“What?” he exclaimed, an appalled expression on his face.
My heart flipped, my cheeks burning. “It’d be less tempting for us both if you didn’t watch.” I turned my back to him and waited, unable to face his disappointment.
I finally heard the bed creak with the relief of his weight. “I’ll be downstairs when you’re ready,” he mumbled, closing the door behind him.
***
A large crowd had congregated in the glass room. Twelve vampires, a Secret Sentinel member, two werewolves in human form, and four werebeasts, all talking over one another. This is my Christmas Eve. If the situation weren’t so bleak, I may have laughed. But there was nothing to laugh about here. Lilly stood between Sofie and Mage, sharp, wary eyes like a cat secured on Viggo. I noticed her shifting her weight from one foot to the other, appearing torn between bolting for freedom and leaping over the furniture to attack.
Lilly’s group squabbled with Mortimer; Amelie was in the midst of a heated arm-waving conversation with Ivan, likely over her earlier deception. Julian stood next to the bookshelf with his arms crossed. His lips were moving. I figured he was having a one-way conversation with Max, who sat beside him. I had to assume Amelie hadn’t succeeded in her quest earlier. That was one shred of good news. Still, I needed to warn him …
Max’s brothers stood like sentries around the room, equidistant apart and appearing disinterested, though I knew they were far from it. Viggo sat in an armchair next to the fire, amusement on his face and poker in hand, a favorite position of his, I was beginning to learn. He caught me studying him and he smirked. I briefly pictured driving the hot poker through his eye, but I knew I’d have to get in line behind Lilly.
All in all, it was a regular supernatural circus.
I found Caden leaning against a window, watching the scene unfold, a crooked smile on his face. When he saw me, he nodded his chin, gesturing me over. Though I wanted to skip across the room, I moved slowly to check for Bishop. Thankfully, he was nowhere in sight.
“How are you feeling?” Caden lifted my chin with a finger to get a better look at my jaw. “The swelling’s gone down.”
Just his touch had me beaming like an idiot, only to wince in pain a second later. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Suddenly, the room quieted. I turned to find everyone staring at me, as if they had just noticed my entrance.
“The turmoil inside her is unnerving,” Lilly said, with a curious flash in her blue irises. Beside her, Mage nodded in agreement.
My skin prickled, knowing the entire room was now trying to break through my magical shell to see what kind of mess existed underneath. I couldn’t help but thank the Tribe’s magic for shielding me from the scrutiny. I’d never have been able to hide all these deadly secrets without it.
“It’s more than that, though.” Sofie frowned. “Do you sense it?” When no one answered, she looked to Mage, asking in a more insistent voice. “Do you? Do you feel that strange … pull around her?”
Panic rolled inside of me. “Pull? Magic? What does that mean? Sofie?”
Sofie didn’t answer, her full attention on Mage who studied me. I averted my gaze to Caden, to the ground, to the tree, to anything that would make me feel like I wasn’t standing naked on a stage.
Mage finally answered, shaking her head. “I don’t, but … that doesn’t mean you don’t. It could have something to do with your magic.”
I looked back at Sofie in time to see the fear sweep across her face. “I don’t know. It’s likely nothing …”
“I haven’t gone deaf, you know! And your reaction is not ‘nothing,’ Sofie. Stop talking about me like I’m not here, and tell me what you’re thinking, damn it!” I said. “I’m sick of you guys sweeping these Tribal magic consequences under the rug! Tell me if I’m going to turn into a hideous monster! Tell me if I’m going to kill everyone I love with a touch!” I was shouting now and I didn’t care. “I’m tired of waiting! I’m tired of wondering! I’m—”
“I don’t know, Evangeline!” Sofie shouted back, her voice cracking. She didn’t sound angry. No, she was weary and afraid and … drained. The room fell silent, its occupants watching the two of us teeter on the edges of our own nervous breakdowns. I felt a hand slip over mine, close over it, clasp it tightly.
“Your touch can’t kill me yet,” Caden offered soothingly. When I couldn’t return his smile, he pulled me to his chest, his one hand sliding up under my hair to cup my neck.
“Bishop…” I whispered.