Page 37 of Awakening the Dhampir

I stopped mid-bite to stare at the fae. “Do they print passwords on the underside?”

Kenrid laughed. “No, but it’s not uncommon for people to write the password on a note and tape it to the bottom.”

I grunted and kept eating. I’d have to keep that in mind for future reference. I didn’t like technology, but I did my best to keep up with it, unlike Kenrid, who rose to the challenge to master it.

Kenrid finished rearranging the sofa cushions and sat. I carried my box of pizza to the coffee table and sat in one of the chairs, recognizing his need to talk.

“What’s wrong?” I prompted.

“A couple things,” he replied, glancing at the door to the room where Lorna slept. “I’m not sure she’s convinced we’ll share her affections. We talked about it, but she has concerns.”

“We have time to convince her,” I said, unsure why he was worried. She was our mate; of course she would accept us. “What else?”

Kenrid shook his head. “How would you feel about announcing her as your mate to the clan when we arrive?”

I paused and studied my friend, wondering where he was going with his question. “I have no reservations. Why?”

“No one will think twice about her wanting to be in your space if you’re mated,” he replied. “She’ll only have to keep her desire for Nathan under wraps.”

I stuffed the half slice of pizza in my mouth and considered his words. It made sense to me. No one would question us being close. No one would care if she leaned in and pressed her lips against her lover’s neck. Anything to make Lorna’s life easier was a win for us. I couldn’t see Kenrid having issues with it, or he wouldn’t have suggested it.

“I agree,” I said. “What’s your concern?”

“Elliott,” he replied. “I’m not sure he’ll be okay with an open display of affection between you two. And I’m still uncertain how Nathan feels.”

Yes, Elliott’s wolf would not sit back and let me hold his mate. After listening to Nathan speak to Lorna the night before, I wasn’t sure how he felt, either. Before her rescue, I would’ve said he wanted her just as badly as I did. But now?

“The four of us need to talk,” I said. “Without Lorna in the room.”

“I thought so, too.”

I grabbed another slice of pizza, letting silence fill the room.

“I think they put something in her food,” Kenrid said, watching me eat. “She shouldn’t have lost so much weight.”

“I saw what they fed her,” I growled, remembering the pitiful amount of bread and meat. “I also think it was more than that.”

Kenrid raised an eyebrow at me.

“Lorna wasn’t the only one starving,” I said.

Both of Kenrid’s eyebrows rose. “I hadn’t considered her dhampir. It wasn’t fully awakened, but her declaration that they’d both been starved makes sense.”

I nodded. “My thoughts exactly. I can’t think of anything else that would explain it.”

Silence filled the room for several seconds.

“I’m glad they’re dead,” Kenrid said, his voice low and harsh. “I’ve never understood that mentality. The desire to make someone suffer for one’s own pleasure is sickening.”

“We are in agreement.” I didn’t want to go down that road. Conrad’s death hadn’t diminished the anger I harbored. “I still need to give her my blood. We should find out how she reacts before we leave.”

“Of course, you’re right,” he agreed. “Let me put a privacy spell on the room first. Just in case.”

“You haven’t already?” I asked, then finished off yet another slice of pizza.

“No, just wards to keep everyone out.”

He rose and moved to the wall between the common area and bedroom. Once he finished the spell, I pushed open the bedroom door. Lorna wasn’t where I left her. She’d kicked off half the blankets and rolled to the center of the bed.

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