Page 74 of Avaritia

Verity had insisted that I not be allowed to see her before the ceremony, which seemed like an undue level of cruelty to inflict on her soon-to-be husband, but apparently, it was a human realm tradition she wished to maintain. Vastly dissatisfied with this, I slipped into one of the secret passages and made my way toward the sitting room where she was gathered with her friends, getting ready.

The mating bond led me directly there, and I took comfort in the fact that I wasn’t really spying on her when she would sense my presence.

“He really bit you on the first night?” one of them was asking Verity. Tallulah, I thought, by the incredulous tone.

“Yup,” Verity replied proudly. I found Tallulah’s prim attitude trying, but Verity seemed to enjoy her company. Verity enjoyed my company though, which didn’t speak well to her taste in companions. I would be forever grateful for it.

“That tracks,” Tallulah replied faintly.

“What was your plan?” Austin laughed. “Just never tell anyone?”

“I’m sure it would have come up eventually,” Verity said, the amusement clear in her voice. “Hold on one second, please.”

I felt rather than heard her move, and suddenly her voice was much closer, as though she was speaking directly into the wall I was standing behind.

“Go away, darling.”

“No,” I grumbled, wishing I could see her face.

Verity laughed. “Yes. I’ll see you soon, go spend some time with your brothers. Have some food. Be a good host.”

“We always have our midday meal together.”

I heard the smile in her voice. “We’re going to eat soon. Go find your brothers and we can at least be having our midday meal at the same time. And from tomorrow, we’ll never miss one again. Deal?”

There was a chorus of awwws behind her that did a better job at sending me running than her encouraging words did.

“I’ll see you at the end of the aisle, okay?” Verity asked softly.

“You can be sure of it. Until then, my love.”

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