Page 151 of Sire

Voices murmur, raising my suspicions. Finally, Mom huffs, “Oh, for Pete’s sake, just come in.”

Holding Wren’s hand, every cell in my body tells me something’s going on, and I’m about to add to it.

When we step inside her office, it takes a moment to register the sight.

Mom’s sitting behind her antique desk, wearing an ivory Chanel suit, and reigning over her empire. Axel’s in a dark suit, sitting on the sapphire velvet sofa.

That’s normal.

But sitting beside Axel? A breathtaking redhead.Ruby Jones.

Axel told me about her. I’ve met her and like her. Whenhe tried to sneak her into Vale’s initiation, blindfolded, it fucking amused me. But since I’ve violated Axel’s trust already, I didn’t tell Wren about Axel and Ruby.

Now, she knows.

But kneeling beside my mother? Shirtless. Covered in ink. Swole like a beast, like us. Wearing black pants and a matching leather chest harness with a BDSM collar and chain.

Is one of the captives from our bunker?

What the fuck?

We caught this man sneaking over the wall at Delta’s. He’s part of the trafficking ring we’ve been hunting this year, and now he’s kneeling? As a sub for my mom?

I know she’s a revered dominatrix, but him?

She reads my furious face.

“Well, no sense in burning daylight. Everyone, take a seat.” Mom gestures to the empty emerald velvet sofa. “Wren, dear…” She always greets her with warmth. “Please meet Axel’s future wife, Ruby.”

Future wife? Good.

This shit? Not good.

Wren nestles in beside me, her smile excited, her instant connection to another queen, obvious. She chirps, “Nice to meet you, Ruby.”

Ruby beams, “Likewise, Wren.”

“What the fuck isHedoing here?”

Like me, Loch seethes. He’s confused. Settling in beside Wren, Loch’s glare is aimed at Mom’s threatening sub kneeling beside her.

But she shifts her focus to Alan, unsure why her staff is also in here. Alan doesn’t know who we really are, so we have to be careful.

Then again.

Neither does Mom’s brutal BDSM boy-toy, so what thehell? And why is Axel in here with him? Why hasn’t he cut his throat open and killed him with salt?

“This is Roman.” Mom tugs her sub’s leash, and I swear the fucker stifles an aroused moan. I want his head, but she assures, “He’s trained and trusted. You may speak openly around him.”

Since when? Since when does my mom let anyone outside our family, the kings and queens, know who we are?

“Alan,” Mom addresses him. “Dear, I’m not sure why you’ve been brought into this meeting. My apologies for any awkwardness.”

“No, ma’am. It ain’t awkward.” Alan stands, ramrod straight. “I’m here because Sir Sire asked me to join y’all.”

Sir Sire?Yep, Wren heard it that time.

She snorts a laugh.