Page 17 of Mated to the Human: Volume One

“I have some informants who say they’ve seen his sons at meetings. So, I don’t know that the old man is calling the shots, but if I had to guess…”

Leaning forward, Derek steepled his fingers in front of his lips. “We better get ready then.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I went to his office on Monday and threatened him and one of his sons. Neal sent Richard to tell Hollis what he wanted. Left a bruise on Hollis’s arm. I didn’t respond so well to that.”

“Shit. Anything since?”

“No. That’s why I came in today. I knew he’d come at me eventually, but if this is true…he may come at all of us.”

Lenette sat back, resting her hands in her lap. “He was always coming for us. They always are.” She suddenly looked exactly like what she was—old and powerful. They shared a loaded stare, both giving a nod. “Let them come. We’ll be ready.”

* * *

Hollis couldn’t stop staring at Derek in his tux. The sleek material hugged his perfect ass and made his legs look a mile long. Standing next to him, Hollis felt like a cheap rental suit even though the same tailor had outfitted them both.

Derek looked over at him with a smile. “You’re staring again.”

“It’s unfair how ridiculously hot you are right now,” Hollis said, a little whine in his voice.

Derek chuckled as the elevator came to a stop. The gala was being held in the ballroom of a fancy hotel downtown. Before the doors opened, Derek turned to Hollis. “You’ll stay close to me tonight?”

Hollis lifted up on his toes to press a kiss to Derek’s mouth. “Always. And not just because there’s a threat looming.”

With a nod, Derek took his hand and led them out of the elevator toward the ballroom.

“Derek,” Knox said from beside the main entrance. “Hollis.” Along with several other hellhounds, Knox was helping with security for the event. The council’s own security staff was there, too. Since the gala was a paranormal and human event, all guests were required to show their invitations and walk through metal detectors as soon as they entered the hotel. Then they had to produce their invitation at the door to the ballroom.

Reaching into his inner coat pocket, Derek pulled out their invite and handed it to Knox. “All quiet?” Derek asked while he checked it.

“So far, so good,” Knox said with a smile, handing back the invite. “Have fun.”

Once they were in the ballroom, Hollis stopped to stare at how lavish everything looked. He’d never been to a party with real linen on the tables and more forks than he knew what to do with.

“Hey, Hollis,” Cane called from the side.

Hollis turned to greet his friend. “Hey.”

Walking toward them, Cane was with a man who was almost exactly the same height and build. The other man, who had to be Jake, had dark brown hair that was a little long on top and a kind face.

“Jake,” Derek said from beside him and held out his hand toward the dark-haired man. “Good to see you.” He shook Jake’s hand, then extended the same one toward Cane. “And you must be Cane.”

“Guilty,” Cane said, shaking Derek’s hand.

Jake held his hand out to Hollis next. “Hi, Hollis. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Likewise,” Hollis said with a smile.

They stood in awkward silence for a moment before Derek cleared his throat. “How have things been going?”

Jake and Cane glanced at each other.

“We’re figuring it out.” Jake slid an arm around Cane’s waist.

Cane nodded, but Hollis wasn’t convinced.

“Is this where the happily mated pairs are supposed to gather?” A man Hollis didn’t recognize said as he approached them. Beside him, another man with copper-colored hair pulled back in a sleek low tail, fidgeted with his jacket sleeves.

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