“My family have Slavic roots,” I murmured.
“They don’t live in London?”
“No.”
He handed me my drink. None for himself.
You see. He is remaining on guard, Bad Girl hissed.Look at him trying to be all—I waited—never mind.
He told me about his pack. I didn’t particularly like the hierarchy amongst them. But he went on to explain that in city life it wasn’t quite as rigid. Individual personalities and needs were considered. The way he spoke about it was matter-of-fact—no ceremony, no display—but underneath it was the unmistakable register of someone who knew every name and every story attached to those names.
It wasn’t long until Jeeves returned to tell us that dinner was served.
“Charles worked for my father, and rather than retire he opted to remain with me.” Conrí placed his hand on the small of my back as he guided me through his home.“So you don’t need to worry about saving him from the big bad wolf.”
His palm was warm through the lace.
I thought I was safe until we reached the dining room.
He held my chair for me until I sat.
His cheek rested against my hair.
“We have chocolate fondant cake for dessert,” he whispered.“I know how much you like it.”
Bad Girl snickered.
Heat rose from my neck and bloomed across my cheeks before I could stop it.
Chapter 29
Conrí
She didn’t so much eat her food as devour it.
Her appetite pleased us in a way I hadn’t anticipated—something settling in my chest watching her eat without apology or performance. It made me understand, for the first time, why my father never seemed to take his eyes off my mother at a dinner table.
When dessert came she couldn’t look me in the eye.
The chocolate fondant sat between us and I watched her work through it in silence, and I began to suspect that the cake had been her retribution all along. The three years of performance reviews told their own story.
Nika was possibly more rational than her wolf side—there was a softness in the way she spoke about the things she cared for, a quality that surfaced briefly and without warning, like light through a gap she hadn’t meant to leave open.
We would need to soften her inner wolf.
Kael hummed. Then sighed.She is flawless. Even if her wolf is a little spirited—there is nothing wrong with that.
What a sap.
Screw you.
I took a sip of water and glanced to my side. I’d purposely sat beside her rather than at the head of the table. It had been the right choice. Difficult—every instinct I had defaulted to the head, to the position of authority—but the correct one.
We needed to show them we were worthy. It had never once occurred to me that I would need to work for my mate. That the instinct would run in both directions.
The white napkin landed on the table.
“Thank you. That dinner was delicious.” She sighed, leaning back slightly.“I might need to take a walk on your terrace.”
