Only After Dark The Boxed Set Books 1 - 4: Shifters Forever Worlds by Elle Thorne Page B
Authors: Elle Thorne
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really.
He was close to his twin, but damned if there weren’t times he could be exasperating as hell. “Okay what’s the proposal?”
“You go with me to Escape Weekend. I join you at the fighting ring.”
This wasn’t up for debate. “Hell no.” He wouldn’t have his brother risking his life too. It was Reese’s project. Reese’s obligation. Like it or not, the five-minute head start he had in life made him the older brother, still. And he didn’t want to have his brother’s death on his hands—if it came to that.
Rory stuck his hand in his front pocket, pulled out his cell, swiped to unlock it, tipped it back and forth in a threatening manner.
“You’d really call Mom?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“What if I go to Escape Weekend with you, but we don’t bother with the whole part of you joining me at the fighting ring?”
Rory gave him a look. The same look he’d given his opponents in the wrestling match when he competed against them in high school. “Not happening.”
That look didn’t serve to intimidate Reese, he nodded. “I’ll go to Escape Weekend with you. What gives? Why is it you want to go?” he asked Rory.
“Not sure I want to, just thinking that having connections won’t hurt. We won’t stay past the brunch. A quick in and out,” Rory added.
“Sure, no problem.” Reese nodded. Then I’ll slip away and take care of the underground fighting ring business.
Alone.
Chapter Two
A t Arceneaux Point in the upstairs library, Alexa stared at her little sister as Evie stomped her foot, those eyes of hers flashing the fire of anger.
“You’re not going to invite Mason Martinez. You can’t.” She drove her foot into the plush carpeting once more.
“Evangeline.” Lézare put his hand on Evie’s shoulder. “Simmer.” He gave her a hug. “Surely you can manage a little party and not let his being there bother you.”
“Lézare.” Evie pouted. A look that had never failed her when it came to the opposite sex.
“Chère.” Clearly from Lézare’s tone, this didn’t work on him. “Look. It’s a big house.”
“Lézare!” Evie screeched.
Alexa tuned her siblings out. Evie’s long-over relationship with Mason Martinez wasn’t at the top of Alexa’s priorities. They faded out, though everyone had been convinced the two were fated mates.
Oh, well. Shit happens.
Maylene, their housekeeper and so much more, snuck in, placing a platter of fresh beignets on the long table under the mirror. Lézare’s favorite of course, from Maylene, who found Lézare to be her favorite. Alexa nodded her thanks since neither of her siblings noticed Maylene’s entrance.
Lézare and Evie were still at it, bickering over Evie’s reaction to Mason.
Alexa was hardened to relationships and men. She’d seen more than enough to convince her she wanted nothing to do with entanglements.
Evie shouldn’t be so upset about Mason being there. It was obvious she still had feelings for him. She should be happy he’d be there. Maybe they could reconnect.
Unless he brings a date.
She glanced at her hotheaded sister.
Oh shit.
That would be explosive.
A look crossed Lézare’s face. One of bitterness, as if he’d drank unsweetened lemonade.
“What’s that look about?” she asked him.
“What look?” He wiped the scowl away.
She shook her head. They were too close for him to think he could fool her, but she wasn’t going to push the matter.
“Evie.” She turned to their younger sister. “You’ll have to figure something out. Mark and Veila are invited.” Obviously, since Veila was their cousin and Mark was her mate. “And so is Mason.” He was Mark’s brother, after all. “What you and he had in college, however it may have ended, is in the past. You cannot disrupt this occasion like you did the Shifter Council Meeting.” Alexa forced a smile to her face to soften the blow of her words.
“The Arceneaux Shifter Masquerade Ball only happens once a year. Why does he have to
He was close to his twin, but damned if there weren’t times he could be exasperating as hell. “Okay what’s the proposal?”
“You go with me to Escape Weekend. I join you at the fighting ring.”
This wasn’t up for debate. “Hell no.” He wouldn’t have his brother risking his life too. It was Reese’s project. Reese’s obligation. Like it or not, the five-minute head start he had in life made him the older brother, still. And he didn’t want to have his brother’s death on his hands—if it came to that.
Rory stuck his hand in his front pocket, pulled out his cell, swiped to unlock it, tipped it back and forth in a threatening manner.
“You’d really call Mom?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“What if I go to Escape Weekend with you, but we don’t bother with the whole part of you joining me at the fighting ring?”
Rory gave him a look. The same look he’d given his opponents in the wrestling match when he competed against them in high school. “Not happening.”
That look didn’t serve to intimidate Reese, he nodded. “I’ll go to Escape Weekend with you. What gives? Why is it you want to go?” he asked Rory.
“Not sure I want to, just thinking that having connections won’t hurt. We won’t stay past the brunch. A quick in and out,” Rory added.
“Sure, no problem.” Reese nodded. Then I’ll slip away and take care of the underground fighting ring business.
Alone.
Chapter Two
A t Arceneaux Point in the upstairs library, Alexa stared at her little sister as Evie stomped her foot, those eyes of hers flashing the fire of anger.
“You’re not going to invite Mason Martinez. You can’t.” She drove her foot into the plush carpeting once more.
“Evangeline.” Lézare put his hand on Evie’s shoulder. “Simmer.” He gave her a hug. “Surely you can manage a little party and not let his being there bother you.”
“Lézare.” Evie pouted. A look that had never failed her when it came to the opposite sex.
“Chère.” Clearly from Lézare’s tone, this didn’t work on him. “Look. It’s a big house.”
“Lézare!” Evie screeched.
Alexa tuned her siblings out. Evie’s long-over relationship with Mason Martinez wasn’t at the top of Alexa’s priorities. They faded out, though everyone had been convinced the two were fated mates.
Oh, well. Shit happens.
Maylene, their housekeeper and so much more, snuck in, placing a platter of fresh beignets on the long table under the mirror. Lézare’s favorite of course, from Maylene, who found Lézare to be her favorite. Alexa nodded her thanks since neither of her siblings noticed Maylene’s entrance.
Lézare and Evie were still at it, bickering over Evie’s reaction to Mason.
Alexa was hardened to relationships and men. She’d seen more than enough to convince her she wanted nothing to do with entanglements.
Evie shouldn’t be so upset about Mason being there. It was obvious she still had feelings for him. She should be happy he’d be there. Maybe they could reconnect.
Unless he brings a date.
She glanced at her hotheaded sister.
Oh shit.
That would be explosive.
A look crossed Lézare’s face. One of bitterness, as if he’d drank unsweetened lemonade.
“What’s that look about?” she asked him.
“What look?” He wiped the scowl away.
She shook her head. They were too close for him to think he could fool her, but she wasn’t going to push the matter.
“Evie.” She turned to their younger sister. “You’ll have to figure something out. Mark and Veila are invited.” Obviously, since Veila was their cousin and Mark was her mate. “And so is Mason.” He was Mark’s brother, after all. “What you and he had in college, however it may have ended, is in the past. You cannot disrupt this occasion like you did the Shifter Council Meeting.” Alexa forced a smile to her face to soften the blow of her words.
“The Arceneaux Shifter Masquerade Ball only happens once a year. Why does he have to
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