Page 133 of Whispers of Wisteria

Was this a trick question—something to catch me off-guard before she ripped off my head? “You’re important to Titus, which means you’re important to me too,” I responded. Something stirred in my chest as I spoke the words, and suddenly, I realized I’d meant them completely.

I hardly knew the woman. However, despite my intention, my circle of people to protect grew larger. How could this be?

“Whoareyou? What is your relationship with Titus?” Her forehead wrinkled. “And don’t tell me it has anything to do with Bryce. You’re too good for him.”

Now Ireallyliked her. This was a woman who understood reality.

But that didn’t mean I could tell her about me being Titus’s mate. If the others hadn’t already, there was probably a reason. “I…”

“Be quiet.” Gloria sharply cut into our conversation, and we jumped as she rose in her seat. The red cape fell across her lap, covering her pink floral skirt. She looked past me.

I sat up and pressed my palms against the stone. What was this sudden chill moving down my spine?

“Wha—” I began, but Gloria cut me off.

“Something’s out there.”

Ada froze, moving between me and it, but didn’t speak, and the panic turned my stomach. What was it—something that could frighten even a shifter?

Maybe… maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. I should have listened to Bryce.

It rounded the corner then—bright, shimmering silver bouncing from gravestone to gravestone. My breath strangled in my throat as it came near.

Cécile?

I almost had a heart attack when the light crashed directly into me. I was thrown off balance and fell sideways into the dirt.

I was only just catching my breath when the dust cleared, and I looked down at the white Persian snuggling up and purring between my boobs.

“It’s about time.” Gloria stood and shook out her cape. “Something must have been holding it back. Normally, it’d respond to the bait faster. We should still be on alert.”

“B-bait?” I craned my neck and blinked at her. “What do you mean?”

“The normal sort of thing,” Gloria responded. She draped the garment across the back of her chair and fussed with her hair. “Cécile is a bit fascinated with all things feline...” She paused and looked me over again. “And breasts.”

“Breasts!” I sat up so fast the cat fell off me and crossed my arms in front of my chest. I twisted and looked at her. “But I don’t even have any!”

“Meh.” It was Ada who responded, reaching past me to toss a treat to the cat. She, like before, only sniffed at it before licking her lips.

Wasn’t it a bit mean to be giving her things she couldn’t eat? They were spirits. Was it possible to make a snack that a shikigamicouldenjoy?

“Trust me, you’ve got enough,” the hyena continued. “Especially in that outfit. Besides, shikigami love fae.”

“You—you planned this!” I really was bait, and for a pervert shikigami, no less! Why did it have to be me?

Gloria shrugged. “I never told you to wearthat. I was referring to something else entirely. What was yourthought process?”

“I thought she might find the outfit relatable!” I argued. Shikigami did choose their animal forms, after all. So obviously, she had an affinity towards cats.

Gloria turned her palm to the air. “And so we’re on the same page.”

That wasn’t the same thing at all, and I was about to tell them so when they stiffened. They’d flanked me before I could even blink, and the light atmosphere darkened.

“What ishedoing here?” Ada held her arm in front of me as she looked at the older woman.

“How should I know?” Gloria replied, brows drawing together as her teeth bared. Her frail demeanor had dropped entirely. “This was unplanned.”

“There are wolves with him,” Ada said, and I shivered.