Page 70 of Wolfgang

Riley scowled at his cards. “About me?”

“Yes, about you.” Ever the honest vampire, Johann. “But nothing bad. Just how to help.”

Riley looked, for whatever reason, to Eric, who’d been standing off to the side, observing the whole spectacle with a sort of patient confusion. “I can’t go back to Mama, can I?”

Before Eric could speak, Daphne stepped forward carefully, squeezing Sybil’s hand as she did so. “Not like this, I’m afraid, little one. We’re so sorry for what happened to you.”

Riley nodded thoughtfully, gathering his cards and looking to his two playmates. Wolfe was hard-pressed to tell whether he was resigned to his fate or biding his time to the next escape attempt.

Danny gestured to the stairs with his chin. “You two go on up. I’ll be there in a minute.” He gave a small wave to the newcomers. “Hello, I’m Danny.”

Wolfe couldn’t help the roll of his eyes. “Yes, yes. This is Danny. And this is Eric. Sybil and Daphne, as I’m sure you both heard Johann yell quite loudly. We’ve all met; let’s get on with it.”

Danny made a skeptical noise. “Isn’t it a little sexist to pawn the kid off on two women?”

Sybil laughed airily, grabbing at Wolfe’s arm. “Yes, Wolfgang, isn’t it?”

Wolfe gritted his teeth. “I distinctly recall Daphne expressing the wish for a child.”

“Of course you do,” Daphne said approvingly, tapping a finger to her head. “That steel trap of yours.” She turned to Danny, the picture of sincerity. “He’s not wrong. It’s my one regret of meeting Sybil when I did. No younglings of our own. Unless you count Wolfe, and he’s really not the most affectionate son.”

Wolfe tugged his arm out of Sybil’s hold, scowling at Daphne. “I amnotyour son.”

“See what I mean?” Daphne cocked her head, studying Danny, acting as if she hadn’t realized what he was the moment she’d waltzed into the room. “You never wanted one of your own?”

Danny shrugged. “I have a dog, so…”

“A fur baby!” Daphne clapped her hands. “How delightful.”

Wolfe resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. The two women knew his tells too well, and they’d never stop goading him if they realized it was working. “Do you want the brat or not?”

“Wolfgang,” Daphne chastised. “First of all, he needs to agree to it.”

“I believe he will. You two have a…warmth to you.”

Sybil gave a dramatic gasp. “Compliments! How absolutely maudlin of you.” She fixed her gaze sharply on Eric. “Could it be this young gentleman’s influence?”

Daphne took her cue, and the two began circling Eric—who’d been absolutely closemouthed during this whole ordeal because he was a perfect creature and not nearly as annoying as every single other person currently invading Wolfe’s house—like a pair of sharks.

“Very handsome,” Sybil crooned. “These shoulders. But still, a certain sweetness to the face.”

“He should grow that hair out a bit though,” Daphne mused. “It would suit him better.”

“If the two of you would stop eyeing my mate like a slab of beef, I’d greatly appreciate it.”

“Your mate?” Sybil pressed a hand to her chest, wide-eyed in mock surprise. “Way to bury the lede, Wolfgang.”

“You don’t think the vampire child in need of a home merited the lede?”

Eric was tense, clearly nervous, but he still managed a lovely smile for the women. “It’s nice to meet you both. I didn’t realize Wolfe had any friends. Except Jay sometimes.”

“Sometimes?” Daphne’s brow furrowed, rounding on Wolfe. “Have you been upsetting sweet Johann?”

Wolfe waved a hand. “I may have acted…rashly a few times since my arrival.”

“He sort of kidnapped me,” Eric murmured, his cheeks flushing pink when Wolfe cocked a brow at the admission.

Sybil laughed with delight. “Well, who could blame him?”

---