“It’s just after eight.” Braxton’s voice was low and husky. I had no idea how that man always knew the time, but he was scarily accurate.
“Shit.” I lifted my head and without thinking bit the muscled arm over me, my teeth leaving marks in his dark skin. Just blunt human teeth. I wouldn’t shift to wolf. That would leave more than a mark. “I’ve got to shower, I stink from my run last night.”
Braxton slowly lifted his face, hooded eyes locked onto my face, black hair tousled all over the place. How did the Compasses look so good when they first woke?
“Did you just bite me?” he said, his tone low and hypnotic.
Both of his eyebrows raised, and his lips lifted in a half-curved smile. I immediately felt like prey and I had to fight the urge to run. Braxton could be a scary mother when he locked you in his gaze.
“Um, no, it wasn’t me.”
“Lie.” He growled, dropping his head back into my neck. “You’re lucky I love you. And you smell fine.”
He moved his body then, letting me escape to the bathroom. I rolled free. Three minutes later I was blasting myself awake with a freezing cold shower. I had clothes everywhere through this house from all the years of staying over, so I wasn’t surprised to reenter the bedroom after my shower to find a stack on the end of the bed. The bed which was empty of men.
I dressed quickly. I was starving. This stupid talk with my father better not ruin breakfast.
That was something I wouldn’t forgive.
Chapter 5
The dining hall was packed. Supernaturals were everywhere. The groups were distinct, each sticking to their own races. Vampires were in the back right corner, shifters to the left, magic users outside on the open deck, with the fey close by them, and the demi-fey scattered throughout. The council members, along with other advisors, chiefs, alphas, the head mage and so forth, were in the center of the room. All that power in one spot was quite a shock if you walked too close.
I grabbed a tray and started moving through the buffet, making sure I checked under each hot cover. Before I’d even reached the end, my plate was overflowing. I glared at the three covered dishes I hadn’t gotten to. I refused to look under them, just in case they were better than what I had. Nothing worse than seeing what I couldn’t fit on my tray.
I mused as I moved toward my usual spot: Were they making these plates smaller? I swore I used to be able to fit more on them. I took a seat at my usual table, close to the council but not within hearing distance, except maybe for the vampires. My father would find me here. A tray landed next to mine. I grunted and flicked my eyes to the left, but I’d already scented who it was.
“Seat’s taken,” I mumbled, having started eating a piece of toast.
The lion shifter ignored my reticence and rested his hip against the side of my table. “I thought you’d come over last night.” Jerad, who had been my bed partner last month, leaned closer and locked on to me with his golden brown eyes. I swallowed loudly, before meeting his gaze.
He was a big alpha shifter, tall, with wild golden hair a shade lighter than his eyes. I’d been trying to get rid of him for weeks now, but he was like a reoccurring virus. Just when I thought he’d taken the hint to leave me alone, he’d pop back up again. Sure, our hookups had been fun, but I was done. Our little dalliance had run its course. He was … five shades of needy, wanting me over all the time. I already had too many demanding men in my life.
“I’m sure you heard about the family drama.” I reached for my coffee. The way I felt right now this cup was nowhere near big enough. I gulped a few large mouthfuls of the sweet, creamy liquid. Ah, gift from the gods. “And I’ve told you before, I’m no longer interested.”
On top of his neediness, lion shifters liked it rough and ready. I was sick of claw marks on my butt. Not that wolves didn’t occasionally leave them too, but lions were the worst. Claw-happy bastards.
I waved my coffee at him. “If you don’t mind, I’m meeting my father,” I said. “I’ll catch up with you later.” I had no real intentions of meeting with him later, but my words didn’t scream lie because I knew, in a town this size, we’d run into each other eventually.
He brushed back his mane with both hands. “I’ll be a little busy. You don’t show up, I replace you. You know the rules, Jessa.”
He had to be kidding me. Was insanity part of lion shifters’ DNA?
I narrowed my eyes as I slowly dropped my coffee onto the table. “Well then what the fuck are you doing over here interrupting my breakfast?”
He’d better go away now.
Tyson fell down into the chair beside me. “I believe the lady’s had enough of your shining personality, lion.”
I’d already lost interest in Jerad. Now I was trying to figure out how Tyson seemed to have even more food on his tray than I did. Must have used magic. Damn wizards were so lucky.