Page 61 of Shadows of the Soul

She bristled and inched closer to me, so her arm brushed mine as she put three measly things on her plate. Never trust a person who doesn’t eat, especially a shifter. “When he wakes up and realizes you’re more trouble than you’re worth, don’t worry, I’ll be right there to console him.”

She spun on her heel and waltzed away into the crowd, leaving me staring at her back. Hudson was halfway across the floor, nodding at someone who was talking while waving their hands around. His eyes tightened as he glanced at Mercy, then back at me. Oh, he didn’t like us speaking. I turned back to the food and continued down to the desserts. This called for sweet sugary goodness to wipe away the bitter taste of ex-lover.

“So, you’re the one they are all talking about?” a gruff voice said next to me. What the hell now? Could a girl not stuff her face in peace?

“That’s me,” I said, side-eyeing him. Vampire. Stocky, with brown eyes and stubble. He wore a tux like it was a disease he wanted to shake off. So not one of the elite, but someone important enough to warrant an invitation to the treaty signing soiree.

“First the prince, now the Principal. What makes you so special, huh?”

His fingers trailed down my arm like oily tendrils of disgust. I shivered, which he misread as his fingers carried on and he grabbed my ass. Classy.

I grasped his hand, spun, and pushed him away from me. A wall of muscle wrapped in a black tux tackled him to the floor. Hudson’s fist smashed into the vampire’s nose. Blood went flying through the air, drawing the attention of every supernatural here. Hudson hit him again.

“Hudson, stop,” I demanded. I reached for his arm, and his elbow caught my face. The force threw me backward, and I landed in a sprawling heap on the hard floor.

“Fuck,” I muttered, pushing my hand against my jaw. I’d bruise but I’d be okay.

His head swiveled, and his wide eyes took me in. He abandoned the asshole vampire on the floor and hurried over to me.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

I glanced around at our audience and dropped my hand from my aching jaw. Mercy wove between the enraptured guests, a pleased smile on her face. “No, I’m good.”

His eyes tightened at my lie, and he held out his hand to pull me up. Leon and Aira pushed through the crowd and stopped in front of us.

“Show’s over, folks,” Sebastian said, emerging from the throng of people. “Go back to your champagne.”

Soft murmurs carried around us as people milled around once more.

“Cora,” Leon snapped. “Ever the center of attention.”

I stood taller and tilted my chin. “It was your vampire touching me inappropriately that led to this.”

Hudson was trembling at my side. He was seconds away from going fully furry. I touched his arm. “Let’s get to the signing, then we can be done with the pretense.”

“No,” Leon growled before turning his darkening gaze on Hudson. “You have some decisions to make before my name goes anywhere near that contract.”

Aira pulled on Leon’s hand. “Darling, it’s clear to me they are in love.”

Leon’s sneer twisted his face. “I won’t be taken for a fool, and if you had a shred of common sense,” he snarled at Hudson, “neither will you.”

“Father,” Sebastian snapped.

Hudson’s jaw ticked as I wove my hand with his. “If we aren’t signing the treaty, we should leave,” I whispered.

Hudson’s hand tightened in mine, and we began the trek out of the room. The sea of supernaturals parted for us, their accusatory eyes glaring at me like the whole incident was my fault.

We made it outside and into the waiting car before he leaned across the console and turned my face in his hands. I hissed at the pressure on my jaw. His eyes narrowed. “I’m so sorry, Cora.”

“Why? You were defending my honor. It’s the vampire that should be sorry.”

He sighed and turned the engine on before peeling out of the driveway. Silence coated the air like an ominous, potent premonition. My stomach twisted with anxiety.

“It was nothing,” I said to break the stony atmosphere. “And I will heal quickly.”

“You’re right, it was nothing. I should have predicted this.”

That feeling intensified. “Predicted what?”

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