Page 37

Whatever it means, I’m ready.

Fifteen

No matter how hard I try, I can’t stay mad at my family. The joy on Erin’s face when she walked into her birthday party was everything. There are a dozen people in my parents’ house who I’ve never seen before. I can only assume they are Erin’s friends. Spotting her parents wasn’t difficult. Erin is the spitting image of her mom.

The Loch family is spread among the guests, playing their roles perfectly. Erin’s parents looked startled when they first arrived, but as usual Victoria and Harlan Loch swept in and worked their magic. Now everyone is laughing and chatting as if they’re old friends.

The day is going well, and that’s why the universe has decided enough is enough. In swoops Dana. Under normal circumstances, my old friend joining the party wouldn’t be a cause for concern, but the look she is giving me tells me my day is about to unravel.

“Amelia darling, may I steal you for a moment,” Dana says, not really asking for permission. She’s already dragging me away from Erin and her friends. I give Erin a smile and wink, hoping that’s enough to make her feel comfortable. It’s not escaped my notice that Erin recognized Dana from my birthday party.

When we are safely tucked away in a corner, Dana rounds on me. “Amelia, why the hell are you hosting a party for your bartender?”

“Dana—”

“Since when do you socialize with humans?” she hisses. Until Dana pointed it out, the fact I am at a party full of humans didn’t even register on my radar. For once in my life, I didn’t see a difference in our species. I was just enjoying myself with Erin and her family.

“Some things have changed,” I say calmly.

“And those things would be?”

“I mated, Dana.”

The news hits her hard, which is bizarre. Dana herself has her mate. We were mere playmates, every so often. “You’ve mated? With whom?”

“Erin.” It’s clear by her face she has no idea who that is. The one thing about Dana is, if she has no interest in a person sexually, she barely recognizes their existence.

“Who the hell is Erin?”

“My bartender.”

“The human?” she gasps, her hand dramatically coming to her chest as if she’s just been shot through the heart. This is ridiculous.

“Yes, Erin is human.”

“No, no, Amelia, that can’t be right.”

“It is, trust me.”

“Have you lost your fucking mind?”

“Come back and have that conversation in a few months.” I laugh.

“Amelia, you can’t be serious.”

“Since when do you have a problem with humans? You have enough of them in your bed!” I’m not being cruel, just stating facts.

“Humans are fine for fucking! But mating? No, that’s just unnatural.”

Her words sting me. This is a side of Dana I have never seen. “You think I had a choice? Do you think any of this is easy?”

“There must be something we can do? A cure or something?”

“Dana, this has nothing to do with you. And frankly, I don’t want a cure. Erin… Erin is mine. I am hers. There is nothing unnatural about that and I am hurt that you would say such things.”

“Hurt? Amelia, you hate humans,” she scoffs.

“I never hated them. I don’t trust them. That hasn’t changed.”