Page 41 of Justice
“Thanks. You’re right; I’m pretty shabby.” I ran my hands through my hair. “So, I hear the shifter is leaving with us.”
He pulled open the door to our room. “Did you doubt it?”
I mean, yeah. I sort of did. “I had questions. Their relationship or lack thereof, didn’t seem to thrill him.”
The truth was, they may have had no relationship, but everyone around them could clearly see they were building one. Did that make me jealous? Fuck yeah, it did. But, who was I to go against fated mates? Besides, despite all his grumbling about letting her die if he could, I knew it was a lie the minute he killed to protect her from the other shifters. Plus, I think it was clear to all vampires, and ah, probably shifters knew just how much relationship building they had done last night.
“He’s one of us now, man, you gotta deal.” Sterling patted me on the back and went inside, and honestly, he was right. I just didn’t want to accept it. I groaned and followed him inside, anxious to get this dinner over with so we could be out of here.
It was nearlytwo hours before Justice knocked and told us they were all meeting for dinner in the cafeteria. We acknowledged him and then left to meet him a few minutes later. I wouldn’t lie; Sterling didn’t disappoint in his choice of attire. Each of us sporting a time era where we thought the world had peaked. We were wrong, but regardless, the clothing and styles were flawless.
The cafeteria was set up with rows of shifters, and right in the center was a table, where Mona sat with Justice and Horo. A small smile toyed Mona’s lips as we neared, and when we got close enough, she gestured to the surrounding chairs.”Please, sit. It’s nice to get to know my son’s mate’s friends.”
The way she emphasized friends, I wanted to scream we’d had her first. She was mine.Ours. But, I bit my tongue and nodded, trying not to disrespect the hostess and these people's royalty. Beside me, Oak and Sterling both sat down, each looking nearly as uncomfortably as I was.
The wait for Liberty seemed like forever, and just when I was about to get up and seek her out, make sure she was okay, the steel door opened, and she nearly floated in. Everyone froze, the room went silent, and all eyes focused on Liberty, mesmerized by the beauty. I was silently choking, the air in my lungs refusing to budge, and beside me, I knew the others were doing the same.
Sterling had chosen a nineteen fifties halter dress replica, paired with stilettos that matched the color of the gems sparkling against her throat. Her hair was done to perfection and those red lips. Fuck, I knew for a fact that I couldn’t be the only man in the room picturing those plump red lips around his cock. I had to fight the urge to go to her, wishing to cover her up entirely because I was a selfish bastard, and I didn’t want to share her. Not with Oak. Not with Sterling. And sure as hell not with that fucking shifter, Justice.
Next to me, the chair scraped against the cement as Oak stood, breaking the spell she had over me. I followed, standing as we waited for her approach, and before she even made it to our table, the whole room had stood.
It was the power she radiated. The whole room felt it. It was impossible not to. She was poised to rule people, breed, and molded to wield power, even if she hadn’t known it at the time. When she approached the table, the queen stood, her eyes roaming over Liberty. “You’re late.”
Liberty’s eyes fell to Justice with a scowl on her face. “I am. I apologize.” Her eyes flinted to him again. “I wasn’t fully ready.”
A spark of jealousy clawed through my limbs. What were they doing that caused her delay? I stifled a growl, pushed back the immaturity inside that wanted to pull his chair out from under him when he went to sit. Had I always been this possessive? No, I don’t think there was ever anyone that I ever desired to possess as much as Liberty.
Mona’s eyes looked her over. “It appears the wait was worth it.”
I wholeheartedly agreed. Liberty took the seat that Justice offered. “Thank you.”
Liberty’s eyes flashed to Sterling as she said the words, letting him know that she appreciated his gift. Hell, I appricated his gift; she looked amazing. Like a dream I wouldn’t mind having every day until the stake pierced my heart, however long that may be. She turned, her ebony hair bouncing perfectly with the movement, and I knew the world was going on around me, but now? Now, I was frozen. Frozen in the grasp of her perfection, unable to look away. Never wanting to.
Chapter 20
LIBERTY
Mona kept watching me,satisfaction clearly written on her face when she looked between her son and me. It wasn’t clear to me what she was seeing. Justice and I were complicated, and that was a putting it mildly. I’d only known him a few days, and in those few days, I’d gotten death threats, accusations, comfort, stolen kisses, and a mind-blowing orgasm. Mind-blowing might even be an understatement because my muscles still quaked at the thought.
“Have you worked on children yet?” I nearly choked on my salmon.
“Excuse me?” I rubbed my chest as I took a sip of water.
“I am just wondering when to expect pups.”
Such a bold old lady. “Not any time soon; we’ve just met.”
She bit into a roll and mumbled,That’s what you thinkbefore clearing her throat. “Well, I would like you to consider the options. Justice isn’t getting any younger.”
Justice was old enough to be my great grandpa, she just won a trophy for understatement of the year. “Yes, well, he has time.”
Justice jumped in, bless his soul. “We’ll be leaving tonight, mother.”
She looked shocked and a little heartbroken. “What? Why? You just got returned to us.”
He wiped his mouth before putting down his napkin. “They were heading out; we still need to find –” He swallowed hard, his words nearly getting stuck in his throat from the feeling of betrayal that threatened to consume him. “Greta. As much as I would like to stay, I must support my mate and her companions. It’s for the greater good, the – the bigger picture.”
She leaned back in her chair, eying us all suspiciously. “And what is the bigger picture?”