course, I do," my father said.
Huh?
"And in all this time you never once used it?" Mum's voice held a hint of accusation.
What?
"You left," Dad said tiredly. "You made it clear we were done. Whether it was to protect our children or not, you said we were done. Why would I use it?"
What. The. Hell?
"Because it's time you both grew up." Grams marched over and placed the platter of teacakes and pastries on the dining room table. "I'm tired of watching you two kids going around and around in circles. You did what you did at the time to protect your children. That's it. They don't need protection any longer. So be done with the past, and start thinking about the future." She skewered Dad with a don't-mess-with-me glare. "Use your key."
My parents turned to stare at Grams, their expressions a blend of shock, annoyance and gratitude.
I stared at Grams too. But not in gratitude. Would I ever get the image of my parents having sneaky sex like a couple of hormonal teenagers out of my brain?
No. No, I wouldn't.
"Food," I said, feeling nauseous. I waved both hands at the trays like a demented magician. Don't think about it. "Food."
Dad got to his feet, giving me an odd look, and walked over to Mom. After a moment of silent communication, he placed a hand around her waist and guided her to a seat at the table.
She patted the chair next to her and he took it. Grams and I joined them.
For a while we limited the conversation to asking for the sugar, the teacakes, the pastries. Finally, though, we had to move to the real issues. Dad started the ball rolling.
"So," he said, sounding resigned. "What the hell am I supposed to do while you ladies do the ground work?"
"Gather the Alphas and start preparing," Mom said. "Do your own investigations to find the traitors. Someone from the clans is feeding information to the High Council and that info is being used against us. We need to know who the mole is."
I cleared my throat. "And target those High Council members who looked like they were sitting on hot coals. Not all of them were thrilled with the new Addendum or with what Marsden had planned. Surely they would be the first to turn on him as long as they were promised discretion and safety?"
Dad shifted his attention to me, his expression impressed. "I hadn't noticed their discomfort, but I think that's going to be my first order of the day."
"No," Mom said. "It's not." She had a strange smile on her face, and when he raised his eyebrows she fluttered her eyelashes at him. "Don't forget, we have an affair to carry out."
Don't think about it.
"Do we now?" He leaned back with a cheeky smile.
They looked like two kids in love. So cheesy, yet so cute.
If they were someone else's parents.
"You get your key," Mom said, "and I'll meet you downstairs."
They both got to their feet, Dad heading for the coat-rack and Mom to my room where she'd thrown her coat and purse.
"Downstairs?" I echoed.
"Yes," she called from my room. "My apartment is downstairs."
What ?
"Your apartment is downstairs ?" I squeaked. Couldn't help it. I didn't even know that the downstairs apartments were occupied. Grams and I had had the building to ourselves since I moved in a couple years ago.
"Yes, honey." Mom emerged from the room, coat in hand, her bag slung over her shoulder.
" Your apartment?"
"Is downstairs." She smiled at me, at Grams, and slid her arm through the crook of Dad's elbow. Then they both glided out of the apartment as if they hadn't just dropped a bomb on me.
Don't think about it.
I gave a delicate shudder, and the door clicked shut behind them.
CHAPTER 10
O'H AGAN ' S WAS NOISY BUT I needed to be out of the apartment. It wasn't because my parents were having their illicit affair one floor down.
Or was it?
I just needed a change of scenery that didn't include demons, or families falling apart.
I wrapped my fingers around the glass of golden liquid and stared at the aged whiskey. Why the hell did I even order
Huh?
"And in all this time you never once used it?" Mum's voice held a hint of accusation.
What?
"You left," Dad said tiredly. "You made it clear we were done. Whether it was to protect our children or not, you said we were done. Why would I use it?"
What. The. Hell?
"Because it's time you both grew up." Grams marched over and placed the platter of teacakes and pastries on the dining room table. "I'm tired of watching you two kids going around and around in circles. You did what you did at the time to protect your children. That's it. They don't need protection any longer. So be done with the past, and start thinking about the future." She skewered Dad with a don't-mess-with-me glare. "Use your key."
My parents turned to stare at Grams, their expressions a blend of shock, annoyance and gratitude.
I stared at Grams too. But not in gratitude. Would I ever get the image of my parents having sneaky sex like a couple of hormonal teenagers out of my brain?
No. No, I wouldn't.
"Food," I said, feeling nauseous. I waved both hands at the trays like a demented magician. Don't think about it. "Food."
Dad got to his feet, giving me an odd look, and walked over to Mom. After a moment of silent communication, he placed a hand around her waist and guided her to a seat at the table.
She patted the chair next to her and he took it. Grams and I joined them.
For a while we limited the conversation to asking for the sugar, the teacakes, the pastries. Finally, though, we had to move to the real issues. Dad started the ball rolling.
"So," he said, sounding resigned. "What the hell am I supposed to do while you ladies do the ground work?"
"Gather the Alphas and start preparing," Mom said. "Do your own investigations to find the traitors. Someone from the clans is feeding information to the High Council and that info is being used against us. We need to know who the mole is."
I cleared my throat. "And target those High Council members who looked like they were sitting on hot coals. Not all of them were thrilled with the new Addendum or with what Marsden had planned. Surely they would be the first to turn on him as long as they were promised discretion and safety?"
Dad shifted his attention to me, his expression impressed. "I hadn't noticed their discomfort, but I think that's going to be my first order of the day."
"No," Mom said. "It's not." She had a strange smile on her face, and when he raised his eyebrows she fluttered her eyelashes at him. "Don't forget, we have an affair to carry out."
Don't think about it.
"Do we now?" He leaned back with a cheeky smile.
They looked like two kids in love. So cheesy, yet so cute.
If they were someone else's parents.
"You get your key," Mom said, "and I'll meet you downstairs."
They both got to their feet, Dad heading for the coat-rack and Mom to my room where she'd thrown her coat and purse.
"Downstairs?" I echoed.
"Yes," she called from my room. "My apartment is downstairs."
What ?
"Your apartment is downstairs ?" I squeaked. Couldn't help it. I didn't even know that the downstairs apartments were occupied. Grams and I had had the building to ourselves since I moved in a couple years ago.
"Yes, honey." Mom emerged from the room, coat in hand, her bag slung over her shoulder.
" Your apartment?"
"Is downstairs." She smiled at me, at Grams, and slid her arm through the crook of Dad's elbow. Then they both glided out of the apartment as if they hadn't just dropped a bomb on me.
Don't think about it.
I gave a delicate shudder, and the door clicked shut behind them.
CHAPTER 10
O'H AGAN ' S WAS NOISY BUT I needed to be out of the apartment. It wasn't because my parents were having their illicit affair one floor down.
Or was it?
I just needed a change of scenery that didn't include demons, or families falling apart.
I wrapped my fingers around the glass of golden liquid and stared at the aged whiskey. Why the hell did I even order
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