Page 85 of Wicked Bite
Girl warfare was a nicer way of saying dealing with mean girls without losing your mind and winning at the same time. “Who hasn’t?”
We turned up a wide stairwell and she picked up the end of her dress as she walked up each step like she was floating. I’d never seen a woman so elegant and gentle in my life. But one look at those courtiers and they shied away from her. It made me wonder what lay beneath the perfection that I found so enchanting. Did I want to be her when I grew up? Totally. Would it ever happen? Not a chance.
“Vampire court is like this. Don’t ever let them see something they can use against you or gossip about later.”
My cheeks heated. “I’m sorry about that.”
“You mistake me, my dear. Any time you feel the need to hand my son his bollocks on a platter, you do so.” She stopped in front of a beautifully carved wooden door. “Grayson is gifted at many things and has a way of getting exactly what he wants. It’s good for him not to.”
My lips pulled up in a smile. “Consider it done.”
“Good.” She opened the door and pushed it wide. “In the meantime, perhaps you’d consider staying here. A progeny is supposed to stay with their sire for a year according to law, and I’d hate to see either of you in trouble for breaking it.”
Great. Not only is Grayson keeping me here, but so is the law.
She walked into a room and waved her arm around the huge space. The king-size bed sat against the opposite wall. The headboard was made of metal twisted into floral shapes and covered in a bright red comforter that matched the walls perfectly. A huge chandelier hung over the bed and a warm glow filled the room. On the other wall, a wide-open door revealed a huge bathroom with a soaking tub. Moira gave me a warm smile.
“This is your room.”
It was beautiful and dark but comfortable all the same and like nothing I’d ever dreamed. Even if I did stay, this was too much for me. “I can’t accept this.”
“Oh, dear, but you can.”
I spun around in a circle, taking in all the amazing details. Then I walked to a door on the other side of the room and pulled it open. A closet the same size as the main bedroom was packed full of brand-new clothes. An entire wall was dedicated to the most perfect shoes with red bottoms and purses from every designer I could name. The closet itself was a mirror of my bedroom with bright red walls, a red ottoman, and a small chandelier.
Maybe just for a little while. “It’s too much.”
“I don’t think it’s enough.” Moira sighed and sat down on the edge of my bed. “Things with my son are complicated. He is complicated.”
Deep down, I wanted to know more. I cared more than I wanted to admit. But if there was one thing I learned at an early age, it was if they didn’t want you, then you damn sure didn’t want them. I saved myself a lot of hurt over the years with that mentality. I always believed a man when he said he didn’t want a girlfriend. That wasn’t about to change now. He hurt me deeply and changed my life forever. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. This new world was alien to me, but somehow I had to figure it all out and get on my own two feet like I always did. Which would take time. It was difficult to admit things, but Moira was the kind of mother I always wanted. Tears formed in my eyes, and I felt that awful cry-lump start in my throat.
I sucked in a breath to fight the aching in my chest and told her the truth. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. He broke my heart.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
GRAYSON
“If one is endeavoring to pout like a child, spy like a stalker, and take on the vestige of a mule, you have mastered this state perfectly.” Sav walked into my room and stood at the foot of my bed.
“Piss right off.”
I lay there with my arm over my head staring at the ceiling. I’d made a right mess of things and now was the time of contemplations and some self-loathing.
He crossed his arms over his chest and snickered at me. “I do question things with you often. Had I stopped you from making her, you would’ve hated me. Had I put her down when she was feral, you also would’ve hated me. And yet I did both things to your liking, and you hate yourself. Quite the quandary I’m in.”
I threw my arm down and sat up in the bed. “You’re quite long-winded if you don’t mind me saying.”
“As if this isn’t information I’ve heard before.” He walked to my closet and opened the door. Without even looking, he grabbed something and threw it at me. “Get dressed.”
I let the trousers fall on the bed. “Why?”
“You can’t leave her locked up for days like this. It’s not proper.” He grabbed a shirt and threw it at me.
“What business is it of yours?” I flopped back on the bed. “Playing matchmaker, are we? Shall I add that to your list of skills?”
“Sour git isn’t something I thought I’d add to your list of skills, and yet here we are.” He moved back to the foot of my bed and yanked the blankets down. “And I’ve been cleaning up your business for ages. We’ve got a small problem and the bigger problem.”
“Small one first.”
