Page 74 of Tempting the Dhampir

I make to grab a chair for myself, but he just drags me onto his lap as he prepares his computer. Settling into his embrace behind the desk, I breathe him in.

This moment, this house, him, it feels meant to be.

I feel home.

Before I get a chance to say anything, the call comes through.

Ten separate boxes appear like a synchronized dance, all the guys evidently attuned to Bertie’s quest for punctuality.

“Good day, my brethren and your partners,” Adelbert’s formal voice greets us as Everett’s hand splays possessively across my waist.

I wave at Cece, who is sitting next to him, keeping a respectable distance from his touch. Clearly, they haven’t had any physical contact yet.

“I am pleased to report that my search has been fruitful. Be that as it may, my findings might be met with some misgivings,” he forewarns us all.

“Before I undertake the explanation, is there anyone who would like to share if their status has changed? Everett, perhaps?”

My eyes scan over the different images, recognizing all the girls from the boat, and I smile to myself. A few are looking rather cozy with their ‘partners’—I wonder if we can just call them boyfriends now—and some even…

Oh, who’s the other male with Natalie and Jasper? Does he know what’s going on? I turn my head to whisper the question to Everett just as he starts to speak.

“Sadie and I have just discovered that our distance limit doesn’t exist anymore,” Everett announces proudly, nuzzling his head into me.

My smile stretches across my lips, a flush working its way up my chest, blooming high on my cheeks.

“How’d that happen?” Jamie asks, leaning forward in his chair. “Iris and I haven’t tested it since the island. Not been in the mood for another broken nose.”

Chuckles come from numerous screens, and a few shake their heads in amusement at the memory.

“Allow me to explain,” Adelbert interrupts the laughter. “I have communicated with Everett as well as the few who have had status changes. This aligns with my findings.”

“Who else had changes?” I ask quietly to Everett, whose other hand is now stroking up my bare thigh.

“That matter is private to them. If they would like to share it with the others present on this call, then they are free to do so. I will not compel anyone to publicly divulge sensitive or private information at this point,” Adelbert answers, stern as ever.

Cece looks at him from the corner of her eye, a half smile pulling at her lips as she gives an almost imperceptible shake of her head.

I wonder what that’s about. Message Cece after this, I tell myself.

I turn my head and mouth to Everett, “Was that too loud?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Everett says in a hushed tone, lips pressed to my ear, following his words with a nibble on my earlobe.

His hand slips higher and starts tracing the tattoo on my thigh.

I bite my lip as I try to contain my whimper and focus on the conversation. My eyes, however, have a mind of their own as they jump from tiny screen to tiny screen, studying their occupants.

I cock my head and narrow my eyes when I get to Diana’s square. Rollo is sitting next to her, and what looks like two carbon copies of him are standing behind their couch, hovering close by with their arms crossed over their broad chests. I wonder what’s going on there…

Adelbert’s voice startles me back into the moment. “Has anyone heard of a fated bond? Not to be mistaken with a mated bond.”

Furrowed brows, tilted chins, and slow shakes of heads are his silent answers. It’s clear no one has a clue what that is.

“I thought that might be the case,” he continues. “A fated bond is brought on by the stars aligning to bring two, or more, people together. The fates choose the partners and orchestrate the events leading to their meeting.”

Helena scoots forward in her seat and raises her hand slightly for attention. “So you’re saying that us chartering the boat was not by chance but rather by fate’s design? What happened to free will?”

Iris addresses her friend gently, “Lenny, that’s kind of true. We followed up with the company, and that yacht doesn’t exist on their books. They have other boats, but not the one we took. It doesn’t make sense to me, but then again, none of this does.” She shrugs.

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