“No.”

Taran shook me harder, her excitement building. “Did you go back to his office? Damn, that’s hot. I seduced Gemini in there once. Just don’t tell Aric.”

“Ah, no. We weren’t in his office.”

“Jjjusttt tttttellll usssss, ddduuuudddde.”

I let out a defeated sigh. “It was in a large garden a few blocks away from the main building.”

My already pink cheeks burned when I saw their stunned faces. Taran threw herself on top of me and hugged me warmly. “I’m so proud of you, Ceel.”

Emme seemed confused. “But there’s no place to sit or anything.”

“Emmmmeeee’s rrrright. Hhhow ddddid you . . . ?”

Taran gasped; being the adventurous sort, she had figured it out. “You, like, did it standing up, didn’t you, you little hussy?”

My face dropped into my hands and I nodded. When I glimpsed up, Emme’s face was redder than mine. “Oh, my,” she said. “You really did get carried away.”

“Can we talk about something else now?”

Taran continued to smile wickedly. “I can’t think of a damn thing I would like to discuss more.”

“I can,” Emme said quietly. Something in her demeanor had changed. And I could tell by the way her sadness seemed to overtake her petite stature that it had nothing to do with me or Aric. “I’m breaking up with Liam when he gets back.”

“Wwwhhhyyy?”

Tears streamed down her face. I put my arm around her, only to have her tears run faster. “Liam finally admitted to me that I’m not his mate.”

Emme swallowed hard as she took in our astonishment. “He’s the best man to ever come into my life. But I’ll never be the best thing in his.”

“Buttttttt he lovessss youuuuu.”

“It’s not enough,” Emme whispered through her sorrow. “Shayna, you and Koda are mates. No one else will ever mean what you mean to each other. Liam can’t make me that same promise.” She lowered her chin. “Just like he can’t promise he won’t leave me if he finds his destined match.”

I brushed her hair back from her face, struggling to find words that could comfort her. “Maybe you are and he just hasn’t realized your connection.”

“Don’t bullshit her, Celia.” Taran’s words were harsh, yet her tone carried a softness and a strong sense of comprehension. “Gemini knew I was his. Just like Koda realized what Shayna meant to him following their first night together.” She walked toward the door as if retreating, but turned back and faced me, her expression strangely bruised. “Aric is risking heaven and earth to be with you—regardless of how it affects the freaking world. Don’t you think Emme deserves that, too, rather than someone who can’t promise he won’t dump her? Weres need their mates, Ceel.” She rubbed her eyes. “Gem’s made that clear more than once.”

Emme wiped her cheeks and turned away when someone knocked on the door. Edith strutted in and froze upon taking in Shayna’s condition. She threw back her head and laughed. “What the hell have you freaks been up to?”

“Shut your hole before you end up the same way,” Taran snapped.

Edith ignored her and choked back another cackle. “The master would like you and your sisters to join him for dinner. This way, losers.”

Taran sent her flying out the door with one of her own bolts of lightning. I rushed out as she pushed herself up on her arms and hissed. The ends of her dark hair smoked. Taran hadn’t quite achieved Chang’s look, but she made a damn good effort. I blocked Edith’s path when she lunged at Taran. “Now may be a good time to remind you my family is under your master’s protection.” Emme sniffed behind me. “And that today is not a good day to piss me off.”

Edith retracted her fangs and angled her head. I usually ignored the vamps’ little digs. They typically didn’t bug me enough to retaliate. But where my family was concerned was a different matter. Edith nodded and motioned for me to follow. I didn’t know whether my threat or the knowledge that Misha would kill her gave her pause. Nor did I care. She needed to leave my sisters alone, especially given Emme’s fragile state. I stayed between Edith and my sisters the entire walk to the house.

When we entered the lavish dining room, an army of servants waited to tend to us. Misha was nowhere to be found. “Where is he?” I asked Maria.

“De master is in de library. It would please him if you joined him.”

I strolled down to the library and swung open the door. Misha was parked in a high-back leather chair with his hands clasped behind his head and his eyes closed. I would have thought he was sleeping, had it not been for the stiletto-clad feet sticking out from beneath the desk.

I jetted out of the library and smashed into Maria. “I thought you said he was available!”

Maria frowned as if I’d stolen her whip. “No. I said it would please him if you joined him.”

“You may enter, Celia,” Misha called from the room.

I poked my head in. Virginia stood next to him, pulling her dress back on. She stopped for a moment just to scowl at me. “I wanted to talk to you, but it can wait,” I told him.

“As I said, you may enter.” He gestured for Virginia to leave. I ignored the urge to snap her neck when she narrowed her eyes at me. I never understood how Misha could possibly be attracted to both her type and mine.

Misha gave me a small smile and motioned for me to sit. It was awkward. I sat in the same exact seat I’d been in when he went ape shit over Aric. “Is it still your plan to leave my residence?”

“I think it’s best if we distance ourselves, at least a little bit.” He watched me quietly but didn’t respond. “I’ll be staying in Dollar Point with my sisters when their wolves are away.” He nodded slightly, yet still said nothing. “If it’s okay, I’ll still continue to stay with you upon their return.”

He remained quiet, almost too quiet. Finally, he smiled. “Very well, if that is what pleases you.”

“It does. Thank you.” I stood to leave. I’m not sure why, but I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and hightailed it out of there, not bothering to see his reaction. And although I’d failed to mention that Emme would be staying as well, I didn’t think he’d mind.