Page 129 of Halfblood Deceived

“We shouldn’t have to,” Mac said, shrugging. “But we live in a fucked up world that has made it necessary.”

Reese nodded.

Aella took a deep breath.

Lupita came out, Diana, Kamilla, and Dyson right behind her.

“So, I was thinking we could have pre-breakfast before we go home,” Lupita said, linking her elbow with Mac and dragging the much taller female along. “Bye Aella!” Aella barely managed a wave because Lupita kept talking even as Mac opened the driver’s door of her old beetle car. Lupita went around to the passenger’s side. “We could order waffles and pancakes and split them, with some eggs and a milkshake.”

“Milkshakes aren’t breakfast food, you heathen,” Mac said as they got inside the car.

“They are if you have them at breakfast,” Lupita argued.

Mac rolled her eyes as she started the car and drove away.

Aella smiled. She had the feeling the tiny witch spoke even in her sleep.

Reese put out their cigarette against the wall, tossing the butt to the nearest bin. “See you tomorrow, Aella?”

Aella nodded.

Reese smiled at her, then nodded goodbye to Diana, Kamilla, and Dyson before getting on their bike and leaving the lot.

Kamilla tilted her head, examining Aella. “Are you alright?” She’d checked up on Aella earlier, apologizing for not having noticed the incident because she was at a meeting.

“I am,” she answered, realizing it wasn’t a lie. “Tired and hungry, but fine.”

Kamilla gave Aella’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’m glad. Get some rest, alright? You look tired.” Her topaz gaze was kind but utterly shrewd.

Aella had the feeling the vampire princess just knew she hadn’t been taking her potions.

“I will,” Aella promised.

Dyson closed the door, giving Aella a friendly smile that she returned at once. He and Kamilla waited until Diana and Aella were astride the black bike to start the car and drive away in the opposite direction.

* * *

Aella was bleary-eyed with exhaustion when Diana parked her bike in the garage.

She waited until her sister closed the metal door before following her up the steps.

An undercurrent of warmth traveled the length of Aella’s spine and curled around her belly when she was one step away from the open door.

She turned at once, previous exhaustion forgotten, and located a pair of bright green lupine eyes in the shadows of the park.

Her heart pumped faster, harder. A smile spread across her face without even thinking.

“Aella, what are you looking at?—Oh,” Diana said.

Aella turned to meet her sister’s surprised, slightly wary glance. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

“Be careful,” Diana advised, but didn’t try to stop Aella, taking her bag from her shoulder instead.

Aella nodded and then hurried down the steps. She almost jumped on the spot as she waited for a car to pass. Then she ran across the street and sidewalk, entering the park, and flinging her arms around the wolf’s solid, warm body.

He returned the hug at once, placing his massive neck on her shoulder, his muzzle tickling the back of her neck, his hot, relieved exhalation warming her back.

“I got a job!” Aella said excitedly. “And everyone is nice.” She pulled back to gauge his reaction, finding him giving her a small smile. “I love it.” She surprised herself with how true that was, despite the incident. “There was a scary moment when an idiot groped me, but the bouncers got him and his buddies out—”

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