Anya had to laugh. “Did they dye your hair again, Ash? Sweetie, that stuff is rotting your brain.”
Ashley pouted. “And here I thought you loved me.”
Anya shook her head as she opened the door into her bedroom and came to a complete, hard stop. In a flash, Ashley was in front of her.
“Oh boy,” Ashley squeaked as the woman pushed away from Del-Rey’s arms. “Oh hell. Oh shit. Alpha, you f**king suck.”
Del-Rey watched as Anya stepped slowly into the room. He watched her carefully as Sofia Ivanova moved slowly away from him.
Hell, he was up shit creek now and it damned sure wasn’t what it looked like.
“Anya, you know this isn’t the way it seems,” he told her.
“Why is this woman here?” Anya was glaring at Sofia, her sapphire eyes glowing between lowered lashes. “This is my bedroom.”
“I’m sorry, Anya, this is my fault.” Sofia’s smile was nothing if not confident. “I came to see Del-Rey. We argued and I meant to leave the room. I was upset and used the wrong door.”
“Don’t insult me by lying.” She turned to Del-Rey, her nostrils flaring as she fought to control her breathing.
A perfect cloud of beautiful blond hair framed the other woman’s aristocratic features. She was slender, tall, willowy, and Anya had never liked her.
“Why is she here?”
He pushed his fingers through his hair with a grimace. “She’s one of our plants within the Council. She always has been. She came with information and I didn’t want her seen so I had her slipped in.”
“To my room?” Anya drawled. “Did you think my bodyguards wouldn’t know another woman had been in my room?”
“She’s going to be difficult about this, isn’t she?” Sofia whispered loudly. “She always was such a temperamental little thing.”
“She assumed the room was my office. I didn’t have time to inform her otherwise.”
He didn’t look the least uncomfortable. He was still dressed, his wrinkled white shirt hanging over his well-worn jeans. Boots were on his feet. Sofia was still dressed.
“I expect a little trust here, Coya,” he said darkly.
Anya snorted at that. “Get her out of my bedroom.”
Her fists were clenched, her teeth ground together.
“The next time you need to meet with someone, find a room other than my bedroom if you don’t mind.”
“Jealous?” Sofia gave a soft, tinkling little laugh. “Really, Del-Rey, don’t tell me you’re still sleeping with her?”
“Enough,” Del-Rey snapped, his expression growing forbidding. “I apologize for this, Anya.”
“Get out!” She jerked her door open and glared at Sofia. “Now!”
“Oh dear.” Sofia blinked back at her as Ashley growled behind her. “Del-Rey, perhaps I should leave. We can talk later.”
“I think I have everything I need,” Del-Rey snapped. “Ashley, take Sofia down the east tunnel. She has an escort waiting there. And be nice.”
“I’m always nice, Alpha.” Ashley’s smile was all teeth. “Come along, Ms. Ivanova, I know the way. Boy, whoever did your hair sure messed up. Bad dye job?”
Sofia’s lips tightened at Ashley’s “dumb blonde” routine. Anya didn’t even bother to warn her or Del-Rey that Ashley was going to make sure Sofia suffered before she left the tunnel. Even if it was only with words.
Watching the bodyguard warily, Sofia edged around the room and out the door, leaving Del-Rey and Anya alone.
“Your arms were around her.” Anya closed the door. “Doesn’t hurt to have another woman touch you, huh?”