Page 111 of Rafe

“Hey, now.” He wrapped a hand around her shoulder and patted her gently. “You know you can tell me anything.”

“It’s going to sound crazy.” She shook her head.

“Crazier than your mom and I spending the week with a thousand-year-old vampire?”

“Oh my God, he told you?” Her cheeks flushed.

“Don’t worry. Mom’s good. She’s still texting with him about which modeling agency he should switch to.” He laughed.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you everything. The thing about Rafe? He’s an Alpha wolf and I met him in New Orleans. And there was this whole ritual thing with this witch. Not a regular witch but like a really, really strong one. It’s complicated. And then Rafe had this issue with being a vampire because he’d been saved by Sebastian’s brother Viktor, and I don’t know how it happened, but I think…I ended up…Please don’t freak out...”

“I’m your dad. I don’t freak out. I internalize, hold it in and sulk. Much like you’re doing.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “Out with it.”

“This witch, the magick, Rafe’s vampire? I don’t know what did it, but I think I turned into a raven. A couple of times.” Skylar closed her eyes, her whole body tensed, her lips pinched together tight in anticipation of her dad’s response.

“Are you serious?” he asked, his eyes wide, excitement in his voice.

“Yeah. Okay, I don’t know but I’m pretty sure. I can’t really explain it.”

“Your great-great-grandmother could shift,” he told her. “I know, I know, I probably should’ve told you but honestly it’s been centuries. I never got to see it for myself, but Grandma always loved birds.”

Skylar’s spirits lifted, turning toward her dad. He wore a broad smile, his focus trained on the yacht making its way through the sound.

“There’s something else, Dad. It’s about Rafe. Even though I like him, I just don’t think we can be together.”

“Really?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

“But you just said you transformed?”

“I know, I know. But that could have been a spell for all I know. The only thing I really know for sure is that I once again picked the wrong guy to catch feelings for.”

“Are you sure about that?” He smiled.

“What’s going on?” Skylar studied her dad, her eyebrows narrowed with suspicion.

“Ah, nothing. I’m just saying that sometimes when you think you have all the answers in the world, something comes along to change that.”

Skylar looked to the water. A smaller speedboat had emerged from the yacht. “What are they doing? Are they anchoring there?”

“Forget about that. Tell me about Rafe.”

“Dad. He’s everything. He’s brave. Funny. Honestly, I think he just needs a vacation. He’s loyal. He respects me. He’s…” Hot as fuck. “…not my person, though. Sadly. But yeah, that’s apparently how it works when you’re a wolf. And so…I shall get over this. I hope.”

“Life is full of surprises. Maybe you shouldn’t sell him short.”

“Well, it’s over.”

“Are you sure? Because he gave me a call⁠—”

“What?” Her eyes widened in shock.

“Yeah, yeah, he pretty much told me everything.”

“He did what?” Her voice grew louder.

Her dad stood up and peered down the steps leading to the dock. “Hey, we’d better get this stuff out of the basket before your mom comes down. I’m gonna run back up and get a wine opener. She always forgets.”