Sucker Punch (First Fangs Club #3) - Kristen Painter Page 0,73

“I’m glad they’re such good friends now. There was a time when I wasn’t so sure that would ever happen.”

Cammie nodded. “Too bad Dad didn’t stick around to see what great grandkids he ended up with.”

“Yeah, well, I was twelve, and you were fourteen. I don’t think grandkids factored into his decision to ghost us.” Her phone chimed. She checked the screen to see a text from Charlie. She read it, then shared the info. “Hey, Charlie says LV just messaged her to say Ishalan is awake, and his first words were to ask how Temo was.”

Temo let out a soft breath. “How about that? Maybe being part of a team was good for him.”

She texted Charlie back. Thanks, I’ll tell him. Home soon. Then she put her phone away. “You going to go see him?”

“I could. After the funeral.”

“Maybe not a bad idea. It would be a nice thing to do. And it would certainly keep your relationship strong. No telling when we might need a fae ally again.”

“Right.” Temo nodded. “I’ll make sure it happens.”

Donna settled back after that, her mind stuck on the fae and the prospect of who would become their king. Or queen. She wasn’t sure how the politics of all that worked in the fae world, but they’d have to have a leader soon.

Just like the vampires. She hoped that whoever was chosen to succeed Artemis would be level-headed and smart and fair. That definitely left Fitzhugh out.

But she didn’t know enough about the other governors to wish for one of them specifically. Her hand went to her crucifix. All she could do was hope and pray.

Then her mind went back to Fitzhugh and the problems he was causing. If Cammie’s attempt to rein him in didn’t work, Donna would have to come up with a new plan.

Or…what? Would the council remove her from her position if they found her guilty? Or would they pass the same sentence on her that they’d passed on Claudette? Death.

Donna wrapped her arms around herself. If that happened, she was in serious trouble, because unlike Claudette, she had no one to pardon her. And with Artemis gone, no one in power was on her side.

Death wasn’t an outcome she could accept. Not with her kids to think about.

Her only choice would be to run.

Chapter Twenty-five

For the funeral, Donna topped her simple black dress with a long black coat, finishing the outfit with low heels. She’d also added a single strand of pearls and a pair of diamond-stud earrings, keeping things understated and respectful.

She adjusted her coat as she got out of the car, dark sunglasses protecting her eyes from the sun’s sharp glare.

At Pierce’s suggestion, he held a large black umbrella over her to give the impression she wasn’t completely at ease being out in the sun, but she was glad for it. The sun seemed brighter than she remembered, and there was very little cloud cover.

Temo and Charlie, now out of the SUV as well, joined them.

“Ready?” Pierce asked.

She nodded. The sleeve of her jacket hid the single iron bracelet she had, a reminder that she needed to get a replacement for the one she’d pressed into Rico’s hand at the stronghold.

The cemetery overflowed with mourners. A strange thing to find comfort in, but Donna did all the same. It was such a testament to the strength of the wolves’ commitment to one another, and if that wasn’t comforting, what was?

With Pierce next to her and Temo and Charlie behind them, they approached the graveside gathering. She stopped by a large cluster of evergreens. “This is close enough, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” Pierce said. He closed the umbrella now that they were in shade.

“I would like to offer my condolences to LV and Toni.” Donna scanned the crowd for the two women, finding them quickly. “I’ll be right back.”

She headed toward them. A tall, handsome man joined them as she approached, causing her to suck in a breath. Rico. He looked good, all things considered. Maybe like he could use another day or two of rest, but the fact that he was at the funeral was so him.

She knew he’d have been miserable if they’d kept him away.

He looked up and saw her. And smiled. He said something to his mother, then started in Donna’s direction.

He met her halfway, taking her hand as soon as he reached her. “It was nice of you to come. Means a lot to my mother and grandmother, I can tell you that.”