Page 101 of Taming the Beasts

Kebe looked around the foyer as she helped me carry in the takeout bags. “This is so much nicer than I thought it would be. A lot cleaner.”

I ignored her dig at my boyfriends. I already knew how she felt about them. Tonight wasn’t about that. It was about figuring out if she was a murderer on top of being a rude liar.

She followed me into the kitchen. “Absolutely spotless. It’s just fascinating.”

She was acting like she was expecting cat litter everywhere. I shook my head. My boyfriends were werecats, not cats. And yes, I was the one that had cleaned the kitchen, but she didn’t need to know that. They’d been tidy enough before I moved in. I started unpacking the takeout containers from the restaurant Emma was most excited about.

“Mmm smells good,” Kebe said and joined me at the kitchen island.

I’d asked her to come over and help us taste-test a bunch of stuff for Emma’s reception. Kebe had agreed very quickly. Which was suspicious all by itself. Emmahad asked me to do it with the guys since she couldn’t do it with Callum. Since Callum said he barely tolerated normal human food.

So...why was Kebe excited to eat it? She was supposed to only have a taste for blood too. I was really starting to wonder if she was some other kind of supernatural creature. Because I didn’t believe for a second that she was actually just a vampire. She was something...faster. Something fast enough to murder two strangers across the world in less than two hours. And I was going to prove it.

For just a second I stared at Kebe as she looked around the kitchen. I couldn’t believe how old she was. The only question was...how? What on earth was she? How many other types of supernatural creatures existed?

My train of thought ended as soon as the front door opened. “Hey, guys!” I called from the kitchen. “We have company!”

They all walked in through the archway.

“Surprise,” I said. “Kebe is here. Emma needs our help taste-testing the food options for her wedding. You know...since Callum isn’t any help.”

Everyone looked fairly pleased but Bennett. I would have been worried it was because I’d mentioned Emma’s wedding. But we’d had a good talk about that. His displeased look was from Kebe’s presence. And I totally got it. I was displeased that she was here too. But I needed to confront her head on. With eye witnesses.

“Oh, wait,” I said. “I’m so sorry, Kebe. I totally forgot that you’re a vampire too who doesn’t like normal food. You probably don’t want to help with this. Shoot. I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s totally fine,” Kebe said. “I’ve already had a ton of blood for lunch. I’m satisfied in that department. And I’ve actually grown quite used to normal human fare over the years. I’ve developed a tolerance for it.”

Bullshit.“It’s okay, you really don’t need to eat it.” I grabbed six plates instead of seven.

Kebe stared at the takeout containers. “No, I want to help. It’s the least I can do for Callum.”

I stared at her. I was really helpingEmma. Yes it was for Emma and Callum’s wedding. But where did Kebe’s loyalties lie here? God, was Kebe still trying to get with Callum?

“Besides,” she said. “I have quite a refined palate from all my travels. I can tell what normal human people will like even if it’s not my particular cup of bloody tea.”

Ew.Did she sip blood from a teacup? I quickly shook away the thought. No, probably not. Since she was a dirty rotten liar! I stared over at my boyfriends. Were they believing this shit? Because I wasn’t. She’d wanted lunch the other day at the bank too. This was sus as hell. She was practically salivating over the takeout containers.Just a tolerance my ass.

“Interesting,” Huxley said. “What’s your favorite type of cuisine?”

“I’ve always had a fondness for Greek food. A lot of great Greek restaurants came to my home town during my adolescence.”

“I’d love to hear more about that.”

I gave Huxley a dirty look and Ace chuckled.

It was really good to see him smile again.

“I guess seven for dinner it is,” I said. I added another plate and started opening up all the containers. Itreally did smell amazing. Emma couldn’t go wrong with anything from this place. And I was glad it was American food and not Greek.

As everyone started filling their plates, I shuffled closer to Titan. For just a little bit it had seemed like he’d fallen under Kebe’s spell too. But then a few off-hand comments about werecats had woken him up from his daze. He was on my side. At least with this one thing. I was sure of it.

“Follow my lead,” I whispered to him.

He looked up from his plate. “What?”

“Like I said. Just follow my lead. There is going to be zero sweetness from me at the table tonight.”

He lowered his eyebrows as he stared at me.