Page 370 of Halfblood Deceived

Reese huffed. “Twenty says he’ll add Dirrty to the list.”

The familiar notes of Dirrty drifted across the mostly empty space.

Diana shook her head.

Reese smiled like a shark.

Diana’s gaze drifted to Vaz and Rod, who were behind the bar sharing a kiss.

“I shipped them,” Rebecca said. She had been peering at them too.

“Same,” Mac and Lupita said.

“It took me a while to notice because social interactions are still not something I’m good at,” Aella admitted. “But same.”

Lupita was eying Aella’s necklace. “That is chock-full of magic.”

Aella bit her lip. “Er…”

“Protective magic,” Mac said. “Which, let’s face it, Aella kinda needs.”

Trinity nodded. “Too true.”

Aella wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, true.”

Rod and Vaz brought two trays of drinks to the tables, and Tim returned shaking his ass to the rhythm of Christina Aguilera’s voice. Within minutes, the conversation turned chaotic and teasing, but lighthearted. Diana knew her friends and coworkers were aware something was up with her and Aella, but they didn’t pry too much. They all had secrets, after all.

She was also sure the personnel meeting had been a front for this small welcome-back party. Only half of the staff had been called in. The half who was friendly to Diana and Aella.

Diana slipped away after a while.

She needed to see the sneaky party enabler.

* * *

Diana found Kamilla alone in her office, sitting at her desk. A stack of papers in one hand as she typed with the other.

It never stopped being surprising—a vampire princess who refused to have everything done for her. A ridiculously powerful and rich female who dedicated too many hours of her day to taking care of her citizens. Kamilla would be ten times richer if she spent less money building refuges and creating programs that kept everyone in Darkwood clothed, housed, and fed. She would be less stressed and have fewer headaches if she didn’t have to keep in line several clans of lycans, witches, vampires, and shifters. But then, Kamilla wouldn’t be… well, Kamilla. Then Diana wouldn’t have fallen in love with her so deeply and irrevocably that it hurt.

“I know what you did,” Diana said.

Kamilla flicked a glance at her, but kept typing. “Oh?”

“You let them organize a welcome back party for Aella and me,” Diana clarified. “You’re such a…” beautiful, considerate, and stupidly kind female. I fucking love you. “Softie.”

Kamilla huffed. “No one accuses me of that aside from Kerian, Sebastian, Aylana, and you.”

“So, no one but the people who know you better than most? Yeah, that tracks.”

Kamilla smiled. “You needed to hear that it wasn’t your fault from someone other than Aella, my brother, and me. You weren’t listening to us.”

Diana gulped. “Thank you. I know you hate being thanked, but thank you for everything.” My life is better because you’re in it.

Kamilla stood from her chair and came to sit at the edge of her desk, a foot away from where Diana stood. “You are my friend, Diana. I take care of my friends.”

Diana nodded. “If you need me…”

“I do, in fact,” Kamilla said, crossing her legs. “I need you to take care of Hecate more often than usual. There are negotiations to make so that we can start the training program. Darkwood needs warriors ASAP.”

---