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“So, you just sit on my lap?” He asks with a level of disgust that seriously hurts my feelings. I’m notthatbad!

“No!” Several voices bark out, making me swallow back my retort.

“What? Am I going to hold his hand like we’re high school sweethearts instead?” I ask mockingly.

I end up holding his hand. I should have kept my mouth shut.

I stand beside him, fidgeting, too uncomfortable with the situation to sit like everyone else. I can’t keep my lip from curling as I watch Mike.

It doesn’t slow Mike as he wolfs down some food my ever-precious kitchen made him, and he guzzles water. Ben stays out of sight but makes running commentary that causes Mike to shudder occasionally.

“You’re not even in here!” I yell at Ben. “I shouldn’t have to do this!”

“Best not to risk it,” Ben ruins his serious tone with a snicker.

I don’t bother replying. I just glare a lot.

Once Mike is finished, he sits back with a sigh and pats his stomach with a smile.

“All right, Mike,” Mal says with a no-nonsense frown. “Time to let us know what’s going on.”

“Well, Windsor found out more about the chick you were looking for,” he begins. Mal and Mitri both stiffen in their seats.

What chick? Another GV? Please, say no. I’ve been squished enough.

“Maybe we should talk about this later,” Mal suddenly insists and holds out a hand to halt Mike mid-speech.

“Why would that be?” King asks suspiciously and glares at Mal. “What ‘chick’ were you looking for?”

“They don’t know?” Mike asks in confusion. “Beatrice Wulff.”

I tense, and my hand unintentionally clenches around his as my gaze lowers to the table in confusion.Why would they be looking for me? They knew right where I was the entire time. Prison. Or is he talking about when I escaped from there?

“Enough,” Mitri’s voice is ice cold as he stares at Mike. The Human flinches back in his seat and hides his face behind my hip. I hardly notice.

What is going on? I’m standing right here. A cold feeling of dread works its way up my spine as I frown.

“Keep going,” Ben suddenly appears from the hallway with a grim look.

“Well,” Mike’s confusion turns to excitement quickly. “The guy she was living with? Kenneth Wulff? He left a will.”

“No, he didn’t,” I say faintly, and my eyes meet Ben’s. He’s scowling now.

“He did,” Mike grins up at me.

My empty hand helplessly goes to the top of my head as my see-saw starts a slow descent into crazy town.

“Stop,” Mitri snaps. He sounds like he’s getting angry, and I’m beginning to suspect why.

“Keep going,” I look down at Mike with a glare.

“Um,” he hesitates, eyes flicking between Mitri and me.

“Talk,” Ben’s voice changes into a bark with the haunting sound of a bay added in, filled with menace. It might not be the full brunt of whatever makes him so frightening, but it’s effective.

Mike’s fear of Ben trumps his fear of Mitri because he spills his guts.

“Well, when Windsor first looked into her, he started by looking into her guardian and got the run around from the lawyer’s office.” His terrified gaze stays stuck on Ben as he babbles. He’s oblivious to my pained whimper.