“Or continue with things the way they are.”
“Like I said, Parker. That’s no way to live. I thought about moving back into the main house, but that would put even more distance between us.”
“Do you want to be a true mate to Warner?”
“Even if we don’t belong together we can at least try to have a good life, right?”
“Have you said this to him?”
“Not yet. We don’t really talk much.”
“Maybe you should. After you tell him he’s not so old and not so ugly.”
“He’s really not either of those things, I’m just a bitch.”
“An Alpha bitch who isn’t going to take any shit.” Parker was hit with inspiration. “In case you didn’t know, Warner could’ve been Alpha.”
“What do you mean?” Her eyes narrowed.
“His brother needed it more than he did. Warner chose to be Beta to my father.”
“That makes so much sense.”
“Forewarned is forearmed, my dear.” Parker had the feeling he’d just loosed a world of shit on his uncle and he couldn’t be happier about it.
“He won’t thank you for telling me.”
“Yeah, Blake didn’t thank me for arming Randi to the teeth with silver weapons, either. But now look at them.” He shrugged. “I should get to the table.” Parker looked at her empty glass. “And get you some more champagne.”
“I drink it like water. So I wouldn’t mind if you sent me a bottle. I especially like it when the bubbles tickle my snout. That’s how my father used to get me to change to warrior form when I was child. Bowls of champagne, because I liked the tickles.”
“You’re lucky. Westwood would just beat us with sticks.”
“Really?”
“No. Well, Drew, sometimes. When he’d snap at her. We all actually live in fear of her,” Parker confessed.
“Even Warner?”
“Maybe not Warner. If so, he doesn’t show it.” He saw his bride waiting for him at the table and it was getting close to time for the toast. Then he could spirit her away back to Aphelion.
Back to safety.
Back to his bed.
“Your bride is waiting.”
“See you back at the house.” He squeezed her arm in a gesture of affection and turned toward Belle.
He fixed a smile on his face for the cameras and approached the table.
Chapter 10
Belle was exhausted.
She hadn't dealt with that many people in one place in a long time. Remembering everyone's names and faces, if they were friendlies or foes... It was all so much.
Parker seemed to be completely at home under the scrutiny.
Belle remembered the hotel room, where he'd casually walked, cock in plain view, toward the window where he'd closed the drapes. He'd acted as if nothing fazed him.
She knew he took their situation seriously, but seeing him like this, so laidback and unimpressed, she had to remind herself that it was facade.
That he was very aware of the danger they were all in.
When they were finally in the limo, he said, "I've got a surprise for you."
"Oh, yeah? What's that?"
"We're not going back to Aphelion."
"No? Where are we going?"
"We're going to stay right here. There's a supernatural spa that caters to our sort downtown. Before we head back to Aphelion, you're going to get a spa day."
"What? Really?"
"Me too. We'll spend the night and then head back to Aphelion in the morning." He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "You're getting the Bathory treatment."
"The blood of a hundred virgins?"
"All legally and humanely acquired. Your wedding present."
"This is too surreal."
"Would you rather just go to Aphelion?" he offered. "I know this must all be so overwhelming."
"This spa is just the thing. I've been so out of touch with the supernatural world. I think I need it."
"Good. Because after you get your Bathory treatment, and you've had a massage, and all the beef liver you can eat, I'm going to eat you." He snapped his teeth at her.
Belle shivered with sensual delight. She couldn't and didn't want to say no. "Oh really? Well, Parker Woolven, what if I just eat you instead?"
"Can't we do both?" He leaned in and nuzzled her neck.
"Can we? I like that." Except she couldn't stop thinking about the blood slave she'd seen that day. That's what she assumed he was.
He hadn't been a vampire, but he was sentient. He was obviously Asakku property and he'd been sent there to torment her.
To warn her of what was going to happen to her, and to anyone that dared to help her. There was part of her that wanted to tear him to pieces. Part of her that wanted to unleash the pack on the bastard and send his entrails back to her father in a pretty pink box.