Page 97 of Moonlit Thorns

“You’re a regular Prince Charming.”

He rolls his eyes. “I have a feeling you’d do the same for Anabelle.”

I don’t tell him that I think he might be right. The idea of making a lasting commitment with her has crossed my mind more than once lately. But I don’t want to scare her off. She’s fourteen years younger than I am. She still has so much more of life to discover and live. I’ve already had the benefit of doing all that. I’d hate for her to ever think I held her back because she committed to me too soon, for her to end up resenting me.

The collar is a step in that direction. Maybe in a couple of years, I’ll broach the subject of marriage.

“Well, good luck.” I shake Nero’s hand and clamp him on the shoulder.

“Thanks, big brother. Listen, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take off now. I’m so nervous I just want to get this thing going.”

“Sure thing. The rest of us can handle things here.”

“Awesome.” He doesn’t wait a beat, heading off the dance floor to go find Maude.

With mixed feelings, I head back to the table to wait for Anabelle to return from the bathroom. Sid and Kol are still there.

I’m not surprised that Kol is at the table. He hates these things, hates having to have mindlessly chitchat. But Sid would usually be making the rounds by now, using his charm to get people to part with their money.

A lot of people view Sid as the tamest of us all, but sometimes I think they have it all wrong—that he might actually be the most dangerous of the four of us. The true essence of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“Little brother find you to get your blessing?” Sid says, then sips his drink.

I take a seat beside him. “He did.”

“You give it to him?” Kol asks.

“I did.”

Kol’s eyebrows raise up to his hairline.

“I don’t feel right about it, but he can make decisions for himself. He’s an adult,” I say.

Sid laughs. “This must be the Anabelle effect we’re seeing.”

“Guess so. Who knew some good pussy could act like a Valium?” Kol says with a smirk because he knows his statement will piss me off.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t start.”

“I’m just busting your balls. To be honest, I like her. She doesn’t take your shit,” Kol says.

Not unless we’re in a scene. I smirk.

Speaking of Anabelle, she should have been back by now. I frown and look over the crowd.

“Anabelle didn’t come by here while I was talking to Nero, did she?” I ask my brothers.

They both shake their heads.

“Huh.” I stand. “I’m going to go check the bar. If she comes back, tell her to wait here for me, okay?”

Kol gives me a salute as if I’m a drill sergeant because he’s an asshole, but Sid simply nods, a look of concern on his face.

When I reach the bar, I don’t see her there, so I do a quick sweep of the ballroom and don’t find her, though it’s possible I just missed her. I decide to check the bathroom.

I don’t see her anywhere in the hallway, so I make my way into the ladies’ room. A few of the women at the sinks give me a funny look, but when they realize it’s me, they scurry out.

“Anabelle? You in here?”

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