Page 144 of Halfblood Deceived

Andreas shot him a look that promised revenge.

Luce tugged at Aella’s hand with a conspiratorial gesture.

She leaned in obligingly.

“I especially love the secret pocket,” Luce whispered. “It’s perfect to conceal my backup dagger.”

Aella’s eyes went wide. “Um…”

The others had obviously heard given their amused expressions.

“It’s Andreas’ fault,” Gabby told Aella. “Goddess only knows how many concealed weapons he carries.”

“May I see your books?” Luce asked.

Aella smiled. “Of course.”

Luce read the blurbs in record time. She hummed and returned them to Aella. “Great choices. I think I’ll get these two for myself.”

Andreas frowned at his daughter. “Maybe you should look for something more age-appropriate.”

Evan huffed. “The little gremlin has read far worse, I assure you.”

Andreas glared at him.

Evan lifted his hands. “On her own volition!”

Zeydan leaned against a shelf, a lock of black hair brushing his angular cheekbone and a half smile on his face as he watched his family’s antics.

Gabby rolled her eyes at Andreas. “What are you, Andreas? The book police?”

“I think I have a say in what sort of material my daughter reads,” Andreas argued.

Luce fixed her father with a cool look and an arched brow. “I have been done with middle-grade literature for two years now, Dad. And I’ve read plenty of adult books already. Is it because one of Aella’s choices has romance between females?”

Aella’s cheeks went red.

Evan, Lex, and Gabby crossed their arms at Andreas with mock-demanding expressions.

Zeydan was grinning like a cat now.

Andreas recoiled. “What? No. Of course not. Although I do think you’re a bit too young for romance—”

“These aren’t explicit!” Aella hastened to say, feeling her neck heat up.

Luce sighed with utter world-weariness. “Do you want to have the sex talk again, Dad? You got very embarrassed last time we had it, remember?”

Andreas, a grumpy, intimidating, 6-foot-4 vampire, got red in the cheeks.

Luce nodded to herself and huffed softly as she entered the Young Adult section.

Andreas opened his mouth and closed it again.

The others laughed at him, which only made him flush more.

“Yes, Luce usually puts him in his place,” Zeydan said to Aella, answering her unspoken question and smiling without showing his sharp, double canines.

Aella smiled back. “She’s gifted, isn’t she?”

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