Page 82 of The Huntress

He nodded before planting a kiss on Callie’s head. George dropped onto the rug, content to play with her doll.

“Leo, did you do this?” Callie gestured to Valerie’s appearance.

“No, your sister did that all by herself.”

“Val, it looks like the dress I got you for Christmas. Those are the Prada pumps you spent a fortune on and only wore once.”

Valerie glanced at herself, and pink stained her cheeks. “I did wear it more than once,” she whispered, and shyness leaked into her expression, softening her features.

With a flick of Gabe’s fingers, Callie’s outfit changed from jeans and a T-shirt to a form-hugging red velvet gown, her feet covered in decadent red peep-toe pumps, her hair he’d pinned up in a chignon. She squealed her surprise, bringing forth an answering chuckle from him. With another flick, she was back in her jeans.

“Keep the shoes,” she said, planting a quick kiss on his chin.

Valerie’s eyes opened wide. Then she laughed.

“The conversion healed you,” Gabriel said when her laughter dwindled into a smile.

“Yes, with blood as my new addiction.” She grimaced.

A few younglings retained their human distaste for blood, so that wasn’t unusual.

“What happens to my sister now, Leo?” Callie’s directness had Leo’s gaze meeting Valerie’s.

“I asked to be her sire. She’s under my protection and guidance.”

“Like a slave?” Callie asked, anger crisping her voice.

“Like a student.” Leo evaporated his glass and stood. “On that note, come, Valerie, let’s not overstay our welcome.”

She rose to her feet, placing her empty mug on the side table. Callie stiffened. “But—”

“Callista, if you want to see her, open your mental door and talk to me,” Leo said, his tone abrasive. “That goes for you too,” he grumbled at Valerie.

She didn’t respond, just wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Ready,” she said, and with that, they dissolved.

“Intriguing,” Gabriel flashed Callie a smile.

“Yes. It looks like Leo has developed a fascination with my sister. So what did you two discuss?”

“Could you scent your sister?” Gabriel asked.

Callie frowned and tilted her head. “She smells like she used to before the chemo.”

He sent the information to Leo and received a grunt for his trouble. “Leo said something about Carter’s daughter, Monique, being a recent recruit.”

“Then she faked her death to become a suckblood?” Callie darted off his lap and rifled through her files, eagerness cementing her features.

He leaned forward and scooped George onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her tiny body.

“What do you want for lunch today, princess?” he asked, considering going grocery shopping for items she could help herself to. Fruit, snacks, juice? He was uncertain what products she liked.

“Hot dogs!” She bounced on his lap.

“Again?” he teased. “How about you and I sneak off to do grocery shopping?”

She jumped off his lap with a squeal and disappeared into her room with a singsong. “Getting my shoes!”

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