“Yes, her Pack. She is an Alpha, whose mate was killed by some weird kind of Demon-Wolf cross breed thing.”
“I beg your pardon?” Xane says from the sofa. “A Demon-Wolf cross breed?”
“That’s what it sounded like. It has attacked two other Packs and we need to find out what it is and stop it. Xane, have you heard of anything similar? She described it as one of those ridiculous movie Werewolf-type things.”
“Please tell me you are joking?” Devon says. “Are we expected to believe that?”
I shrug and say, “I’m only going off what she said. Xane?”
“Well, of course there are cross breeds. I mean Demons and Dragons,” he pauses to let that one sink in, “Demons and Shifters, Shifters and Dragons, but the product of those are all normal as far as I know, taking after the father…”
“Except in the case of female Dragons,” I finish his sentence.
“Yes,” he says. “Been doing some research?” he asks with a look that speaks volumes.
“Corinne mentioned it,” I glance quickly at Sebastian, who is looking a bit less furious and a bit warier.
“So, what you describe sounds something more. Something…”
“Man-made,” I say as he says the same and we grin at each other while everyone else glares at us.
“Genetically enhanced,” we both add and laugh.
“It’s like one brain,” he says, and Cole’s grip tightens on my arm painfully.
I clear my throat and say, “I have sifted through the Council archives and there is nothing recorded with those specs. CK?”
His cold eyes meet mine and I almost flinch at the hostility there, but it softens instantly, and I know his resentment was towards Xane, not me. “No, I can’t say that I have ever heard of something like that, outside of the cinematic experience.”
“So, do you think someone is making these things because that’s what they think Werewolves should be?” asks Cade, who has joined the party.
“About time you showed up,” I say to him. “Where have you been?”
“Out and about,” he says vaguely. “Doing my job.”
I scowl at him as he is cutting me out of the loop on his job activities, and it seems that he and Nico now have a buddy system going on. So much for consensual alliances.
“What?” he says as he catches my look. “You are safe, are you not? You haven’t left the property, so I have been directing my attention elsewhere.”
“Indeed, be sure to have a bag packed for the morning as I will be leaving the country, never mind just the property,” I grouse at him and then sort of regret having said that for various reasons.
“Yes, I am aware of your arrangements. Jess and I are in close contact.” He smiles genially down at the girl who simpers slightly under his attention and I raise my eyebrow at that new development. I really should pay more attention to what is going on in my own house.
“Back to my question?” he prompts me.
“I really couldn’t say. Lincoln is going to poke around, see what he can find out for me. Xane, could you do the same on the Demon side? See if it is maybe something paranormally real.”
“Of course,” he says. “By the way, there is still that conversation we need to have.”
“What conversation?” I ask.
“That one we started outside and then you had Wolf issues to deal with.” His innocent look makes me roll my eyes at him.
“It can wait,” I say, lacing my fingers through Cole’s and looking up at him. “Bedtime,” I whisper to him and he jumps on it.
“Later,” he calls out to everyone as he rushes me, giggling, out of the room with Vampire speed. Up the stairs and to our bedroom, where he doesn’t bother with shutting the door before he pulls my top over my head and he walks me back to the bed. I flick my wrist and the door closes with a magickal bang and with a twist, I lock it. No interruptions.
After several hours of intense goodbye lovemaking, Cole and I fall asleep. Well, me first, as usual. I know I must be dreaming as I am falling, slowly down the inside of this very long, very round well. I’m not afraid of it, even though it is circular. Suddenly, my dress balloons out like a parachute to carry me the rest of the way down.