The two men exchanged a glance before slipping out. Miranda strode toward us with a well-practiced sneer. “Jumping into petty vampire squabbles doesn’t help us,” she said, then gave Connor a long look before following the men.
Connor closed the door, walked to the table, and touched a control that had the screen flicking to darkness. “We’ve done our chores,” he said, turning back to his father.
“Chores?” Gabriel asked.
“Berna was waiting in the lobby. Put us to work on the McAlister order.”
“Okay?”
Connor blinked. “She said you were pissed at me for making a scene and ordered us to help in the kitchens.”
Gabriel’s laugh was deep and generous. “I haven’t spoken with her all night, and I didn’t order you punished.”
Connor looked at his father for a moment, then sighed. “Berna’s still angry.”
“And passive-aggressive.”
Connor looked at me, humor and apology mixing in his eyes. “I guess you took my punishment for me.”
At least it let me ignore the vampires for a while. “What did you do to deserve that?”
“I forgot her birthday.”
“Dangerous,” I said.
Gabriel clucked his tongue. “He’s learned his lesson now. As for the incident, I assume it’s about Carlie?”
“It is,” Connor said, and he laid it out, from the late-night visit to the confrontation at the Grove.
“Showed up at your door,” Gabriel said, linking his hands behind his head. “That takes guts or stupidity.”
“Or both,” Connor said. “The arrogance to try and the belief that what you’re doing is necessary.”
Gabriel glanced at me. “Nice sword work.”
“Thanks. Practice.”
“Good. Your parents still gone?”
“For now,” I said. But I had a feeling it wouldn’t be the case for long.
“That explains the AAM’s timing.” He frowned. “What do they want?”
“Testing and my agreement to join a House.”
He looked at me for a very long time. Long enough that I began to wonder if he’d seen the monster lurking behind my eyes.
“I’d have fought back, too,” Gabriel finally said, his voice utterly casual. “Did the vamps think you’d just go along with it?”
“I’m not sure,” I decided. “The leader looked eager for a fight, and more than a little thrilled when I said no.”
“So he could then use you as an example?”
“Maybe,” I said. “I’m going to talk to my parents when I get home. They’ll have contacted the AAM by now, and they might have more information.”
I nodded, and Gabriel shifted his gaze to Connor.
“As for the fighting, while I absolutely encourage a good old-fashioned brawl, it’s best to avoid political nonsense when we can. Vampire problems are not Pack problems. On the other hand,” he added, before Connor could interject, “many vampires and members of the Pack are friends, and they help each other. And sometimes,” he said, that knowing gaze landing on me, “helping results in consequences that seem unfair.”
And what, I wondered, would have been a fair consequence? In its most technical sense, I had broken the AAM’s rules, and the unspoken covenant with humans that we wouldn’t treat them like prey or potentials—unless they asked nicely. Yes, I’d done it for good reason, but the rule had still been broken.
“I’d do the same thing again,” I said.
“That’s because you have honor,” Gabriel said. “I’d have expected nothing less of a Sullivan kid.”
“What about sanctuary?” Connor asked. “The Pack could give her protection until the AAM gives up. We’ve offered it before.”
“And I’d decline if you offered it,” I said.
Gabriel’s brows lifted with interest; Connor’s furrowed with obvious frustration.
“You’d decline it,” he said, voice flat and suddenly angry.
“I can’t refuse to join a vampire House—violently—and then turn around and accept protection from the Pack. It’s hypocritical.”
“It’s practical.”
“It’s impossible.” We both looked back at Gabriel. “We cannot offer sanctuary to non-shifters.”
Connor stalked to the other side of the room, as if to burn off frustration. “That’s ridiculous.”
“That’s Pack.”
“She’s in trouble because of us.”
“And she doesn’t want sanctuary,” Gabriel said.
“She’s also in the room,” I said. “So stop talking about me like I’m not here. I’m in trouble because of something I did. I accept that, and I’ll figure out a way to deal with it.” I turned to Connor. “I appreciate the offer and the concern. But that’s not the way to resolve this.”
He growled, a low rumble of warning. If I’d been in a different place, and in the middle of a different discussion, I might have taken a step back. But I wasn’t in the mood to be handled or growled at.
“Growl at me again,” I said, taking a step closer.