Page 60 of Shadows of the Soul

Hudson sighed and snatched the tray of snacks from a waiter. The waiter opened his mouth, then closed it, and made a hasty retreat.

“If I knew you were going to kidnap the food, I’d have forgone the plate.”

“He’s infuriating,” Hudson muttered as he shoved something pink and slimy in his mouth. He grimaced. Note to self avoid the pink slimy thing. I helped myself to something that resembled steak. Licking my fingers of the sticky sauce with a hum of satisfaction, I readied myself for mingling with the bloodsuckers, elementals, and the shifters. We took in the attendees in companionable silence as we demolished the food. A studious waiter relieved us of our empty plates no sooner than I’d taken my last bite.

“Dance?” Hudson offered, holding his hand out to me.

I stared at it in horror. “What? No.”

He grabbed my hand and tugged me onto thedeserteddance floor. I fidgeted as he stopped dead center. His lips twitched as his eyes sparkled. “I don’t dance,” I muttered.

“Don’t or won’t?”

I cocked a brow and pressed my lips together as he wrapped his arms around me in a proper hold. “That’s what I thought,” he said as the music started up and he glided around the room like an expert. The band played a soft slow version of ‘She Wolf’ by David Guetta and Sia, which had me smirking. If only David and Sia knew. He pulled me closer than was strictly proper and spun me until I was laughing and the world fell away. He dipped me, landed an indecent kiss on my lips and then the room broke out in applause. Hudson Abbot had officially claimed me in front of society.There’s no going back now, Cora.

Leaving the dancefloor, we made our way through the different groups. Hudson kept me happy with trays of canapés, while he spoke about political bullshit I wasn’t interested in. The problem was they were so freaking tiny; I was still hungry.

“The cavalry has arrived,” Hudson whispered in my ear. I spun as an army of people in black and white marched into the room carrying silver domed platters.

“Principal,” a tall, lithe, middle-aged man shouted as he parted the crowd and slapped a hand on Hudson’s shoulder. “I’ve been waiting to get you alone.”

I eyeballed the trays, then glanced at Hudson. Ugh, now is not the time. Don’t get between a woman and her food.

“Francis, one moment,” Hudson said before leaning down to kiss my cheek. “Go fetch me some food, woman. I’ll be right behind you, after listening to his complaints about territory.”

“Fine, I’ll go because I’m hungry, not because you told me.”

Hudson’s lips twitched as I left him and hot-footed it through the crowd, reaching the buffet table as the waiters revealed delicious food served in bigger than tiny bite size pieces. Excellent, I was here for the good stuff. There’s nothing worse than arriving at the table late, only to discover all that’s left is warm egg mayo sandwiches. I grabbed two plates and moved along the table while piling them high with goodies.

“He doesn’t like tuna,” a throaty feminine voice purred from next to me.

I glanced to my left with my hand hovering over the tuna and blinked. She was stunning in a navy satin gown. She was all long blonde honey hair, curves, ice-blue eyes and tall—she was so damn tall.

“Excuse me?”

She held out her hand. I shook it, because I’d been raised with southern manners. Inside, I wanted to drop the bitch to the floor for knowing something about Hudson I didn’t, and because she had a long way to fall. It was bound to hurt.

“Cora Roberts,” I said.

“Mercy Stephenson.”

“Are you part of the pack?” I asked. She was a shifter. I’m not entirely sure what animal.

She nodded, and her lips pulled up in a smile, showcasing her perfect white teeth. “I’ve known Hudson for a long time. I’m the alpha of the leopard pack in Wisconsin.” She wanted me to know she was mate material, a compatible species for Hudson. She was exactly who he should be mating.

They’ll have pretty furry babies. It was an insidious thought that I fought a battle with, and I tried to keep it from appearing on my face. Jealousy wasn’t an elegant look.

“I see,” I said, grabbing the tuna cracker thing and putting it on my plate. He might not like tuna, but I did. “Are you enjoying your evening?”

“I am. I’m staying at the pack house while I’m here. Didn’t Hudson tell you?”

No, he didn’t tell me a blonde goddess was living in his home. But then again…

“He failed to mention you, probably hadn’t noticed, given all the time he spends atmyhome.”

She pressed her lips together. “He’s a handful, right?”

Was she insinuating what I think she was? Or baiting me? “More than a handful,” I winked.

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