Page 86 of Rejected By the Shifter King

“I can’t read your mind, okay? But your face, on the other hand...”

My face?

What does she mean—oh, right.

I make a face, and Anastasia laughs anew. It pains me to admit this, but I’ve heard that more often than I wanted to ever since coming to work in Hollywood. It’s actually cost me a stunt gig here and there because I can’t act for the life of me, and that’s kinda bad when a) I’m supposed to double for an actor and b) I have to pretend I’m acrophobic when the camera pans my way.

“So, the snow leopards huh?” Anastasia’s expression turns thoughtful. “They’re not a member of L’Alliance, for one.”

Really?

“I thought that wasn’t optional?”

“It always was, and that’s how it has to be since only bad things happen when youforceany preter race to do something.”

“But why would theynotwant to join? Isn’t it, like, all pros and no cons?”

“I guess you can say they’re more like Caros that way?”

“I see.” I actually don’t, but I’d rather not reveal my ignorance.

“You don’t really see, do you?”

I grin sheepishly, and Anastasia rolls her eyes. “Seriously, Sam. Youneedto know more about preters, if only so you could protect yourself in case you’re attacked by a vampire.”

“But we live in one of the safest cities in America—”

“But not vampire-proof,” she says soberly. “There’s no such place these days.”

“I always have my anti-vampire spray from House Bellecourt if that helps?”

“It’s better than nothing, I suppose,” Anastasia allows with a wrinkle of her nose.

“So...” I try not to look a little too eager. “Anything else you can say about the snow leopards?”

“Don’t you mean Hexius?” she teases.

“You can’t blame me for being curious,” I say defensively. “He didn’t show an ounce of hesitation in rejecting me six years ago. But now, all of a sudden, he wants to marry me?”

“I’m actually rather surprised he was very...controlled about the entire situation. Shifters would normally go berserk if they find their prospective mate—”

Whoa.Who’s she calling a prospective mate?

“In a speed dating event—”

“You’re the reason I was there in the first place,” I protest.

“Correction: you were there because you lost a bet, and the bet was alsoyouridea.”

Oh, right. It really bothers me sometimes when I see her looking all wistful over the foster brother she’s been in love with her entire life. I honestly thought I could get her to join the speed dating thing to make her forget Stefano, but...what I didn’t foresee was me losing a bet because innocent-looking Anastasia is actually a pro in playingTexas Hold ‘Em.

Moral lesson: never judge a book by its cover...because the fairytale-looking-ones can actually be something that reads more like a gritty action-packed suspense.

“I asked him, you know,” I hear myself admit. “About why he rejected me in the first place.”

“Oh, Sam.” Anastasia gives my hand a supportive squeeze. “That’s justsolike you, and that’s what makes me look uptoyou but also fearforyou at the same time.”

“He told me that the ‘easy’ reason—” I make air quotes around the word for emphasis. “—isThat Daydidn’t happen yet, and so having a human wife was an unnecessary inconvenience.”