Page 181 of Chaos At Second Sight

She bounced on her toes. “I’m so excited about your trip! You have to send pictures of my brother getting his ass kicked by those Black Devils!”

“Oh, I will!”

Our flight to Italy was in two months and I had some very exciting news to break to Logan.

Bella looped her arm through mine, guiding me toward the bar. “Drinks first, before my brother locks you in his den!”

“Speaking of your brother, where is he?” His scent lingered beneath the alcohol and smoke.

“Upstairs with the boys doing whatever boys do…minus women.”

I snorted. “You should come with us, you know. Black Devil is beautiful, ancient. And I’m sure Archie would love to meet you.” Maybe they’re mates. A tiny spark of hope flickered.

“Not with your twin coming.”

Ah. Lachlan had decided at the last minute to join Logan and me. Logan still had no idea.

“He’ll invent some tropical disease to avoid me.”

I fought a laugh. “Last time he came to dinner, you were the one with a mysterious illness.”

“I misunderstood my symptoms.” She waved me off, her snake bracelet shifting. “It may have been fatigue.”

“Oh, I think they call it avoidance.” I poked at her ribs.

She elbowed me. “Whatever! He hates my guts anyway.”

“Lachlan asked about you the other day,” I said casually, smiling at people. Goddess, my facial muscles hurt already, thanks to all this extra smiling.

“Pardon?” Bella’s cheeks flushed as I tried to figure out their relationship.

“Lachlan asked whether you were coming to Italy⁠—”

“Probably so he finds himself on a different flight by mistake.”

I clasped my hands together, surveying the bar. “I’m pretty sure he looked hopeful.”

Bella pursed her lips and changed the subject. “So, tell me about this famous Archie. Is it true his eyes are purple?”

“Very true. Look into them and you’ll turn to stone.”

She chuckled. “Is he the Alpha?”

“Kind of, but not yet.”

“Do they really eat humans there? Is it true Archie’s father killed his own father, the Pack Destroyer? And that Archie is a hybrid who looks exactly like his murderous grandpa? And that they capture rogues to train their pups to kill and⁠—”

“Most of that is exaggerated,” I cut in.

Ears turned, conversations quieted, and curious eyes drifted our way. Our topic had attracted attention.

Everyone wanted to hear about the Black Devil pack. About Archie, an unclassified species and the mysterious Alpha-to-be who had no mate because, according to half the rumors, he didn’t deserve one.

The Black Devils had become a legend. The stories of Alpha Tiberius were practically part of our school curriculum. The wars. The massacres. The packs he had wiped out. The mates he had killed.

Rough. Dangerous. Untamed.

I snorted, shaking my head, when the hair on the nape of my neck rose.