Page 22 of The Monster's Mate

“Well, I have a few hours under the radar,” Sam says. “Mom and dad aren’t due home until ten so they’ll have no idea I’m even gone.”

And it’s a wonderful day with the three of us. The only two people in the world I’d want to meet.

Sam helps us make dinner. She’s in charge of the salad while Skiden and I make the steaks and potatoes along with garlic bread. He’s always by my side, even casually looping my hair into a bun when it starts to loosen.

Teases about how they were all baffled by silk strings that grow out of our head.

As we mix the garlic with the butter for the bread, Skiden explains to us that their “bread” consists ofzeppa,and that each clan in Pimeon makes it slightly different, according to which herbs are plentiful in their community.

“Tell Sam how you ended up here,” I say, nudging him with my shoulder.

He winces, making it seem more dramatic than it is. “Isabel is somewhat naïve, you know. So is River. Both my sisters are. Maman takes full advantage of that and wants to rile up her three sons. She convinced the two ladies to go to a prephouse where females are pampered by males. Tiran was, of course, furious. River’s his mate. But Bronan? While Isabel’s his mate, it’s a secret. You see, the idiot tricks her into believing she is a breeder. That she can have anyone in the clan impregnate her.”

“What?” Samantha’s eyes are wide. “Why?”

“She told him she wanted a ton of kishren. So, my maman talked her into becoming a breeder.”

I chuckle, Skiden gives me secretive smile for just the two of us.

“Bronan was furious but Isabel had decided. Nothing was going to sway her from having ‘tons of babies.’ So, he has to pretend she is a breeder while scaring off other males from sniffing around her. It’s a ton of fun to watch,” he assures her. “My cocky brother has never had it so hard.”

“I almost wish I could see that,” Samantha says longingly and we share a look. I’d love to go too, but we both know it’s impossible. Neither of us will leave the other.

“So, after tricking Isabel into the prephouse, she got her drunk. Bronan had to rescue her and take her home—which she doesn’t even know is her home. She thinks the idiot has opened his home to her temporarily.” He snorts at the ludicrous story Bronan has concocted that somehow works. “And the next day, Maman outsmarted her sons again. We got a call from Mikhail that all three females were here. I was dispatched to keep Maman in line.”

“But Isabel’s in love with Bronan,” I assure Sam. “She just doesn’t want to be tied down. Not after that marriage she had.”

Samantha grows sad. “When her husband died, she visited her father, hoping he would want to mend their relationship. He didn’t. You see, her father is partners with my uncle. And I don’t think he’ll ever see females are worthwhile. Not since becoming friends with him.”

“She’ll never have a properpatronfigure back home,” Skiden says. “Because ours sucks too. But our maman will more than make up for it.”

“Oh,” Sam says, jumping a little. “Gad, that reminds me. Luce, here’s a new list of code words.”

She pulls out a sheet of paper and hands it to me. My eyes skim the codes as she explains it to Skiden.

“When I call Isabel’s phone, we speak in code so we can relay messages without someone who may be listening in knowing exactly what we talk about. And sometimes we change the codes, then when Lucy memorizes them, she burns the paper,” Samantha says.

“What does it say?” he asks.

“If Sam says, ‘How’s work?’ it really means to be careful. That something odd has happened.”

“Maybe I noticed I might have been followed or I heard a strange click on the phone when dialing, which could mean we’re bugged,” Sam says.

“If she says, ‘How’s workbeen?’ it means to avoid going in. To call in sick because I’m being followed. That happens a lot because Isabel’s father has found out where she lives and assumes I’m her.”

“And if she needs me, she’ll say, ‘I have a cold that won’t go away.’ I’ll be here immediately because that’s a scream for help,” Sam says.

“But if I just want to visit with her and don’t need immediate help, I’ll say, ‘I have the sniffles. Maybe a cold.’ Does that make sense?” I ask.

“You two make these codes all the time?” he asks, aghast.

“It’s safer that way,” Sam says.

“I’m going to mention to Mikhail that I need to come back soon and stay for a few days. Regularly. To make sure everything is okay.”

I look up at Skiden, surprised. He really wants to do that? “I’m sure it’ll be fine. I don’t want to put anyone out.”

“You’re not putting me out. I’ll bring you more stories of the clumsy romance between Isabel and Bronan. Everyone watches. It’s the best Pimeon soap-opera ever.”

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