Page 85 of Haze

Where are all these rules coming from? I am positive Cade got zero approval on being with Thalia.

Revecca forced the blood test, and now she’s got to pay the piper for it. When I start walking toward the front door behind her, her henchman follows my movements, constantly putting himself between us.

She hisses her loathing remark upon my approach. “I don’t know what angle you’re playing, but you cannot think this is a good idea.”

“I’m the reigning queen of bad ideas,” I answer, walking past her.

Finn’s cool and stable presence trails behind me as I make my way through the foyer.

Does she not know what I’ve been through? Then again, maybe I should be proud my family is good at keeping things quiet.

I kick off my shoes without untying them and don’t bother putting them away. Finn’s hand finds my shoulder. He keeps me with him as he toes off his shoes.

We walk across the foyer and into the great room.

“Stockholm is lovely. But nothing could stop us from coming. I mean, if it had been you or Deacon, it would have been absolu—” Aunt Alora’s voice cuts off as Finn and I emerge.

Cade looks over my shoulder at Finn.

Is everyone going to start addressing him and not me?

“Just found her. Then had a run-in with Revecca,” Finn growls.

“Do continue talking about me like I’m not here though.” I glance at Aunt Alora and Uncle Elliot before trying to make a beeline toward the snack cupboard.

Finn tosses me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.

“I’m hungry,” I groan.

“I’ll have Lauren run you up snacks,” Cade answers.

Revecca comes into my view before Finn can round the corridor. Her eyes go wide, scandalized.

I blow her a kiss and wink for good measure. Her responding scoff echoes across the open space.

I’d like to pretend to be surprised that Finn knows how to go up the back stairwell and through the game room, past the movie screening area, and into the tucked-away hallway that leads to my room. But I’m not. Only when we’re through my security door and the secondary privacy door does Finn set me down in the sitting area of my bedroom.

I look at him expectantly. Blowing a raspberry when he says nothing, I fill the dead air. “Fancy seeing you here. Wanna fuck?”

“No, I want Cade to distract Revecca. Then I can take you, and we can go shift.” Finn shakes his head, crossing his arms over his chest.

Regardless of the flex of his forearms and the shuffling of his ink, it’s arguably the most unsexy thing ever said.

“We can’t do that.” I turn away from him, heading past the fireplace, around my bed, and to the bathroom.

Dutifully, Finn follows.

“You need to shift. Dinah told me that you need to get more in touch with your wolf.” Finn’s choice of logical arguments is compelling.

However, it does not change the facts.

Glowering from the doorway, Finn tracks my movements while he furthers his argument. “There’s something not right, you need to interact with your wolf.”

When I walk into my closet, the light flicks on automatically. I’m half-naked when I look at Finn. His eyes are locked on my body. Typical male.

Heat fills me, warming my core. It comes out of nowhere.

“Tell me you can’t feel our bond, Kathleen.” Finn’s voice is gravelly as he lets out a commanding growl, “Tell me right now you’re not feeling the desire I have for you.”

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