Page 2 of Fanged Secrets
“Who – the human daughter of one of our enemies?” My smirk settled back into a frown and I cocked my head to the side. “Doesshe even know she’s going to be wed to a woman? What if she’s straight?”
“Of course she knows.” Jordan twirled a strand of hair around her finger, a cryptic smile crossing her face. “Apparently it was the one demand she made herself.”
I blew out a breath. The leather creaked and squealed as I leaned back into the armchair. I met Jordan’s gaze, the other woman holding her breath, waiting expectantly for my reply.
My oldest friend and strongest ally, I would always buckle for Jordan. And lamentably, she was well aware of that.
“Fine.” I spat the word out, scowling like a petulant child. “I’ll do it, I’ll marry this woman. But only until we can figure out a better solution.”
“Thank you!” Jordan jumped out of her seat, grabbing my hand and squeezing it tight between hers. “I promise, this is not going to be nearly as bad as you think.”
I disagreed, but it was too late to back out. The headstrong queen of the Leyore coven was very good at getting her way and there would be no getting out of the job now.
“Whatever. I don’t even know what this woman looks like. Hell, I don’t even know her name. You owe me big time for this favor.” I yanked my hand away, fixing a bang that had fallen over my eye. “And seriously, Jordan, get a new wardrobe. Your tits are one bounce away from escaping your blouse.”
The redhead only flashed her trademark titillating smile. “So what you’re saying is that the method works?”
I was quick to vacate the office before my disarming best friend could embarrass me further.
A week later I found myself standing in Leyore headquarters, kicking myself for giving in so easily.
The grandiose SoHo hall was usually reserved for gatherings, important meetings, and general aristocratic nonsense. Today, however, the hall was empty save for Jordan and me, along with Jordan’s royal adviser, River, who would be acting as witness to my dismal marriage.
We stood in silence, waiting for my soon-to-be bride to arrive. While Jordan fidgeted with her blazer and shifted from one foot to the other, I stood still, holding out hope that the ground might yet swallow me whole and save me from what I was about to do.
Decked out in a red velvet suit with her hands clasped neatly behind her back, River looked me up and down, a wrinkle in her brow while she took in my attire. “You couldn’t have worn white or something? It is your wedding, after all.”
“It’s a phony wedding,” I snarled.
“And I don’t think she owns a single article of clothing that isn’t black,” Jordan chipped in.
I scowled at both of them but looked down to examine my attire. Black coat, black jeans, and chunky black boots to give me some much-needed height amongst my tall companions.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
Neither had the chance to respond before the sound of a car horn outside had us looking toward the doorway. My bride had arrived.
Outside, a swanky Cadillac awaited us, and a rough-looking man disembarked the vehicle along with Don Leone himself. The gang leader was, undeniably, a handsome man. Silvery gray hairs threaded among his otherwise dark locks and a faint stubble shadowed his angular jawline. But his dark eyes were cold and calculating, his mouth set in a cruel curve.
Don Leone was human, but he would have made the perfect werewolf. He had all the attributes of a lethal predator and he eyed the three of us like we were his prey.
“Don.” Jordan stepped forward, extending her arm to shake the man’s hand. “Thank you for coming.”
I tuned out their fake pleasantries, something else had caught my attention. A figure in the backseat, behind the tinted windows of the sleek black Cadillac. A suspicious pang twinged my chest, like a phantom hand had taken hold of my heart and squeezed.
When Don’s associate moved to open the car door, my breath caught in my throat and I choked. My knees threatened to buckle as a strange sensation bloomed in my chest, a kind of longing and lust like nothing I had ever felt before.
The figure who stepped out of the vehicle was the loveliest woman I had ever laid eyes on.
Upon that realization, and the moment her hazel eyes locked on mine, alarm bells sounded in my head – loud and disorientating. In the split second that I gazed into those wide, warm eyes, and the woman looked back as if seeing straight through me, my body stiffened and my heart slammed on the brakes.
Whatever unwanted emotion had been crawling up my throat was snuffed out in an instant, and the shadows of the city drew closer as if responding to my silent distress call.
Time stood still for a beat and then the strange sensation was gone. My features settled back into a stony, blank expression, and my mouth set in a grim line. It was a familiar comfort, this blank indifference, but I couldn’t shake the disturbing unease in the back of my mind.
This woman, thisstranger, had disarmed me with a look. I could not let her do it again.
Chapter 2
