Mallory’s eyes fill with tears.Dammit, I’ve made her pain worse.
I slam the vault closed, lock it, and kick myself for being impulsive. I wanted to give her suffering the respect it deserves, not ruin her night. But I just met her. I don’t know how she grieves. I don’t know anything about her except that I’m in love with her youngest son, and now I’ve made a terrible impression.
She stands and places her hand on my cheek. I’m too surprised to react.
“Thank you, dear,” she whispers. Hertouch is whisper soft, and my eyes burn, the memory of my own mother so close to the surface that I can’t stop the tears from forming. She hugs me. It lasts maybe a second, and we’re both too stiff for it to be natural, but I recognize the gesture for what it is: Mallory Casanell attempting to comfort me.
“If either or both of you cry, I’m going to lose it,” Ciprian hisses. His black eyes flit wildly from Mallory’s face to mine, then back again.
Mallory scoffs. “I’ll see you both at breakfast.”
It’s a command, not a request, and my lips twitch as Sarah leads her friend away.
Joshua watches them go and narrows his eyes at Ciprian. “You better not bail on breakfast,” he says.
Ciprian snatches the plate of cookies and the last bottle of wine. “Fine, but only if you make it brunch instead. I can’t be interrogated again before ten.”
Joshua’s eyes twinkle as he nods, winking at me before he vanishes down the hall.
I plant my hands on my hips. “You’re in trouble, Ciprian.”
“Oh?” His lips twitch. “Are you going to punish me?”
I clamp my hand over his mouth and drag him away from the shifter wing, not daring to let him go until we’re back in our room.
ELEVEN
Unspoken Rule of the Fringes #88:
Attempt to maintain more than one reputation and live to watch them devour one another.
ALISTAIR
“I’m not sure I understand.” I massage the shampoo into Celine’s hair, being especially careful to keep the suds away from her eyes.
“She called you a ‘nice young man,’” Celine says, repeating what is perhaps the least apt description I’ve heard of myself in three decades.
“Sweet young man,” Ciprian corrects her, pushing his way into the walk-in shower with Luca right behind him. “Which is somehow more absurd.”
I shake my head. “Is Sarah . . . disturbed?”
Ciprian snorts. “Sure, but not in the way you mean. Nothing gets by her. She was either fucking with us, or Sheena was incredibly kind in her description of you.”
I scoff. “That’s unlikely. And you told her we were dating?”
Ciprian’s cheeks turn red and he stares at hisfeet. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. They ambushed us—drunk off their asses—demanding answers. I was fucking scared.”
Celine gives me a look, and I roll my eyes. I’m not going to fuck this up. I’ve learned my lesson. Moving around her, I crowd Ciprian against the shower wall and bring my lips to his ear. “You claimed me to your mother?”
“That’s what I said, didn’t I?” He puffs his chest out, but it deflates one heartbeat later. “I know we should have talked about it first, but if you’re not comfortable being with me in the sunlight, you should tell me now because?—”
I crash my lips against his. “Shut up,” I snap. “I’m not mad at you.”
Ciprian yanks his head back, but his gaze stays locked on my lips. “You don’t mind meeting my mom?”
I curl my fingers around his dick, enjoying the way his pupils expand. “You can line everyone in this compound up for me to meet, Ciprian. I’ll be happy to tell them who belongs to me.”
Luca’s hip brushes my bare ass as he steps around us, and I shudder. This shower is huge, but I’m not sure it’s big enough for what I have in mind. “What time is brunch?” I ask.
