I don’t ever remember being scared of him. Intimidated maybe, but not frightened. He makes me want to get close to him and cuddle.
“Let’s be honest. It’s not like I have a whole lot to be upset about. Unless you’re just pretending to be nice to me and you’re going to turn into a huge jerk or something.” I search his face again, but I already know that’s not the truth. “Did I expect any of this? No, certainly not.” I shake my head. “But there are worse things to discover than learning I’m mated, sung, bonded—whatever you want to call it—to you two.” I glance over at Griffin to include him as well.
“I’m trying to focus on the present. On what I can control now, because that’s really all I can do.” I lift my shoulders. It’s a simplified version of what’s going on in my head, but it’s the truth. I believe in fate, always have. I think that’s what brought Mr. Mackey into my life and changed my direction. Who knows what I would have turned out like if I only had my parents’ perspective and steady diet of intolerance to grow up with? And if I’m fated to be theirs, who am I to argue with that? Why would I want to anyway? I’m getting off pretty frigging lucky if you ask me.
After staring at me for another long moment, Evan lets out a big sigh, his shoulders relaxing and his serious expression lightening. “We won’t bombard you, but we will try to be forthcoming,” he assures me, answering for himself and Griffin.
“Speak for yourself, bear. I like to live dangerously.” I roll my eyes at Griffin’s words. My life is a whole helluva lot more complicated than it was three months ago, but I have a feeling it’s going to be well worth it.
Chapter 12
Quinn
“Remind me why I’m here?” I ask out of the side of my mouth.
“Because we both wanted to be here, and I didn’t want to leave you without us.”
“Alone,” Evan amends, clarifying Griffin’s cocky statement.
“I would have been perfectly fine at home.” I know I sound like I’m pouting, I kind of am. Evan and Griffin share a glance over my head.
I narrow my eyes on them. “Do you know something I don’t?”
“No, you just said home.” Griffin smirks at me smugly.
I click my tongue. “Why are you so weird?”
“I’m not weird.” He gives me a half-hearted scowl. It might have intimidated me or pissed me off several weeks ago, but now I ignore it.
People scamper out of our path as we make our way down to the lower level where the containment rooms are. I know it’s Griffin’s presence that has them fleeing. People don’t run from Evan in the same way, but he doesn’t look at everyone like they personally offended him either.
“At least I’ll get to say hello to Wes,” I mumble.
Griffin stops dead in his tracks and turns to face me. “For the sake of beingforthcoming” —he slides his hands into his pants pockets, seemingly relaxed, but his words belie his stance— “I should probably tell you. It would not go well for another vampire, shifter, man…or woman,” he says with a nod, appearing satisfied, “if I thought you liked them too much.”
I blink up at him several times, letting my brain process his words. When I realize I heard what I thought I did, I poke my finger into his chest. “Griffin Stone. You will not pull that shit on me right now!” A small grin starts to form on the corner of his lips. “I am not going to be responsible for you going all alpha a-hole because I talk to someone. Do you hear me?” His smile grows as I’m speaking. Someone down the halls slams a door.
“And if I said I couldn’t help it, it’s in my nature?” he challenges. I purse my lips, ready to counter his position, but I can’t because he might be telling the truth, even though he seems to be enjoying this way too much.
“I’m going to talk to people,” I mumble under my breath after a few seconds of us just staring at each other.
“Alpha a-hole?” Griffin echoes my words just as softly with a quirked brow.
I snap my head to the left and look in Evan’s direction. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. Griffin told me you’re an alpha.” I’m sure my face is bright red. This is a huge face-palm moment. Did I just insult him with something close to a slur?
