Wicked Love - Michelle Dare Page 0,220

as. A bat of all things.” I wanted her to dress as something else that would complete my look. Alas, Lilah couldn’t be swayed.

“I’m not going to the party to win any contest. I’m going to get the hell out of the house and hand this baby off to someone else to watch for the evening while I have a good time, which may or may not include pulling you into one of the spare rooms and having my wicked way with you.”

“When you put it like that, I don’t care what you wear. I’m still in it to win it, though. I want the title. I want to be the best.”

“Your competitive streak is only matched by the others in your bloodline.”

“Okay, now we really have to go. I have to see what Ford dressed as. Are you ready, Jupiter?” I ask as I look down at her.

Jupiter is still so small. We didn’t want to put anything elaborate on her. We wanted something she would feel comfortable in. So, while it’s not the most original costume, she is just the cutest dressed up like a big, round pumpkin with a stem for a hat.

I put my arm around Lilah’s waist and use my free hand to snap and teleport us to the outside of the Avynwood Pack House. The home is enormous. It has to be to hold the entire pack, their mates, and their children. Grey stone makes up the exterior of the three-story home. It’s as long as multiple homes put together. We’re standing in the middle of the semicircle drive. Before us are the large, emerald double doors that are the main entrance to the house.

This is it. I finally get to reveal my hard work.

“I’m so excited,” I say in a high-pitched tone. I hope my costume is original enough. I’m not sure if it is. I took a leap here. Lilah went for sexy. Jupiter is cute. And I’m, well, hopefully the freaking winner.

We open the front door and step into the entryway of the home. The beige marble floor sparkles as the light from the large crystal chandelier above bounces off it. It must have just been polished. Lealla likes to keep the home clean, even if it will be destroyed at some point tonight. Luckily, there will be multiple members of the fae here to easily use their magic to fix things.

“I’m not here to be your personal cleanup crew,” Lilah says in my mind.

“I know you’re not, kitten, but you have to admit it’s a handy ability to have around me.”

“That it is. If you could only stay out of trouble for a day or even an hour. What a novelty that would be.”

“Is that sarcasm I hear in your tone?”

Lilah chuckles in my mind. “As if I have to tell you.”

“I’m not sure I like it. I’m going to have to find my friends and leave you here with the others. You’ll miss my gorgeous body.”

“There’s a hardship, especially when you look like you do.”

“Okay, you have a point there. I can see how this particular costume wouldn’t turn you on. In fact, I hope to fate it doesn’t or we’re going to need to have words.”

“Oh. My. Vampires!” Ariane’s voice rings out in the home.

I glance up and see her coming down the stairs. I have to do a double take. Ari is dressed just like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I only know the movie so well because of the times we’ve babysat her four-year-old adopted daughter, Phoenix. We’ve watched it on repeat. And not once have we minded. That poor girl missed out on a lot before she came to live with Ari and Rion. I’ll give her whatever she wants.

Ari’s jet-black hair is pulled up with some of it still hanging down to frame her face. She’s beautiful in a golden ball gown, complete with matching gloves that come up her arms. And behind her is her mate. Orion Raines is one sexy male. You’d have to be blind not to see how gorgeous they are together.

Rion’s wearing a navy suit with gold lapels. The jacket has tails that go down the backs of his legs. There’s a white ruffled shirt over the expanse of his chest.

“I approve.” I smile. “You both look stunning.”

Ari gets to the bottom of the stairs and smiles. “It was all Phoenix’s idea. Since this is her first Halloween with us, we told her she gets to pick what