“Do you remember the time I jammed a silver knife into your heart, Ian?” I asked brightly. “You can’t count how many times I’ve wished I’d twisted it. Ruffled feathers over my kidnapping, torture, and attempted murder? Fuck you!”
“I’m not downplaying what happened to you, Cat,” Ian said at once. “Only stating my interest in Crispin’s reaction to it. What he’s done to Max is deserved, but that could have been the smart response of a leader showing his mettle, nothing more. You do appreciate the difference?”
Ian’s piercing turquoise eyes met mine. He was a cold bastard, I knew that from experience, but there must be more to him than I saw. Or Bones would have killed him decades ago.
Bones inclined his head. “You have your answer, Ian. My response is entirely personal when it comes to her.”
“Lucky for you that Mencheres merged lines with you and gave you more power. And speaking of your new alliance, I can’t imagine why Mencheres chose you over me, considering of the two of us, I’m not the one who shagged his wife.”
I froze even as Bones let out a vicious curse. Ian, catching my expression, began to laugh.
“What, didn’t Crispin tell you about that? Don’t know why, happened before your parents were even born.”
I got up from the table. Discussing this in front of Ian was not going to happen. Bones followed me as I went outside on the porch. Once we were alone, I rounded on him.
“Why? I know you didn’t think much of screwing around before me, but Patra was your grandsire’s wife!”
His jaw clenched. “I didn’t know who she was when it happened. Mencheres and Patra hadn’t been on good terms since before I became a vampire. A few decades ago, I met a woman, spent the night, and then a week later I found out she was Mencheres’s wife. Patra knew who I was. She did it to hurt Mencheres, bloody hell, who do you think told him about it? I didn’t understand why he didn’t kill me back then, but after what’s happened recently, I suppose he knew one day he’d need me around.”
By having sex with another vampire’s wife, Bones would be under a death sentence—if the wronged spouse chose to claim it.
“Is there anything else I don’t know? Because I better not find out there was something more you decided to keep from me.”
“There’s nothing else. I promise.”
I stopped my pacing to look at Bones. He was gorgeous, and the longer I was with him, the more I was reminded that many women had shared that opinion. I was sure there’d be a lot more ex-flings of his popping up, but here’s hoping they wouldn’t be powerful, homicidal ones like Patra.
“All right. Let’s go back in. I’m sure Ian misses us.”
Bones ignored my sarcasm and pulled me into his arms. “Do you know it’s nearly midnight?” he whispered. “Only two more days until Christmas Eve.”
So much had happened since last Christmas. What would the next year bring?
“Better things,” Bones answered low. “I promise.”
He kissed me, his lips cooler than usual, but who needed ninety-eight degrees when he made me feel this way? In fact, I began to feel warmer as his hands slid lower on my back.
A branch snapping nearby doused my mood and put me on instant alert. Bones straightened, breaking the kiss.
“Well, mate. I wondered how long you’d spy on us.”
His sardonic tone confirmed what my belated senses finally picked up on. God, Bones distracted me to a dangerous level when we kissed. Good thing he could still pay attention, even though I suppose that wasn’t an endorsement of my allure. Also good was that the vampire in the trees didn’t want to kill us.
Tate came through the trees with more cracking of branches. “Hi, Cat. God, you look beautiful.”
Uh oh. Why couldn’t he just say, Happy Holidays?
Dave broke the loaded hostile atmosphere by coming onto the porch. “Buddy, you made it!”
Another confrontation delayed.
“Dave.” Tate smiled as he received a bear hug from his friend. Juan came out next, followed by my uncle. Don’s normally stoic features changed into a smile as he came forward and embraced Tate. Bones made a cynical noise and led me back inside with a parting comment to Tate.
“I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding your way to the cottage at the bottom of the hill. That’s where you’re staying.”
Ian, ever tactless, chose that moment to sidle up to me. “You and Crispin resolved your differences, I hope?”
“Yes. Now you’ll be able to sleep tonight.”
Ian laughed. My mother wandered past us, and Ian eyed her with more than casual appreciation. “I say, Cat, I can see what led Max to his eventual downfall.”
I gave him a black look. “Would you mind not bringing Max up in front of what’s left of my family?”
Ian smiled without a touch of remorse. “Why would they be cross with me? I am owed no small amount of gratitude. If I hadn’t changed Max, then there wouldn’t be you.”
That whipped my mother’s head around. How like Ian not to have lowered his voice. I could have rammed my fist straight through his stupid mouth.
“Good one,” I growled. “She didn’t know you were his sire.”