Accepting the other wolf’s rancor, Cassius nodded to the tea. “Feel free to help yourself.”
“No—thank you.” The last two words must have tasted like acid, but Faust glanced at Sovvan once more. “Are you certain?”
“I am.” Profoundly calm, she personified grace. A perfect night, like those Cassius enjoyed sitting out in the garden and observing. Tranquil. What did she know that others did not? The desire to plunder her knowledge flooded him, and he hadn’t hungered for a hunt so desperately in years.
“Very well.” Facing Cassius once more, the Hound raised his head and met his gaze, eyes gone wolf. “I will leave Sovvan in your capable hands. I expect her to be as healthy as she is in this moment when I see her next, without a hair on her head harmed. Are we clear?”
The verbal gauntlet dropped with cool, deliberate force. Picking it up, Cassius inclined his head though he never released Faust’s gaze. “I accept the charge. She is mine to protect, and I will see to her personally.”
Silence met the declaration. Faust shook his head, but he ceded the field and left without another word. After the front door closed, Cassius set his tea down. “If you will give me a moment, Sovvan? I’m going to let Maria know not to disturb us.”
“Of course.” Intrigue gleamed in her eyes. It only took him a couple of minutes to track Maria into the kitchen. She tended her chili and read a magazine at the counter.
“Do you need me to step out for a few hours, Cassius?” The woman knew him far too well.
“No.” He needed privacy, but after the bold attempt to take out the Omega, he didn’t intend to give any of his potential enemies another target. Maria was vulnerable, as were many within the walls of Summit. The wolves in Summit were loyal, but he did not want to test how far their loyalty went. Not with Sovvan newly arrived. “I will be locking us in the living room.” It was soundproof. “Please don’t disturb us. I’ll call when we’re ready for a meal. I expect the Hound will return within the next ninety minutes.”
Taking the notepad off the fridge, Cassius flipped to the page behind Maria’s shopping list and wrote a short note.
We are talking. When we’re done, we will tell you. – Cassius.
“Give this to him when he knocks.”
She smiled. “He doesn’t trust you.”
“The feeling is mutual. However, we are united by a common cause, so we will learn to adapt. If you want to leave the chili warming and retire early, I won’t complain.”
She snorted. “As if I’d let you serve my chili to a guest. You’d slop it in a bowl and just leave it without the cornbread or the onions. She’s from New Orleans, I expect she’ll enjoy the spicy kick and, if you manage to not offend her and chase her off, I’ll be making a pan dulce as well.”
His jaw clenched at the not offend and chase off comment. His natural instinct to deny the charge warred with the brutal truth of how accurate she was. Maria knew him, had known him for too long. “I will do my best, querida. Don’t worry, I think she is far tougher than she looks.” Thankfully.
“For your sake, I hope so.” Maria grinned. “You are too lonely, Papa.”
“How can I be lonely? I have you.” He winked, and pushed aside the sympathy in her eyes. Her nose wrinkled in disapproval, but he dropped a kiss on her weathered cheek and left her to her cooking magazine. She loved the damn things. He’d have to find her a few more, especially if she went into one of her experimenting moods.
Sovvan had abandoned her perch on the sofa and stood at the windows, gazing at the pool and the broad, sun-soaked yard when he returned to the salon. Closing the doors behind him, he engaged the lock before crossing the room to join her. “If you want to use the pool, please—anytime.”
“I didn’t bring a suit.”
“You don’t need a suit.” The woman could not possibly be shy. Most of the wolves he knew went naked as often
“No—thank you.” The last two words must have tasted like acid, but Faust glanced at Sovvan once more. “Are you certain?”
“I am.” Profoundly calm, she personified grace. A perfect night, like those Cassius enjoyed sitting out in the garden and observing. Tranquil. What did she know that others did not? The desire to plunder her knowledge flooded him, and he hadn’t hungered for a hunt so desperately in years.
“Very well.” Facing Cassius once more, the Hound raised his head and met his gaze, eyes gone wolf. “I will leave Sovvan in your capable hands. I expect her to be as healthy as she is in this moment when I see her next, without a hair on her head harmed. Are we clear?”
The verbal gauntlet dropped with cool, deliberate force. Picking it up, Cassius inclined his head though he never released Faust’s gaze. “I accept the charge. She is mine to protect, and I will see to her personally.”
Silence met the declaration. Faust shook his head, but he ceded the field and left without another word. After the front door closed, Cassius set his tea down. “If you will give me a moment, Sovvan? I’m going to let Maria know not to disturb us.”
“Of course.” Intrigue gleamed in her eyes. It only took him a couple of minutes to track Maria into the kitchen. She tended her chili and read a magazine at the counter.
“Do you need me to step out for a few hours, Cassius?” The woman knew him far too well.
“No.” He needed privacy, but after the bold attempt to take out the Omega, he didn’t intend to give any of his potential enemies another target. Maria was vulnerable, as were many within the walls of Summit. The wolves in Summit were loyal, but he did not want to test how far their loyalty went. Not with Sovvan newly arrived. “I will be locking us in the living room.” It was soundproof. “Please don’t disturb us. I’ll call when we’re ready for a meal. I expect the Hound will return within the next ninety minutes.”
Taking the notepad off the fridge, Cassius flipped to the page behind Maria’s shopping list and wrote a short note.
We are talking. When we’re done, we will tell you. – Cassius.
“Give this to him when he knocks.”
She smiled. “He doesn’t trust you.”
“The feeling is mutual. However, we are united by a common cause, so we will learn to adapt. If you want to leave the chili warming and retire early, I won’t complain.”
She snorted. “As if I’d let you serve my chili to a guest. You’d slop it in a bowl and just leave it without the cornbread or the onions. She’s from New Orleans, I expect she’ll enjoy the spicy kick and, if you manage to not offend her and chase her off, I’ll be making a pan dulce as well.”
His jaw clenched at the not offend and chase off comment. His natural instinct to deny the charge warred with the brutal truth of how accurate she was. Maria knew him, had known him for too long. “I will do my best, querida. Don’t worry, I think she is far tougher than she looks.” Thankfully.
“For your sake, I hope so.” Maria grinned. “You are too lonely, Papa.”
“How can I be lonely? I have you.” He winked, and pushed aside the sympathy in her eyes. Her nose wrinkled in disapproval, but he dropped a kiss on her weathered cheek and left her to her cooking magazine. She loved the damn things. He’d have to find her a few more, especially if she went into one of her experimenting moods.
Sovvan had abandoned her perch on the sofa and stood at the windows, gazing at the pool and the broad, sun-soaked yard when he returned to the salon. Closing the doors behind him, he engaged the lock before crossing the room to join her. “If you want to use the pool, please—anytime.”
“I didn’t bring a suit.”
“You don’t need a suit.” The woman could not possibly be shy. Most of the wolves he knew went naked as often
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