Page 76 of Fated to the Wolf Billionaire

“Why, King Cysernaphus, I’m offended. I feel we’ve been exemplary guests.” It was a snide response, and I mentally chided myself for the slip even as I enjoyed the slight purpling of anger high in his cheeks. I was in a good mood, dammit, and I refused to let his surly attitude kill my happiness at having gotten my mate marks last night.

It was a joy nothing could touch, not even someone as insufferable a prick as him.

“Yes, well, tell that to my architects who are repairing the ceiling today. Do you understand how much magic it takes to regrow and install the aura quartz on the ceiling? No, I’ll happily see the back of you.Today.”

“We will excuse ourselves as soon as you’ve told us what you require in trade and our pack mate is well enough to travel.”

He grunted, seemingly having forgotten that our wounded pack mate could be a hindrance to his plans to boot us. “I have need of a favor from Carmine. He has something I want—and you’re going to get it for me.”

Goddess’s hem. Turns out there wasonething that could dampen my joy after all.

The thought of dragging my mate into the heart of vampire territory, unbonded. And from a quick glance at Gael’s livid expression at the mere mention of the vampire, without backup. And the smug bastard knew it too, from the look of him.

Fuck,fuck.

I straightened my sleeve and adjusted the shining gold cuff link before dignifying him with a response. We had each other over a barrel now, and he knew it. But I’d be damned if I gave him the satisfaction of acknowledging it.

“Consider it done. Negotiations are easier to accomplish if I know the value of the thing I’m trading for.”

The king grinned viciously, a baring of teeth any wolf would be proud of. “Surely you don’t think I actually want to make it easy on you? See yourselves out the second your maiden is cleared for travel.”

He let the door slam behind him, making Fiona flinch and Leigh stir on the couch.

Gael placed a hand on her shoulder, and she settled back down. His voice was low when he finally spoke. “No way in the Goddess’s nine realms am I taking my pregnant mate to Las Vegas. It’s practically hunting season on wolves, and that’s when there isn’t already a target on our backs.”

“Umm, can one of you fill me in? Who’s Carmine, and what’s wrong with Las Vegas?” Fiona’s question was sincere, and if a hint of worry edged her tone, I couldn’t blame her.

“Carmine is the son of one of the oldest, meanest vampire sires. Heir of the blood and vicious as they come. He owns half the Strip and runsallof it with his undead minions.”

Gael’s furious delivery left a little to be desired, but the summary was accurate.

“I take it wolves and vampires don’t get along? That isn’t just modern myth, like the rest?”

“Unfortunately, no. We’re not mortal enemies, as we’re painted in some fiction. But definitely not allies either.”

She nodded, biting her bottom lip. The sweet amber of her scent was muted, tinged a bit acidic with her anxiety.

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in tight to my side and pressing a kiss to her hair. Her arms slipped around my waist, and some of the furious tension inside me eased, washing away like it never existed.

Mate bonds—and the way they could instantly settle a furious alpha wolf—were nothing short of a miracle.

I mentally shook myself. We had a task now, and that meant we needed a plan of action, and those I could handle in my sleep.

I turned to Gael as the plan began to unfold in my mind. “Someone’s going to need to get Elodie safely back to the enclave, and I think it should be you.” I started with the most obvious point, a strategy already building as the words poured out. “You can escort the three females back, and I’ll take my larger jet to Las Vegas. I can get a meeting with Carmine under the guise of wanting to invest. After all, a Vegas Strip restaurant is a crown jewel in many a restaurateur’s portfolio. Perhaps it’s time I got myself a ruby.”

It was clean, simple, and the least disruptive. Traveling alone would keep me under the radar and my pack mates out of the line of vampire fire. Most importantly, keepFionaoff the vampire’s radar.

“You should take someone with you. You’re strong, but they’ve got the numbers. We could take the females back together, and then I’ll go with you.”

“Wait a damn minute, you’re seriously going to talk about me like I’m not standing here? We all agreed when we started this not to split the mates. I get that Elodie has to go home. She needs to recover after almost dying. But… you’renotgoing without me. Especially not after last night.” Fiona’s fury was palpable, her eyes turning amber and a blue flush starting to suffuse the skin around her eyes.

“Last night?” Leigh asked drily, sitting up from the couch with a yawn and an epic case of bedhead. “Do tell, and don’t spare the juicy bits. Pregnant ladies sleeping on couches don’t get any, even though the door locks.” She shot a pointed frown at Gael, who rolled his eyes.

“Pregnant ladies who can’t be quiet don’t, no.”

“I don’t need that many details about your bedroom activities, and I certainly won’t be providing any details about ours.” I’d seen the two of them get hot and heavy from the start, and while I had no doubt they were happy with their relationship, I didn’t need to hear about it while we were trying to strategize. I certainly wouldn’t share private details about what Fiona and I had gotten up to. What was between mates was sacred, and I didn’t take that lightly. Although, theywouldappreciate the fact that we’d gotten our marks.

“Do you want to tell them?” I looked down at Fiona, knowing she’d know what specifically I meant.

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