“At times.” He concedes as his hand finds mine under the table.
That feels far more like equality than “hush now, I’ll fill you in later.”
The fact that she is Vince’s mate is the only reason I’m not terrified of her. Devin assured me. Hell, maybe I do trust him. I don’t know what to think about anything anymore.
“I’m certain they’re here because of last night.” Veronica nods her head in agreement and runs her fingernails lightly along Vince’s upturned hand, almost as if she’s not aware she’s touching him. My heart skips a beat. I wonder if she feels this too? This overwhelming need to be with her mate like I do with Devin.
It’s heady and confusing. It feels like something else is taking over my body and, if I’m being honest, it’s terrifying. The word “fate” has lost the comfort it used to hold.
“What do you mean?” I’m sure he’s referring to the offering, but I don’t understand what it has to do with them.
“Generally speaking, there isn’t any resistance at the offerings. Mates go willingly. Humans hardly fight for those who don’t mind being taken. You fainted after fighting me and Liz had to be carried out while she resisted and screamed.”
I can feel the blood drain from my face. “Oh.” I bite the inside of my cheek. They’re here because they think we aren’t their mates. Lizzie sulks in Caleb’s arms.
“I’m certain the response to the scene has been less than pleasant on the human side of relations, which will piss off the Authority. They prefer to keep the masses content.”
“They’re discussing it now.” Veronica stares at Vince’s hand and continues running the tips of her fingers along his wrist as she speaks. “They’re planning on taking them back.” Her words send a jolt of anxiousness through me. I can’t go back. I belong here, with Devin. Everything in me knows I’m meant to be with him. Even if we are struggling to find stable and common ground. I’ve barely been given a chance.
“Well, the Authority can go fuck themselves.” Dom’s seething baritone voice startles me, making me flinch. Devin’s arm wraps around my waist and pulls me closer to him.
“There’s no need to be hostile. I’m sure once they see Grace and Liz, they’ll leave in peace.”
“It might not be your intention, but it will end up being hostile.” Veronica’s eyes are still fixed on her playful touch. If she wasn’t consistently speaking, I wouldn’t think she was listening.
I dare to ask her, “Why’s that?” I’m not leaving. The thought of never seeing Devin again makes my chest feel hollow. I won’t let it happen.
Her dark eyes find mine and she gives me a small smile with her fangs digging into her full bottom lip. “Natalia’s a bitch.”
“How do you know Natalia?” Vince asks with curiosity. I fucking loathe that everyone knows everyone else except for me. With my complete attention, I glance between the two of them, determined to find my place and the confidence I used to have.
“She’s the one who trained me.” Her smile falls slightly.
“Trained you for what?”
“To kill werewolves.” Devin’s serious response, answering for Veronica, makes my blood run cold, causing goosebumps to run down my arms. I stare with wide eyes down the end of the table. She kills werewolves?
My breath leaves me and I feel light-headed.
“Times were much different back then.” Her lips tilt down into a small frown before she schools her expression. “I don’t participate in the sport anymore.”
Vince’s eyes smile with humor at the knowledge; he has no fear of his mate. He doesn’t seem affected at all. He relaxes into his seat and takes her hand in his before sweetly kissing her knuckles. “Ain’t fate a bitch.” A soft smile plays at her lips, but her large eyes are full of pain and torture.
“You had your reasons.” Devin’s words are spoken with compassion and it eases my discomfort marginally. She nods slightly at Devin as a loud, melodic chime echoes in the room.
Devin inclines his head in silence and remains seated. At his nod, Jude stands up to answer the door. I watch as Dom positions Lizzie on his lap and Caleb angles his body so he’s directly in front of her with his chest toward the entrance after giving her a small kiss on the cheek. He’s still smiling faintly, but his silver eyes have a lethal look to them. Their defensive act puts me on edge. Devin pulls my chair closer to him and kisses my forehead before nuzzling his nose in my hair. “Everything is fine, sweetheart. They will not touch you.”
“Promise me.”
“Everything I tell you is a promise. My entire existence is a promise to you,” he tells me and his confession is a balm, a drug. It’s everything I didn’t know I needed.
I close my eyes, enjoying his tender touch and when I open them the Authority, comprised of three foreboding figures, is staring back at me. My body tenses and my lungs still. The bit of soothing from Devin is powerless when I take in the intimidating trio.
There are two men and a woman, all three in black cloaks like the ones from the offering. The woman is obviously a vampire. She radiates seduction and power just as Veronica does. But her eyes are a shade darker than bloodred and there’s no hint of the mischievousness that twinkles in Veronica’s brown eyes. Only wickedness exists in her gaze. Her thin lips curl up at one end, revealing a sharp fang. Her pale skin and sunken cheeks make her appear older than Veronica. Much, much older. The sight of her sends an unwanted chill down my spine.
The men are both large, similar to Devin, but not as bulky or muscular. The man on the right, carrying a large black duffle bag, has silver eyes and the crooked smile of a man not to be trusted. The one on the left is devilishly handsome with a smile that seems charming and inviting, plus the lightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. The skin around his eyes wrinkles when he smiles, giving away his older age. But his dimples pull you in with a boyish charm. His presence is instantly calming, negating the fear the other two instill.
“Good afternoon.” Devin is short, but cordial. His hard voice snaps me out of my daze.
“I suppose the blood on the driveway doesn’t belong to your mates?” The silver-eyed man speaks first.
Every bit of me feels cold from his words. It’s not a traveling chill; it happens all at once.
A low growl rumbles from Dom’s chest, but Devin remains unaffected, merely cocking a brow. “We would not harm our mates. I’m sure you could smell that it’s shifter blood.”
“So they do in fact belong to you?” His choice of words makes me snort. They may be intimidating as all hell, but I can’t help my reaction. It doesn’t go unnoticed. When the cloaked fucker eyes me, I just smirk. It’s slightly forced, but still. With Devin’s possessive hold on me growing tighter, a sense of confidence spreads through me.
“Grace and Lizzie, meet Natalia, Remy and Alec.” They each nod in turn and I give them a tight smile while they take seats at the far end of the table. It’s quiet as the legs of the chairs drag across the floor. Alec and Devin seem to engage in a quiet conversation before Alec’s eyes settle on Dom and his lips press into a firm, hard line.