Page 3

Chapter Three

T he enormous estate situated on the edge of Singsong in one of the most luxurious neighborhoods still inside the gold walls was lined with old oak trees that gave it an old grove feel. My dad would love it. I loved it. The houses were large, gated, but charming instead of simply gaudy and big. They screamed taste more than wealth.

The iron wrought gates opened as Libby drove her large black car up to them, almost like her lawyer was expecting us. She had said that he’d do her taxes, but what kind of accountant lived in a place like this? Three stories, two charming towers, immaculate gingerbread, and a lush garden surrounding the courtyard where the car pulled around, until it sat between the double front doors and the large yet tasteful fountain.

“Are you sure…” I began.

She grabbed my wrist and pulled me out, tucking the stack of books under her other arm. “If you don’t want to stay here, I’ll take you with me to my place, although that’s not ideal since it’s in Song. Sort-of. Werewolves are a common thing, so you’d probably be spotted, but here? In this neighborhood? Even if I hadn’t put an anti-tracking spell on you, no one would find you for years, lost in the scent of mildew and money.”

She released me and adjusted the books before heading towards the front steps. She glanced around as she moved, like she was habitually wary of attack. I sniffed and smelled nothing but plants, water, and a delicious aftershave. It smelled edible, like it was made out of violets and watercress with a hint of spice. What was that spice?

I followed the scent more than I followed the librarian up the steps to the large double doors. She reached for the knob, like she was going to open it, but it opened first, like he’d been waiting.

I smiled at him then froze while his face, all sculpted cheekbones and elegance, hit me with the weight of a sledgehammer. It was the Silver Senator with the violet eyes and bear-trap mind who used his unearthly beauty to put people off-balance so he could manipulate them more easily. And he’d insulted me every time we’d exchanged words.

I knew who the Librarian’s lawyer was. It was part of the known gossip, but somehow I’d overlooked the obvious when she called him Cross. It’s like I was stressed out from the threat of exposure and forced marriage hanging over my head. And the stalker. Still, I should have realized who I’d be walking into. Then I wouldn’t be here, standing on his front porch, feeling like an abandoned orphan begging for a crust of bread.

The Librarian smiled brightly. “Great, you were expecting me. This is Delphi. Isn’t she adorable? She’s looking for some advice on werewolf law, so I told her you’d be able to help.” She dropping the books in his arms and he scrambled to capture them while looking from me to her with those annoyingly beautiful eyes.

I winced. Now I’m an adorable helpless thing? “I’m sorry. This was a mistake. I can handle the situation on my own. I wouldn’t dream of bothering you, Senator.”

Senator Silverton raised a perfectly arched brow. “You’re already here, and any friend of Libby’s couldn’t possibly be a bother.” He frowned down at the books in his hands and then up at me. “How did you get on the wrong side of werewolf law?” The frown seemed much more authentic than the smile he showed his public.

“She’s got a stalker,” the librarian called, already in the center of the large hall, studying an enormous vase of fresh hydrangeas and lilies. “He’s been leaving her presents.”

His face whipped from her to me, the frown intensifying on his annoyingly stunning features.

His voice was certain. “You aren’t frightened, just very, very frustrated. Why aren’t you afraid of a werewolf stalker, Miss Era?”

I wasn’t about to answer that question. I held onto my smile while I considered. No, I never would have approached the senator if I’d realized it was him, but I was already here, and he had a great deal of influence in the government that he could use to apply pressure to the Alta. Maybe he could even push to change werewolf law. I needed to go in or walk away, but where would I go? Anywhere else would be better. And yet, he had a reputation for making things happen, but not for spilling secrets. If he could help me with this werewolf law tangle, it could help other people down the road, not just me. Who knew how many vulnerable females were stuck in this kind of situation? It would be worth the humiliation it would cost to ask.

I hesitantly took a step towards him and the open door. He immediately backed up, gesturing me inside, then closed the door gently, but firmly, behind me.

“The knell of doom,” I whispered, getting a puzzled look from him.

“Beg your pardon?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you say something?”

I smiled sweetly until he shook his head.

“Why don’t we adjourn to the library?” he asked, gesturing towards the Librarian who was already far down the long hall, like she’d been here before and knew where she was going.

The house was large, elegant, tasteful, exactly what you’d expect from an elf like Silverton, in silvery blue and muted apricots, with an underpinning of rich cream.

“Tell me about your stalker,” he said as we walked.

I was stuck between trying not to look at him too much, or ogle the priceless paintings that lined the hall. He certainly wasn’t struggling to pay his rent if he could afford originals like that. A Van Gogh? And was that a Renoir? I stopped to stare at it, raising my hand for a moment like I would touch it before I curled my fingers and turned back to the annoyingly handsome, wealthy, and tasteful man.

“It isn’t the stalker that’s the problem, not really,” I said, shaking my head. It was the Alta Manada that was going to ruin my life.

“No? How many presents has this not-a-problem given you?”

I looked at him suspiciously. That had the bones for an implied insult. I was too stupid to realize that the stalker was a serious problem. “A few.”

“A few dozen? Please be specific, Miss Era,” he drawled, an elf who was on his last manner.

I smiled brightly. “Two at last count, but I haven’t been home since I got off work, so who knows how many fluffy bunnies he could have sacrificed to my beauty since then?”

His eyes hardened until they were violet sickles of death. “Where are you staying?”

I gave the senator a side-long glance. “I haven’t decided yet.” Not here, though. You couldn’t pay me enough money to live with this terrifyingly capable, manipulative, handsome elf. I’d probably fall in love with him and end up leaving fluffy bunnies on his doorstep. That would almost serve him right for being so rude.

“But you aren’t going back to your home? Good. Establish new territory, habits, scents, and perhaps he’ll forget his fascination.”

“Yes, well, I hope so.” But would that be enough? Everyone knew where I worked. I stopped walking. Why try to hide? Maybe I could go to Max, show him my wolf, and convince him that I wasn’t in danger. But the Alta Manada had been notified, so I’d have to display my wolf to them as well. Perhaps it would be fine. Maybe they would be open-minded and allow their laws to be broken so I could be independent. Or they’d want my extremely strong wolf in the gene pool. Ridley was connected to someone in the Manada, so there had to be some corruption.

“Miss Era?” Senator Silverton’s low voice startled me from my thoughts.

I turned to offer him a smile. “Sorry. I was distracted.”

“I can see that,” he said soberly. “Before we go into the library, let me ask you privately: would you like to stay here? Libby wouldn’t have brought you if she didn’t want me to take you under my protection. If you walk in there, she’ll push you into it, so tell me now what you want.”

I stared at him, shocked at the bluntness and lack of pretension in the question. “You hate me.” We could both be honest.

He smiled slightly. “You are impossible to hate.”

“You’ve tried?”

His smile bloomed into something magnificent, far more breathtaking than the paintings in the moment before it vanished, leaving the stoic elf behind. “No, Miss Era. I haven’t tried to hate you. I make a point not to waste my time on hopeless cases.” He shook his head. “I don’t live here alone. I’m not trying to lure you into my den of depravity. I have a housekeeper, a driver, a secretary, and a media specialist, as well as any number of other associates who stay with me from time to time. The house is very large. It wouldn’t be an inconvenience to me in the slightest. In fact, we could go weeks without even seeing one another.”

I stared at him, trying to read him, to search out those thoughts behind the guarded eyes. Protective. Guarding. Concerned. He really was worried about my safety. Why would he care about someone he barely met?

I laughed lightly. “Really? You wouldn’t mind if a complete stranger moved into your pool house?”

He cocked his head. “Pool house? That’s right, I do have one of those. Would you be more comfortable out there? It’s slightly less protected than the main house, but the security on the entire property is very good. I do mind. I’d prefer that if a situation comes to my attention, I do something about it instead of hearing about the girl on the news who’d been knifed forty-six times by her stalker a week later. I know there’s a problem. I’d be grateful if you allowed me to help you solve it.” He sighed heavily. “Now I regret being so rude to you at the party.”

The story of a woman who had been stabbed forty-six times was the big news story last month. Loren had covered it with so much glee. Would she enjoy covering my murder? Not that I was going to be murdered by Ridley when my beast could eat him without a hint of indigestion. Still. “Regret, but no apology? Oh, I forgot. For an elf, that was an apology. Why were you trying to get a rise out of me? Be honest.”

I looked into those violet eyes, searching for truth while he stared back at me. My heart started to beat faster, my skin prickled, and everything in me became hyper-aware of everything about him. He hesitated then leaned close enough that his scent, the spicy carnation and the hint of vanilla made my mouth water. No, my mouth was already watering, now it was outright drool. “I wanted to be sure that you were happy.”

I blinked at him and then leaned closer to try to gauge his honesty. There was wariness in his eyes. He certainly wasn’t telling me everything, but that, him needing to be sure I was happy, I was almost positive, was true. He smelled like he was telling the truth. He also smelled like woodland forests and fields of carnations. I found myself breathing him in more deeply, lips parted. I pulled away when my neck protested. He wasn’t leaning towards me, but I was close to toppling in his direction.

“You’re so annoyingly delicious,” I mumbled, quieter than he should be able to hear.

He gave me a charming smile. “Why, Miss Era, are you tempted to eat me?”

I froze as I searched those eyes with renewed intensity. He knew that I was a werewolf. Of course he did. He was a genius, and I’d brought werewolf law books to his house. Only a wolf would be bound by wolf law. But he’d still invited me to stay with him? He was a protector. That really was his core, or he wouldn’t be willing to protect a werewolf. He’d asked a very pertinent question. Was I tempted to eat him? He smelled so good, but even if I wanted to nibble, there would be no biting bloody chunks out of him. Every part of me revolted at the idea of hurting him.

I hurriedly shook my head. “No. I’m not out of control. I’ve never lost control, and I wouldn’t start with you. You’re safe with me.” I put my hand on his arm, trying to reassure him, but maybe my touch would be a threat.

Before I could pull back, he covered my hand with his, strong fingers grasping me with the right amount of pressure. “I know, Miss Era. I wouldn’t be worried about your happiness if I hadn’t already researched you.”

That shocked me. He’d researched me? Why would I come up on a senator’s radar? We were standing so close, I could see the pale lilac striations of his eyes. So lovely. So dangerous. He wouldn’t ever hurt me physically, but there were machinations that were beyond me, that I wanted to stay beyond me.

I cleared my throat and pulled away, having to tug firmly to retrieve my hand. “You’d actually be comfortable sharing your sacred personal space with a member of the media?” I gave him a skeptical look. “To be blunt, there’s no way that you aren’t part of one of the secret societies with your connection to the Librarian and Senator Montaine.”

He smiled at me, only a slight smile, but it was warm and sweet, so it softened his chiseled perfection into something almost touchable. “You never spill secrets without permission. Also, I don’t keep anything too incriminating at the house. That’s what my secret lair is for.” He winked at me, then took my hand and tucked it on his arm while he led me towards the library.

How he could escort me while carrying so many books was a miracle. He was a miracle. And he wasn’t afraid of my wolf. A thrill went through me as we walked down the lofty hall filled with gorgeous art, the finest work the gentleman at my side.

He murmured, “We should carpool to events. How are you going to handle your work situation? I imagine your stalker knows where that is.”

I sighed heavily as I looked up at him, clinging to his arm. “I know. Is there any point in fighting the inevitable?”

His eyes twinkled. “Of course not. But whether something is inevitable must always be tested.” He gestured me through the door into a library that was two stories tall, with a surrounding balcony lined with gilded cream bookshelves. The gorgeous library reminded me of my dad’s study at home. It was the one vaulted space my parents had, because my mother preferred to be cozy. Cross’s library felt elvish, that touch of beauty and magic so much like its owner, Senator Silverton.

Libby was standing in the middle of the space, soaking in all those books, hands outstretched like an otherworldly statue. “This is a beautiful thing, Cross.”

“Yes, you would appreciate it. Do you have all your paperwork for your taxes?”

She spun around to grin at him. “I already emailed them to you. I’m just here to make sure you aren’t overworked and taxed beyond what you can bear.” She snickered while he audibly groaned.

“You came here just to deliver that awful pun, didn’t you?”

“Basically, but also to bring Delphi. She’s much too cute to let the werewolves devour.”

I smiled slightly as I said, “I don’t believe that cuteness should be justification for protection. To be honest, I don’t need protection. I just need…”

The two studied me, waiting, listening with an intensity I wasn’t used to people giving me. I listened. Others talked. He already knew, but it needed to be made as clear as possible. “Can I have both of you promise to keep what I say confidential?” I asked, hesitantly.

Libby nodded quickly. “I swear it. Cross never tells anyone anything. Most elves are like that, closed-mouthed, but he’s more. Getting things out of him is like prying a dead dwarf’s hands off his rubies.”

That was an image. I spoke quickly, shooting a sidelong glance at the man who already knew. “I’m a turned werewolf, but I don’t want that to become public knowledge. As a turned wolf, legally, I’m supposed to have a mate and protector, but Max has let me do my thing for years. I’m so grateful to him, but now, with Ridley stirring things up, he’s given me an ultimatum.”

“Marry someone or be exposed?” Senator Silverton asked, eyes narrowing in disapproval.

“How barbaric,” Libby said with a curled lip.

I shrugged. “It makes sense.” I glanced over at Silverton, not having to look hard to see his judgment of these archaic werewolf laws. Maybe also the wolves. He still didn’t shift his position away from me or look at me as if I was a pariah. Instead, he opened the book on the top of the stack he carried.

“I am such a fool to bring an exciting case to you before you’ve done my taxes,” Libby said, sighing heavily.

He didn’t look up from the book, but he did move to the nearest table with a chair, and sat down, putting the books on the table, and taking the individual book into his lap, dark hair bent over the thing.

Libby grabbed my arm. “And with that, he’s off. He’ll solve the problem if it can be solved by loopholes, and if it can’t be solved by that, he’ll come up with something else, less legal, but just as effective.”

“I heard that,” he said without looking up.

“Good. I’m going to take Delphi to tour the pool house. Okay?”

“Mm. Manny will tell you when dinner’s ready.”

“Does he cook?”

“Mm.” He turned a page and grabbed a long notebook from the side table, and wrote a few things down, completely absorbed with his thoughts and the legal tangle at hand. He really was like my dad when he found a tantalizing subject to research. It made me want to plonk on his lap and distract him with something. How would the protector handle rambunctious gnomish children swarming all over him? The image that filled my head of Senator Silverton in a domestic setting with our children was a shock. I wasn’t daydreaming about playing house with the man. He was involved in things I had no interest in. I was a fluff reporter while he needed to change the world.

“Shall we?” Libby’s warm smile was infectious.

I let her lead me out of the library while my stomach twisted uneasily. I’d told them I was a werewolf, and nothing horrible had happened. “You really won’t tell anyone?” I asked.

“That you’re a werewolf? I give my word as a librarian. Also, I wouldn’t talk about someone else, anyway. Except for Manny. He’s Cross’s bodyguard, and he’s an ogre, so I’d be careful about eating whatever he cooked. Then again, as a wolf, you’re supposed to have an iron stomach. Nothing about you looks very tough.”

“Senator Silverton hired an ogre?” That was surprising. Maybe he really was comfortable around the infernal, or he liked to live dangerously. Inviting a werewolf to live with you was very dangerous. What if I never left? I could eat him out of house and home. And get possessive of him and start stalking him and his delicious violet eyes. I really needed to watch that. Fantasizing about what his children would be like was completely off the table.

“Absolutely. You know that they’re the best bodyguards, and Cross always has the best. Like his personal assistant, Henrick. He’s a goblin, and terrifyingly competent. He’s the spin doctor of Cross’s life. Henrick keeps Cross’s image immaculate. He’ll probably use you for something, maybe make people think you’re dating if it helps Cross’s campaign. If not, he’ll keep you out of it. You should be aware that it’s a danger. Cross is basically a pure perfectionist who would never take advantage of you, but Henrick has no such scruples. That’s why Cross hired him. He’s always aware of his own weaknesses and makes sure that others cover for him.”

“Oh.” That was a lot of information. “Is Senator Silverton aware that’s a danger? People will think there’s something romantic going on if it comes out that I’m staying here. Particularly if he doesn’t admit that I’m just a werewolf he took mercy on.”

“He’s aware. And he won’t ever let anyone think anything you don’t want them to think, even if he has to make you his distant cousin. Or Henrick, I guess, if the idea of dating him bothers you. I noticed that you didn’t immediately swoon when you saw him, almost like you don’t adore him.”

I cheered up. Really? I gave the impression of not automatically thinking he was the most beautiful thing in the world? How wonderful! “It’s not that I dislike him, but when we met, he wasn’t very polite.”

She turned her head, giving me her full attention, which was extremely heavy and uncomfortable. “Cross wasn’t polite to a pretty member of the media? That’s interesting. Have you met before?”

“I did see him at the library on the day you…But I didn’t speak to him.”

“That’s unlike him. Maybe he was coming down with the flu or something.”

“I think he was trying to get me upset so he could see how I reacted. Maybe he’s looking to hire a speech writer.”

“Maybe.” She threw open the French double doors at the end of the hall dramatically. “Behold, the pool house.”

The small building was on the other side of the enormous pool, which was a sinuous thing, the edges covered in plants that made it look like a natural haven. The pool house itself was small, cozy, and painted a cheerful pink that didn’t quite go with the elegance of everything else.

“Come on.” She skipped outside, onto the large deck, then headed to the right, where the pool narrowed and an elegant bridge spanned the water. It didn’t take long to get to the building, and when I did, I realized it wasn’t as tiny as it looked, but it was just as bright.

“It’s pink,” I said, putting my hand against the stucco.

“It’s Harold’s daughter’s favorite color. She asked Cross if they could stay in a pink beach house when they come to visit this summer, so he had it done, much to Harold and the boys’s horror. She’s the only girl, and her mother is absolutely not a fan of pink, so I think she might just want to torture everyone. Little girls can be like that. I know I was. Cross said it’s a good pink, and he has perfect taste, so he must be right.”

She pushed open the door and led me into the cutest little cottage I’d ever seen. It had a kitchenette, the window over the sink looking out on a charming garden. There was a bedroom with a large bed, as well as a loft with bunk beds stacked up on either side of the space.

The living room boasted a fireplace, with a down couch just waiting for me to curl up on. The lighting was excellent, in fact everything was perfect except for the lack of oven. I couldn’t make cookies in this cottage, but otherwise, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect place.

“You’re sold. Good. I wouldn’t want to tell Cross, but he’s actually kind of lonely. He wouldn’t have moved to Singsong City otherwise. He could use some cheerful company, and I don’t have nearly enough time to devote to him, not with my library and my own husband. Not to mention my sushi buddies. Do you like sushi?”

I blinked at her. There was no way Cross was lonely, not when he’d mentioned all the people who lived with him. “Yes. But it’s so expensive.”

She nodded soberly. “It is, but the Cat’s Pause has reasonable prices, and the sushi is always fresh. You should come some time.” She started walking towards the door.

“Wait. You’re going to leave me here?”

She turned around to study me for a long moment before she nodded. “Yes. I get that you’re a werewolf, so not entirely defenseless. Not that any females I know are remotely incapable of destroying their enemies, but you’re facing not only a stalker, but an entire system. You need help. Cross is the best at manipulating large bodies of people. He’s clever, driven, and motivated by his protective instincts. I’m leaving you in good hands. Cross’s fridge will be well-stocked if Manny’s cooking is a disaster. It won’t be, though. Cross wouldn’t have told you there was dinner if it wouldn’t be edible. You aren’t hysterical. Do you need me to stay and give you emotional support?”

I shook my head. “I never agreed to stay, but the pool house is really nice. And the security here is really great. And if he can actually help me with the legal issues regarding werewolf law that would also help others who get caught in the tangle, then how could I say no?”

“You can’t.” She gave me a smug look. “So relax, enjoy your vacation. You look like you need it.” She waved and then left me alone in the senator’s pool house while he studied my case in his library.

I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching her walk back to the house, before I closed the door, curled up on the couch, and tried to process everything. Of course, I ended up falling asleep, because that couch was way too cozy for an elf, even one who had painted his pool house pink for a little girl.