Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
The closer they came to home, the more Emma buzzed with excitement. A tingle spread over her limbs, raising the fine hairs on her arms. She’d missed her friends and was eager to return to everyday life at the spa. She couldn’t wait to talk to Carly again.
Maybe she’d turn her after all. Only Carly knew her heart and soul, knew the depth of her desire to join them in immortality. While it would suck losing her human assistant, Emma could always find another.
They cruised through salted streets, passing vehicles blanketed with freshly fallen snow and sidewalks covered in inches of fluff.
Plows had recently barreled down the main streets of Dartmouth and cleared the way to the manor.
Probably done as a favor to Brennan, who expected their arrival at any moment.
“Are you ready for this?” Adrian asked.
Emma considered giving him a lame line about being born ready, but instead, she shook her head.
“No. I don’t think I am. What I did in New Orleans wasn’t about wanting to curry favor with the council or even have a title—not that it isn’t nice to be your equal—but I don’t want to watch my entire world change. ”
“It won’t change for the people who care about you.” Adrian drove toward the main residence of the vast estate and idled in front of the garage until the automated sensor picked up the vehicle’s return. “Besides, you were always my equal, Em.”
“Not in the eyes of the council.”
“Only mine matter.”
Once he had parked, they left their possessions behind in the trunk for one of the servants to deliver to their rooms. Within seconds of stepping inside, they were besieged by noise and the loud ruckus of a celebration in full swing.
Nothing’s changed, she told herself, repeating it with each step until they came face to face with Brennan. Their leader grinned boldly from ear to ear.
“Congratulations,” he said. “I took the liberty of arranging this welcome home party for the both of you and informing everyone you’re now the true property of the council.”
“Thanks,” Adrian muttered dryly. Despite the taunt from his friend, he grinned in return.
Emma managed to smile. “Thank you, Lor—”
“Brennan will suffice, Overseer.”
Her subtle smile broadened into a big grin. “Thank you, Brennan. You two catch up on things. I want to find Angela.”
After hurrying away from the two men, she found her friends nearby.
Angie and David bided their time in the line of vampires waiting at a respectful distance to greet the new Overseer.
Her best friend, the dearest friend she’d ever had, waited in a line to speak to her like a commoner.
Peter Mitchell stood at the front of the queue with a gift box, as was custom whenever a fellow vampire in a coven received a huge promotion.
Ass kisser.
Sweeping past him, Emma rushed toward her friend instead. The idiot who had sexually harassed her could wait—if she decided to acknowledge him at all. “There you are!” she cried, throwing herself into Angie’s arms.
“Emma! I still can’t believe it. Oh God, can I still hug you? I shouldn’t hug you, should I?” Angela pulled back, eyes wide. “Is it allowed to hug an Overseer?”
“You had better continue to hug me, or else,” Emma threatened with a smile. “I’m still me, Angie. No matter what anyone else tells you.”
“I hope you’re ready to describe what happened in New Orleans about a dozen times over,” David said. “We skimmed the account posted by the council, but for the most part, left it alone until we received the words from your lips.”
It wouldn’t be long before the story of what occurred in New Orleans spread throughout vampiric society, no doubt exaggerated with each retelling.
“Promise to tell you everything I can, just not tonight, okay?”
“There’s something else….” Angie’s brow creased. “Something’s different about you that I can’t put my finger on. Also, am I imagining things, or did Kennedy actually smile?”
Emma twisted at the waist to seek Adrian. He and Brennan stood by the bar. When they made eye contact, he smiled at her again.
Angie gasped. “What did you do to him?”
“We’re blood kissed.”
David and Angie both stared at her as if she’d spoken Martian. “Say again?”
“You heard me. Adrian and I are bonded, which works out fine by me since he’s officially been assigned as my champion.”
“But you hate him,” Angie whispered. “He snubbed you.”
Emma ducked her head and chuckled. “Um, no, not really. I know I might have said that once or twice but… it’s a long story and I’ll tell you about it.”
“But not tonight.” Angie folded her arms across her chest.
“Yeah. Not tonight. Tonight is about having a good time, not dragging up old stories.”