Page 71 of Daman

I grinned. “Did you expect anything less?”

“No. Your bitchiness is one of your best qualities. How’s it going in Russia? More specifically, how’s that Russian dick? Is it as big as I think?”

The volume on my phone was turned up, and Warrin most definitely heard Bellamy’s loud-ass voice. The proof was in the way he blushed and quietly cleared his throat.

“That’s none of your goddamn business,” I said, scooting off Warrin’s lap.

“Uh-huh. That’s code foryes.Damn, D. Congrats.”

Warrin stood from the couch. “I’m going to make some coffee.”

“Okay, cool,” I said, holding the phone away from my ear, then bringing it right back once Warrin left the living room. “I’m going to murder you.”

Bellamy laughed. “You miss me. Just admit it.”

I really did. But damn if I’d stroke his already massive ego and tell him as much. Because of the distance between us, he couldn’t read my mind either. Thankfully.

“Know what I miss? Konnar’s club.” I walked over to the window and peered out into the winter night. The snow came down hard, piling on tree branches and covering our footsteps from earlier. “Next time we’re back in town, all of us need a night out. Warrin’s been to Krave once, but he didn’t get to really enjoy it.”

“Hold up,” Bellamy interjected. “You and Warrin are awenow? How fucking cute is that?”

Crap.“That slipped out.”

“Yeah. A Freudian slip at its finest.” Bellamy dramatically sighed. “My baby brother is growing up.”

“I’m only a month younger than you, asshole.” I looked over my shoulder to make sure Warrin hadn’t returned yet. “Look. I have a big problem.”

“What’s wrong?” His voice took on a serious edge, the playfulness gone. That was the thing about Bellamy. He joked a lot, was raunchy as fuck, and believed life should be lived like one big party—one that involved strippers, orgies, and a hell of a lot of booze. But when it came to his family, he took no shit.

“Nothing’s wrong. Well, not really. I’m not in trouble or anything. Unless you count possibly finding my mate troublesome. Which to me, it is. Big-time.”

“Oh shit.” He blew out a breath. “Are you sure you found your mate? Like your fated mate?”

I thought of how I felt around Warrin. How it was like my damn soul reached out for him. With each kiss, that feeling only intensified. My insides trembled, much like my voice as I whispered, “Yes.”

It was the first time I’d ever admitted it out loud.

“Fuck, D. Who is it?”

“Huh? What do you meanwho? It’s Warrin.”

There was a pause on his end of the line. And then he started laughing. “For fuck’s sake, Daman.”

“What’s so funny?” He was lucky we weren’t in the same room. I would’ve punched his pretty face. Or kneed him in the balls. I bet he wouldn’t be laughing then.

“Listen to yourself. Here I thought your mate was some random guy and that you’d have some love triangle shit going on with Warrin. But no. The dude is your husband. If he’s really your mate, that sounds like it worked out perfectly to me.”

“Perfect? There’s nothing perfect about this. I don’t want a mate.”

“Yeah, well, fate is a bitch. Suck it up. You should be counting your lucky stars, D. Things could be worse. Your mate could’ve been someone you can never have. Nowthatwould’ve been hell.”

The hardness in his tone gave me pause. I wished I was close enough to get a proper read on him. Because he sounded off to me. I didn’t like it.

“Did something happen, Bell?”

He didn’t answer at first. When he finally did, he sounded just like his old self. Had I imagined the strange tone, then? I could usually read him better than that.

“Hmm. Well, I got my ass drilled by a wolf last night at the club. So that’s something that happened. Oh, and Taeden wanted me to tell you that he misses his bitchy angel boy.”