Page 27 of Haze

“We can talk right here. There’s no need to go to my office.” Cade finally retreats from her. Wrapping his arm around Thalia, he waits for whatever it is Revecca has come to say.

“Fine, if you want family secrets known by,” Revecca sneers, looking back and forth between Deacon and me, “others.”

“Uh, lady,” Deacon draws out slowly, followed by a pointed remark. “We’re his siblings?”

“Impossible. I’m done having foreigners declare having gifts and a claim to the throne in Romania.” Her eyes lock on me, but I refuse to acknowledge her existence. Instead, I watch her two henchmen look around our house.

That’s where I heard her name. Her Royal Highness Revecca Ardelean, Queen of Romania.

She continues glaring at him instead of me. “But you will submit for proof of lineage.”

Oh, fuck. I know the truth. When they force me to submit for the DNA test, it will show that I’m not genetically related to Cade or Deacon. And they’re not related to each other either.

As far as I’m aware, no one knows I know. My perfect 4.0 in undergrad was tarnished by a B in my Biology and Genetics class because I wouldn’t submit the genetics they asked for. I told him I didn’t have time to run the tests. Lie. I ran them four times. For exactly this reason, I couldn’t allow the results to be put out in the world.

I worried that if I told anyone we weren’t related, even my professor, it would somehow come back to Deacon and Cade. Not knowing what would happen between the three of us, I didn’t want to risk it. What would happen if they didn’t have a familial obligation to care about me? I know there are places I could go if they didn’t want me, but they know all my quirks, when to leave me alone, and when I need love, even if I suck at receiving it.

“You need to come to Romania. It’s most important you leave with me now. The family knows you’re alive, and they now know you are here. They will not be patient for your return.” Revecca’s words scare me.

Could someone actually make Cade go? No. That would be absurd. Cade’s The Leviathan. There’s no way anyone can command him to do jack shit.

“Excellent, then they can come here and talk this out with me. I’m not interested in going to Romania to rule. You won’t strong-arm me into leaving my family and my home.” Cade shakes his head and gestures to the group of us.

Revecca looks around. “Yes, this is a significant improvement over your art project earlier this year. But your place is at home, in Romania, where you need to be ruling from. Not a lodge in, I think they called it, Minnesota?”

I bite my lips together because that was hilarious, but laughing right now is so inappropriate. Who calls a demolition an art project? Lodge?

Taking the diplomatic approach, Cade answers, “Let us put you and your security up in our guest suites. I’ll be glad to entertain further conversations. While I’m not interested in going with you to Romania, maybe there’s something we can work out as a compromise.”

With a quick bow of her head, Revecca accepts. “That would be excellent. Thank you.”

“Revecca,” Cade says sharply, “you’re a guest in my home. You are not convincing me to go back to Romania, but The Leviathan is telling me something is wrong, so I’m offering assistance. Don’t look into this further than that. If there’s any hint of discord between us, I will have no problem dispatching you from here.”

The eyes of The Pricolici flash and are met with The Leviathan—dominance standoff in the kitchen.

I slide off my stool. “Well, if anyone needs me, I’ll be studying.”

“The two of you will need to submit blood tests. Given the most recent discovery of Cade”—Revecca’s sneer is evident with his name—“we need to test the bloodline to ensure there are no more... surprises.”

I had always assumed it was Robert being shady. But now,I’m not sure he was acting alone. This bitch is single-handedly ruining my life. Maybe I should text Ansel, give him a warning? Utah is also one way to get away from my other problem.

My wolf wags her tail at the smallest thought of Finn.

I say nothing but keep walking. Unfortunately, with the new layout of the house, I have no choice but to walk past Revecca to get to my office and suite.

“Don’t think I don’t see you. You may call yourself his sister. But given your”—Revecca waits until I look at her—“questionable origins, there’s no way you’re of the main line.”

With a shrug, I answer her, “And yet, of the two women in this room who are his sisters, something assures me that he actually likes me. It’s not my home he’s doing everything in his power to stay away from.”

* * *

I’ve examined my syllabi fifteen times, and there’s a perfect block to squeeze a heat in. I would only miss one week of classes, and with only one professor not being a wolf or knowing my research, it’s a solid opportunity. The only problem? It’s next week. I would need to take the med to start my heat very soon, like Saturday soon.

Covering my ass from Cade will be harder. I guess if I tell him I’m trying to finish the piece for the shifter exhibit at the Smithsonian and need zero distractions, he would have to believe it, right?

He’s too busy to even think otherwise. Revecca is here, and it appears she’s determined to stay until she gets what she wants. What she wants is something Cade won’t give her, so they’re at an impasse for a few days, maybe more.

A knock comes at my new bedroom door. Deacon is leaning against the doorframe.

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