"Because the vamp I just talked to had some of Adeline’s spells protecting her apartment, but something is getting past them." I hesitated, then added, "And of course, this is all a secret. Hunter would be incandescent if this got out."
"And Hunter is not someone I want to piss off," she said. "Protection spells aren’t infallible. How well they work very much depends on how comprehensive the spell is."
"Which is why I want to talk to Adeline. Do you know her well enough to get me in to see her?"
"I don’t, but I’m sure Mom does."
I smiled. "Wouldn’t asking your mom involve finally being forced to meet your potential stallion mate?"
"You know, as far as stallions go, he’s not actually that bad," Mirri commented. Both of us glanced at her in surprise, and heat crept into her cheeks. "What can I say? I was bored one weekend and he happened to be around. And it was before you and I were an item, just in case you were wondering."
Ilianna smiled and squeezed Mirri’s arm gently. "I wasn’t. Although if Mom does insist on that dinner, then maybe we can kill two birds with one stone. Introduce you, and get the rotten dinner date with Car-wyn over with."
Mirri’s response was quick and joyous. She’d been angling to meet Ilianna’s parents for almost as long as they’d been an item, and while we both knew Ilianna wasn’t ready to come out of the closet, this would at least be a step in the right direction.
"That would me fabulous," Mirri said, stepping forward and dropping a quick kiss on Ilianna’s cheek. "And as I said, Carwyn isn’t really that bad."
"Maybe," Ilianna said, her smile almost a grimace. "But if he starts coming on too strong, I expect you to run interference."
"Your parents might not be too pleased …"
"He’s a stallion," Ilianna said. "They wouldn’t give two hoots about you capturing his attention as long as I did as well."
"True," Mirri said with a laugh, then glanced at me. "Are you going to be home for dinner tonight? We’re making vegetarian lasagna, because Tao will be out with his new lady love."
"Whom I really hope isn’t Candy," I said, and pushed away from the door. "And no, I won’t be. If Lucian doesn’t call, then I’m heading over to Franklin’s." Which was an upmarket wolf club specializing in clients who preferred—and could afford to pay for—discretion.
Ilianna gaped. "Why are you waiting for him to call? Call him, for heaven’s sake!"