some idea about how to control his wife, but he sipped his wine, looking mildly amused.
“I’m just messing with the two of you,” she said. “I’m feeling a little naughty.”
“Because you haven’t been to a place like this in years,” Cassius said quietly. “I knew this was going to happen. Don’t let my lovely wife fool you. This is the real Sorcha. Everything else is the act, the show she puts on for the rest of the nobility. She likes to kick up her feet, even if she’s refined while she does.”
“Well, it’s going to make for one hell of an evening,” I declared, grinning as another whiskey appeared in front of me. A martini appeared in front of Sorcha, a copy of her original order. She finished off her first one, delighted with her second. Raphael chugged his beer, and another appeared for him as well.
Cassius narrowed his eyes on all of us.
“Yes, apparently it will.” He didn’t seem excited, but there was resignation in his expression that meant he wasn’t going to try to stop it.
3
Chapter Three
I was laughing as we stumbled out of The Jackalope together, Sorcha hanging on me as she tried to take off her heels and walk at the same time.
“Oh, I haven’t had this much fun in years! Paden, please let us come back!” she called back, nearly pulling me down as she twisted.
“You can come back,” Paden said nicely. “There weren’t any fights, so I guess you provide a calming effect on Kaliya, which is always a bonus.”
I glared at him, then hiccupped. He chuckled, waving at me to keep walking. Cassius got the front door open for us before I sent Sorcha and me through the glass. Raphael grabbed my elbow as I let go of my new best friend and watched her fall into her husband’s chest.
“You know how to party,” I declared, pointing at her.
“Of course! I’m glad to see someone here knows how to have a good time with me.” She grinned mischievously. “We have to do a girls’ night one day. Just me and you.”
“Have mercy on me,” Cassius whispered.
I barked out a laugh and leaned back into the body helping me stay on my feet. It was so warm, and butterflies flew in my stomach as an arm wrapped around my waist. My fangs dropped.
“Oh, what big teeth you have,” Sorcha teased, leaning in close. “I’ve never seen those. Open wider!”
I did, letting her lean in close, but Cassius pulled her back before Sorcha could touch them.
“We don’t touch those. They tend to kill people. Raphael, get Kaliya home,” he ordered the warm body holding me. I waved at Sorcha as her husband walked her to their car and followed the body pulling me away.
“You know, Raphael, you don’t have to help me walk. I can do just fine.” I hiccupped again as he opened the BMW’s door.
“I’m sure you can, but I wouldn’t be much of the gentleman my mother raised if I let you stumble into the concrete parking lot,” he retorted, smiling as our eyes met. It was such a wonderful smile. I didn’t see it very often. “I’m going to drive, okay? I only had a couple, and I’m feeling fine.”
“Okay,” I said, climbing into the passenger’s seat. I wasn’t in any state to drive, and he was already covered on my insurance. I couldn’t find a reason to be upset.
“Wait!” Cassius called, showing up a moment later beside Raphael, looking delicious. I bit my lip, wondering why I turned Sorcha down. I hadn’t had sex in a long time, and the alcohol was telling me I really needed to. Cassius leaving had actually been the last time I got any.
“What’s up?” Raphael asked, turning to almost block my view of the fae lord I used to be with.
“I forgot to mention it earlier. Sorcha and I are going to be in the fae lands hopefully for only a couple weeks, but it might be longer. If either of you needs me, just get to my house, and Leith should be able to find me.”
“The fae lands?” I groaned. “But you just got back from your honeymoon. Why do they need you?”
“I need to tour my estate. Sorcha and I have been putting it off, but we’ve been told under no circumstances can we continue to neglect that particular duty as a noble.” He sighed, looking around Raphael. “It won’t be impossible to find me.”
“But it might take longer than two weeks,”