Page 22 of Venice

“Delicious,” Sophia grins. “Iphi mentioned you had a few hotties interested in you. So, I guess you being a pixie kind of evens the playing field, doesn’t it?”

“Yes I supposed it does.” Especially since they were the cause for my change. “Two have knotted inside of me, claiming me as their fated mate, and obviously they are mine too.”

Iphi and Sophia exchange glances before Iphi leans forward. “You have to go back and make them understand, no matter what.”

* * *

The three of us spend a few hours hashing out my options. I will go back to my men and explain, but first I need to call my parents. Terrified, I retreat to the bedroom and sit on the bed. Alone. Shaking, I dial their number from Iphi’s phone.

“Iphigenia?” My mother picks up on the first ring.

“Hi Mom, it’s me.”

“Diva, is everything okay?”

“Yes, well, kind of. Something weird happened, and I need to talk to you and Dad about it.”

My mother’s sigh is pronounced. “What now, Diva? I hope this doesn’t have anything to do with that ridiculous idea you called us about the other day. Your father and I discussed it, and we are never dropping the werewolf registry or chipping. As a matter of fact, we’ve escalated the development. We have a meeting with the governor next week.”

I shake my head and take a long, deep breath, holding it for a moment before releasing it. “Mom, apparently I’m Signum.”

“What?” My mother drops the phone. I hear it clatter to the floor. “Bill, come here, your daughter is trying to give me a heart attack.”

My father picks up the phone. “What did you say to your mother?”

I gather my courage again. “I’m Signum, Dad. Evidently, I’m a pixie. I transformed for the first time this morning. Dad, I’m scared. Did either of you know this when you adopted me from England?”

“Of course not.” My father’s voice is gruff, angry. “We wouldn’t have chosen you if we suspected you were tainted.”

“Dad, please . . . I’m still me.”

“No, you’re not.” His voice is firm. “You know how we feel about Signum, Diva. All Signum.”

My mother sobs in the background, “Our own daughter, an abomination.”

“She’s not our daughter.” My father’s voice is repugnant. “As far as we’re concerned, you are dead. Goodbye, witch. Do not call us, ever again.”

And with that, the only family I’ve ever known completely disowns me.

Chapter Twenty

Marcello

My mates and I are playing Street Fighter and feeling sorry for ourselves when the doorbell rings. Emilio is playing his favorite character, Chun-Li, and Luca is playing as Juri, so I jump up to get the door. Before I open it, Diva’s scent permeates my soul, and I freeze with my hand on the knob.

My mates smell her too and are next to me in a flash. Emilio pushes me out of the way before I can gather myself and flings open the door. Diva looks smaller than ever, one hand trembling on the handle of her wheelie bag.

“You’re leaving Venice?” I snap.

She looks up at me, tears in her eyes, and shakes her head.

Emilio rushes past me and gathers her in his arms. She drops the suitcase and throws her arms around him, burying her face in his neck.

“I’m so sorry,” she murmurs against him.

I roll my eyes, give them my back, and stalk back inside to pick up a controller and beat the shit out of a cartoon character on the screen.

I try to block out the commotion of Luca and Emilio fawning over her as they proclaim their love and forgiveness. But I’m unsuccessful and finally throw down the control pad. I turn to glare at the three of them. “For fuck’s sake, stop giving the neighbors a show and bring her inside.”

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