“What’s a vulture?” Alessia whispered.
Titus wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. “It’s that side of the dice. Depending on what faces up, you get a different score.” He pointed to four that each had the same shape. “That’s called a vulture. Darius got six points for each of those and is now officially kicking our butts.”
“Good job, Darius!” Carina said and held out a hand to high-five the vampire.
“When you’re eating gruel tonight for dinner, you’ll regret congratulating him,” Marcus growled. “Come here. You can be my good luck charm.” He scooped a giggling Carina onto his lap and kissed her neck before gathering the knucklebones for his own toss. To his delight, while he didn’t get four vultures, he rolled two.
“Best throw all day! Thank you, Carina.”
“I’m getting you wet, Daddy,” Carina told him, andinstantly both women wiggled to stand back up. The men held onto them securely.
“We don’t care, Little mate. Want to learn how to play?” Titus asked.
“Definitely!” Alessia answered and helped herself to half of Titus’s pile of coins in front of her. “When’s my turn?”
Carina hooted and repeated the process with her Daddy’s money before leaning across the table to high-five Alessia.
They didn’t play long with the men—just enough time to get a basic knowledge of how the game worked. Alessia loved the interaction among the group. She crossed her fingers under the table as she wished,Please let them all find their mates.
Chapter
Eighteen
Acouple weeks later, Alessia had enough control over her fangs to return to Nightfall. Carina had loved having her partner in crime back. The two women had sipped cocktails and danced the night away.
“What time is it?” Alessia asked, pushing herself up to sit on the couch. She remembered Titus and Marcus carrying her and Carina into the small gathering room off the private hallway as Nightfall employees closed the nightclub. The two had chatted for a few minutes before stretching out to rest their eyes.
“Oh? Where’s Carina?” Alessia asked Titus when she spotted him sitting where her friend had been earlier.
“Marcus came to claim her a while ago. You were sleeping so soundly, I let you doze longer,” Titus told her.
“Really? We should go home, and we can both sleep, right?”
“We need to do something first, Little mate.”
“What’s that?”
“The clan is ready to welcome you. Now that you’re avampire, you will need the support and protection of an Elder and a clan,” he told her solemnly.
His demeanor underscored how important this was. A shiver zinged the length of her spine. So much was changing so fast. Was she ready?
“You mean Alaric and the others? They want me to join your club?”
“It’s more than a club, Little mate. These people are my family.”
Tears filled her eyes. In the last few years, Alessia’s family had valued her as a way to lock in Frankie’s fidelity or as an expendable spy to infiltrate Nightfall. The concept that the vampire clan wanted to welcome her as one of their own overwhelmed her. She blinked hard to keep from bawling.
“Little mate. You’re hurting my heart.” Titus picked her up and sat in her spot. He kissed her sweetly before cuddling her to his chest. “What is scaring you? How can I help?”
Sobs burst from her. Alessia hid her face against his hard chest. She mumbled, “I’m not sad. I’m overwhelmed that they want me.”
“Of course they want you. You are courageous and brave. You are a sweet friend to Carina and my mate. The clan celebrates growing stronger but only welcomes the right vampires.”
“And I’m one of those?”
“You are,” Titus spoke with reassuring confidence that erased her worries. More than anyone else in her life, Alessia trusted Titus.
Sitting up straight, Alessia wiped away her tears. She gathered her dignity around her like a cloak. If the clan wanted her, she would be worthy of that position.
