Page 81 of Fangs and Fudge

“Aw, Ev. I’m sorry for poking too hard. You know I just want to see you happy. I don’t care who you are with as long as they treat you like a queen.” She grinned again. “And if you end up with Shepard, you would be queen…of his pack.”

This time, I took the bottle away from Vena. “Obviously, I was wrong. Wine is the opposite of what you need.”

She hugged my waist and then turned to lay her head on my lap and stared up at me as I sipped the wine instead.

“I will keep my nose out of it for tonight,” she said.

“Tonight only?”

“I’m your best friend, roommate, and sister from another mister. How can I keep my nose out of your business for long?”

She was right. And normally, I didn’t mind. But the Shepard and Cross feud was getting out of hand. They needed a truce and fast before one of them died. How, though?

I sighed, knowing I wouldn’t solve the issue tonight because I was too tired to think straight. Yet, there was something else that wouldn’t allow me to sleep.

“Hey, Vena,” I said softly, not wanting anyone to hear.

“Yeah,” she said as if she’d already begun drifting off.

“I heard Miles and your father talking.”

“What are they researching this time?”

“I think Miles wants to get back into your grandparents' research, but your dad shot him down pretty fast.”

Vena nodded and then moved over to cuddle with her pillow. “My parents will never allow it. Miles will just have to look for something else to research.”

I dipped down into the blanket and reached over to turn off the flashlight.

Vena was right. Her parents would curb Miles’ research. All I had to worry about was a wolf and a vampire.

The stroking, feather-light touch on my hair woke me slowly. I didn’t know why Vena was petting me, but I liked it. She was earning herself a club sandwich for sure today.

Smiling slightly, I opened my eyes. It wasn’t Vena staring back at me, though.

From inches away, Cross’ gaze swept over my face, lingering on my lips. My pulse skipped a beat. His eyes flickered black briefly before settling on their warm brown.

“Do you two normally sleep like this?” he asked softly.

I realized Vena had an arm over my waist and a leg over my legs while Cross lay in front of me.

“Yes, which is why I don’t sleep next to her often. I’m either her body pillow, or she steals all the covers.”

Cross chuckled and continued running his fingers over my hair.

“Not that I mind, but why are you here?” I asked.

He flashed a wide smile at me.

“The wolf’s showering. I wanted to make sure you smell like me when you see him.”

“Why do you keep antagonizing him?”

Cross’ humor faded. “Because he will always have what I want. A life.”

His confession made me profoundly sad for him.

I ran my fingers along his jaw, seeing his pain and loneliness. He wasn’t a monster. He was an outcast because no one ever tried to understand him.

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