She didn’t take the bait at first. “Are you vouching for that?”
“Tanesha did a full sweep of all their families and people after the assassination attempt on the Diazes exposed traitors. I don’t agree on all of their politics, but none do much more than the normal breaking of human laws to keep us all quiet. Some stuff that’s illegal here, but accepted where they live, that sort of thing. This ‘elites aren’t all perfect but all wolves aren’t either,’ you know that better than I do.”
“Yes, I most certainly do, but that is extremely useful information. And the two Alphas?”
“I wouldn’t go near them with a thousand-foot pole if you put a gun to my head,” I said with a snicker.
“And yet you made a deal with Alpha Alec.”
“I had too many balls in the air to handle that as I wanted so for now, I made a deal with the devil, but I will be back to collect on his sins. Trust me on that, especially given what I’ve learned about a lot of the skeletons in his closets from the hobgoblins and how wonderful the royals were that he took out. I’ve heard the same from the ones we’ve helped in Africa.”
“Interesting, very interesting, as even their council paints a very different picture.”
“Funny how they say anything about people who were slaughtered and don’t have a chance to defend themselves. If they were so bad… How come the council never called them in for hearings? Never issued sanctions? All that was why the dragons formed a council, and yet there was none of that before the takeover.”
“You’ve done your homework.”
“I like to be well informed before I make a decision one way or another.”
“Wise and lacking from people young.” She gave an elegant snort. “Or most people in general.”
“I find so, and it always irks me, so I try not to do the same.”
“I follow the same belief. It was lovely talking to you dear, but my mate is giving me a look that it’s best we end this call before I say anything more that he wouldn’t like me to. I bet you are getting the same.”
“Undoubtedly. It was truly a pleasure talking with you, and I’ll let you know when I speak with Mrs. Vogel in the morning.”
We said our goodnights and hung up.
“That went really well,” Mel muttered. “I take back any objection I had. I—like dayumn, Tams.”
“Yeah, which probably means something is going to blow up in our faces really soon.”
“I’d tease you, but you’re probably right,” Zack grumbled. “And now, I want some of your treats too. I can’t stand being around the smell of them this long anymore.”
I bit back a laugh and gestured for him to go ahead, everyone in the house knowing my one rule of not eating the last of anything… Or I chomped on them.
I took Darby’s hand as I muttered another goodnight to everyone and rushed out of there, ignoring Craftsman’s eyes on me. I didn’t stop until we were at my room, and then I yanked the dress back off and crawled right into bed.
“What can I do?” Darby whispered as he sat down next to me. “How can I help?”
“Don’t be mad at me that I’m still crying over another man?” I tried to make it sound lighter than it came out, but part of me truly worried he’d get tired of this shit.
I would have.
“I prefer you with a big heart, even if that means you get hurt deeply at times. I’ll still be here no matter how long it takes you to work through the pain. It is my pleasure to hold you all night and help you, Tamsin. It’s not a burden.”
“I love you too,” I breathed, feeling super sappy saying it when he was being so sweet.
“Good.” He leaned in and kissed my forehead before heading to the bathroom to get ready.
Lucca came in a moment later and checked he was invited as well before going to do the same. Then they both crawled in bed with me. I lay curled up on Darby’s chest as Lucca spooned me from behind, both comforting and holding me protectively.
It was perfect and perfectly what I needed.
And even better, they each made love to me when we woke. Darby moved above me as he told me how much he loved me and needed me. Then he rolled us, and Lucca took over while I was still lying on my boyfriend. He whispered sweet everything in my ear and thanked me for giving him the chance to find this happiness.
It was exactly what I needed, what my soul craved.
After a sweet shower with them, I grabbed my phone and called Mrs. Vogel.
“Well, this is a surprise,” her amused voice greeted.
“I know,” I sighed. “But you have to know it’s awkward for me.”
“It is, and I’m still your friend no matter how long it takes you to figure out what you need to, and your feelings,” she said gently. “It’s awkward for me as well as I, as his mother, want to push you towards Hudson, so that is why I took several steps back. As a woman and a friend, I understand, and I’m on your side—he’s an idiot.”
“He’s still your son. I know, thank you.”
“Good. Then why did I deserve a call this fine morning?”
I told her the situation, being honest about the request and laying it all out for her. She knew me well enough I wouldn’t push for this if she didn’t want it, but I couldn’t think
