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Her lips slowly lifted into a smile. “Thank you.”
“Hello, Riley,” Mary A
Riley nodded in greeting. “Mary A
Aden frowned, his attention whipping to her. “You know him?”
She nodded, gaze not leaving the boy. Man. Whatever he was. He looked older and harder than all the guys entering the building. “You know him, too. He’s the one you warned me away from. Don’t worry, though,” she rushed to assure him. “He won’t hurt us.”
The only person—thing—he’d warned her away from was the werewolf. With that thought, Aden sucked in a breath. The werewolf. Riley the bodyguard was the werewolf?
He moved in front of both girls, splaying his arms, and studied the boy, this human version of the big, black animal.
“As Mary A
Aden remained in place. His gaze landed and remained on Riley’s legs. There wasn’t a bumpy area to indicate bandages.
“I heal quickly,” Riley explained with only the barest hint of anger. “Only limped for a day.” He shrugged. “Or two.”
This was so unexpected. Surreal, unbelievable.
“Eve?” Aden said aloud, and Riley frowned.
Yes, Eve responded.
The only time Mary A
When he’d considered Sha
Which meant Aden was indeed standing in front of the “vicious and bloodthirsty” creature that hated him. The vicious and bloodthirsty creature that had helped him last night.
Aden? Eve prompted. Did you need something?
“Oh. Sorry. I was just checking to see if you were with me or in the black hole,” he muttered.
“Who are you speaking to?” Riley demanded as Eve said, I want to talk about Mary A
Who to answer first? “A friend,” he told Riley. “And Eve, you know I can’t talk to you in public. Please understand.”
She growled at him, not unlike the wolf had in their prior encounters, but lapsed into silence.
“Actually, I shouldn’t be speaking to any of you. Not here.” Aden sca
A frowning Riley followed. His narrowed gaze remained on Aden and Mary A
“What’s going on here?” Mary A
Poor Mary A
Or maybe to comfort her, he thought suddenly. Stranger things had happened. Obviously.
“I’ll explain in a moment. Introductions are in order first, I think,” Victoria said, breaking the awkward silence.
How could he have forgotten? “Victoria, this is Mary A
“Nice to meet you,” Mary A
Victoria nodded, her gaze darting between Mary A
Was she…jealous?
“I don’t see any…I mean…” Mary A
“They are retracted,” Victoria explained. “They elongate when the hunger comes upon me.”
Mary A
“She won’t bite you,” Aden said.
Victoria didn’t offer an assurance of her own. Maybe she was jealous. He wanted to grin.
He studied each of the people around him, marveling. How diverse they were. A beautiful vampire, a mysterious shape-shifter, and a seemingly normal teenage girl. They hadn’t known each other long, not really. Strange how he’d already come to feel so close to them. Well, two of them, anyway.
“You told me werewolves were vicious,” he said to Victoria. “If that’s the case, why is one guarding you?”
Her mouth kicked up at one corner. “He is vicious. To everyone but me, that is. And that’s exactly why he’s my guard.”
Excellent point. That didn’t mean he liked it. “What about Mary A
“I told you. I would never hurt her,” Riley said, offended.
“That’s good to know. But if you ever change your mind, I’ll make you regret it.” He stated it matter-of-factly. Because that’s what it was: a fact. He didn’t have many friends, and those he had he would protect with his life.
Riley traced his tongue over his sharp, white teeth. “Are you threatening me, little boy?”
“Hey, now,” Mary A
“Yes,” he said grudgingly. Between her questions about the wolf, Mary A
“Since we’re on the hurt-a-girl-and-pay subject, you should know that I take my job seriously,” Riley said, the warning clear. “Harm Victoria, I won’t just make you regret. I’ll hang you by your own intestines while you’re still alive.”
Mary A
Riley noticed her expression and offered her a half smile. “Sorry. I’ll make it quick and painless, okay?”
“You shouldn’t threaten,” she said. Rather than fear, he heard anger in her voice. A whole lot of anger. So why was she looking at Victoria now, rather than Riley?
Aden replayed the conversation through his mind and realized she hadn’t liked the way Riley had rushed to the vampire’s defense. Jealousy must be contagious, because they all seemed to have caught it.
“I would never hurt Victoria,” Aden assured him. “You, on the other hand…” He would not back down and Riley needed to know that. He had his daggers, and he wasn’t afraid to use them. Even here.
Victoria stepped forward and placed her hand on Aden’s shoulder. He felt the burn of it, the sweet sizzle, and his attention swung to her, the werewolf momentarily forgotten.
Her ocean-water eyes glowed. He couldn’t have turned away to save himself from a bullet to the head. Just then they were the only two people alive, transported back to their pond, splashing and laughing and brushing against each other. He’d held her, had almost kissed her.
“He will not attack you here,” she said. “You have my word.”
A gust of wind swirled between them, lifting her hair and casting several locks in his direction. They danced across his cheek, tickling.
“Now. Let’s talk about something other than your intentions toward each other,” she suggested.
“I’m all for that,” Mary A
A tremor moved through Victoria and she dropped her arm, focus wavering between Aden’s face and his neck. “You know how I told you that my people sensed you?”
He nodded. Was she thinking of drinking from him?