Page 51 of Newly Undead in Dark River

“So, that’s what Judge is like,” I said, running my fingers through his disheveled hair.

He turned his head and kissed my palm. “I’m beginning to see why you stayed in this town, Mika.”

I let out a small, near-hysterical giggle. “I guess you better start calling me Raine.”

Chapter Nineteen

Akiss on my nose woke me, and I turned over and snuggled tighter into Tex’s back. It was too early to be awake, but I guess he was still on human-time.

“It smells like a porn set in here, Rainey,” someone whispered against my cheek. I opened one eye and saw Brody’s grinning face. Groaning, I dragged him down until his body collapsed on mine. I banded my arms around his waist and nuzzled my nose against his neck. “Tex is bisexual. So is Judge apparently. It was wild.”

Brody laughed and waggled his eyebrows. “Judging by the smile on your face, you got a little wild too.”

I made a happy, humming noise. “It’s too early, Brody. Come to bed.”

He nipped my nose. “I would, Sweetheart, but the Sheriff sent me. Apparently, they are making a decision about your boy-toy over there during the town meeting right about now. Figured you’d want to be there.”

“They’re what?” I said although it sounded a bit like a pterodactyl screech. Tex shot upright in bed. Judge was nowhere to be found, but I was used to that by now.

“Someone needs to stay with Tex,” I said as I shot out of bed, dragging on last night’s clothes. When Judge stuck his head around the door jamb, a mixing bowl filled with some kind of pancake batter in hand, I pinched myself. Surely I was still dreaming, right? That wasn’t Judge playing domestic goddess?

“I’ll stay with Tex. You go make sure they don’t wipe him and send him home.”

Tex’s brows pulled together, his tongue darting out to wet his lower lip. I was momentarily distracted by the gesture, one leg half in/ half out of my jeans. So, so pretty. “They can’t just decide that can they?”

I ran my hand over his cheek and resisted the urge to just climb back into bed with him. “They’re the Council. They can do whatever they want. But we are going to make sure you stay where you belong. Wherever you want to be, I mean. If you want to be with us, that’s-“

He kissed me to stop my inane rambling.

“I want to be here.”

Brody slapped his shoulder. “Then, here is where you’ll stay.”

He led me out of the room and to the front door. “You should make our new harem mate feel welcome, Judge. I’m sure you know what he likes,” Brody teased over his shoulder as we slammed the door behind us.

I elbowed Brody in the ribs. “I’m not sure how I feel about you calling yourselves a harem. Seems kind of derogatory or something.”

“Cache of adoring men?”

“No!” I yelled, sprinting across the road toward the Town Hall.

“Multiple life partners?” he continued to tease as we ran. I wanted to just zip there, but I slowed my pace so Brody could keep up. That being said, we were traveling faster than any human could dream of running.

“I’m okay with multiple life partners,” I said begrudgingly as we halted at the door of the Council building. It looked like every other hewn log building in town, though there were subtle hints at its importance. Heavy doors with iron filigree, marble floors that seemed to shine like ice, ten-foot statues of the founding vampires.

Seriously.

Inside the building was another set of double doors. I threw them open dramatically.

“I object!”

I was checking that one off my list. Hollywood didn’t lie about how satisfying it was to hear the doors thunk open, and every head turn to look at you. It was a diva moment. Look at me, ticking shit off my bucket list.

“You don’t want Cresta to open a trade account with a hair extension company in California?” Nico said dryly, grinning at my theatrics. Everyone else seemed a little more annoyed.

“Uh, no, that’s cool. Sorry Cresta,” I whispered to the woman in question as I shuffled down the rows toward a couple of empty seats by Walker. When I thought I would be doing the walk of shame this evening, I imagined it would be because Brody and Walker caught me in bed with Judge and Tex.

Actually, in my imagination, it was less a walk of shame and more of a stride of pride. And there was pizza. And Brody was wearing a thong. And it was the plotline of the only porn I’ve ever watched.

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