Page 116 of Wicked Hour (Heirs of Chicagoland 2)

“So,” she said, “you changed a human without her consent and didn’t want to tell me that.”

“No-drama rule,” I protested.

She narrowed her already angry eyes. “You didn’t make the drama. You just reacted to it.”

I couldn’t seem to help it. I’d kept up a strong face, even for my father, but here with Lulu, the emotion—and the words—just flew out. “What if she dies, Lulu? What if I did this thing, and caused all this trouble, and she dies, anyway?”

“No.” She pointed at me, her eyes hard and hot. “No. You do not get to regret that, and you don’t get to take it back. You saved her life. Period. If you want to regret anything, regret that the beasts made her a victim. Do not regret doing the right thing. That’s vampire hindsight.”

“My mother—”

“Lived,”Lulu said. “She lived because your father saved her life. Period. I know she had some issues to work through, and that’s fair. That’s her right. But he did the right thing, and so did you. That’s who you are, Lis. You’re their kid, and you’re a good egg. You think I’m going to be friends with a sociopath? No.”

“No-drama rule.”

“No-drama rule,” she agreed.

It helped, hearing her say it. She was my best friend, but that required more honesty, not less. And if I’d done the wrong thing, she’d tell me, then do whatever she could to help me get out of it.

“Thank you. Connor and my dad said the same thing.”

Her lips curled upward. “Good. They’re right. And since I’m allowed to assume you did the right thing, being your bestie, I wasn’t asking about that.” She smiled. “I was asking about him and you and the progression with Connor.”

“I’m not going to kiss and tell.”

“Elisa Sullivan. You may be a vampire, but you are not a good liar. You’ve told me about every kiss you’ve ever had. And the times you didn’t get kissed.”

“What? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Michael McGregor.”

“Michael McGregor and I went to second base.”

“Michael McGregor accidentally brushed your boob while youwere showing off Krav Maga moves. Then you threw him to the floor and broke his arm.”

“Nose. And it wasn’t on purpose. He just had a bad landing.”

Her mouth twitched. “Whatever. The point it, you enjoy sharing details with me. So how’s the trip going vis-à-vis the romance?”

“He’s into me, and I’m on the same page. I’m just trying to... let it happen. In between attempts to kill me.”

She reached out, squeezed my arm. “My little girl is growing up.”

TWENTY-ONE

Connor borrowed Georgia’s SUV, and Theo and I climbed in for the trip into Grand Bay proper to threaten the spellseller. Apparently a glutton for punishment, Alexei opted to stand guard at the cabin, keep an eye on Lulu.

“Is it just me,” Connor asked when we were on the road, “or is that cat unnerving?”

He pushed a hand through his hair like a man who’d just survived a standoff.

“Unnerving,” Theo agreed from the backseat.

I glanced back at Theo. “You’re a former cop and an excellent shot”—then I looked at Connor—“and you’re a wolf. We’re chasing down magically enhanced shifter hybrids because you’re required by arcane Pack magic, and you’re unnerved by an eight-pound cat?”

“I didn’t say it was logical,” Connor said. “I just said I was unnerved.”

I wasn’t unnerved by her so much as flummoxed.

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