“It’s making me paranoid, so can you come back and do all your twitching and silent stewing before getting super condescending?” I continue. “Maybe tell me some of the horrors Idun will make me face in that vague way of yours because you think I’m young and have the mental fortitude of a marshmallow?”

No answer.

I finally give up when I never get a response, and hurry down the stairs. All this just to get an invitation? I have too much to do to worry about running around to play their damn games.

I groan when I step outside and find Talbot Lane holding the passenger side door open to my van.

“G’day, Ms. Carmine,” he says too cheerfully, using that charming smile.

“The key to being Damien’s beta isn’t to stalk me and give me rides,” I tell him as I hop in.

He shuts the door and quickly goes to the driver’s side.

“Damien Morpheous is a little difficult, so before I commit to this, I want you to know that I’ve been the most respected rogue beta to my community for quite some time. I’m a true catch, Ms. Carmine. Dorian Gray has tried to get me to—”

“My mother is the world’s best salesman. I know a pitch when I hear it, so please stop. Do the work,” I tell him as I quickly type out a text to Ighan to let him know I’m running behind.

“Happy to, Ms. Carmine. I’m just not up to speed on exactly what the work is once I’m his beta. How does your selection process work? Because it isn’t mentioned in your book.”

“I have a private book you can’t read until you’re pledged as a House beta. It explains all that then.”

He clears his throat. “But all pledges are sworn to House silence with secrets. How am I supposed to find out what’s in that book?”

“He sounds a little whiny and desperate, Violet. Don’t be cruel,” Anna says from the backseat, causing me to startle in surprise.

I really hate it when she pops up out of nowhere like that.

“I’m not being cruel. It’s being careful. I don’t know him,” I explain to her, gesturing toward him.

She makes a purring noise in the back of her throat before pawing at him.

“You just have a thing for stalkers,” I deadpan, and stare at her like I’m daring her to argue.

“Touché. They’re my weakness,” she admits.

“Anna’s here, then?” Talbot asks as we park.

“I’ll give you a hint, Talbot. If you really want to be here for the right reasons, and not just to step all over a House full of omegas with the backing of Five of the Six, read Big Blue again.”

As if the hellhound thinks I’ve shouted his name, Blue suddenly launches himself on top of the van, sending a curse through my lips, as the van groans under his weight.

A shrill scream comes from someone in the car when Blue does his super vicious barking thing at…Talbot…who is the one screaming right now. He slams back against the seat so hard that it breaks and collapses, and he spills into the back of the van while still screaming.

“Okay. I’ve lost interest. I can’t unsee that,” Anna sighs in disappointment, before zapping out of the car.

Talbot is covering his face like it’s his most important body part, as I hop out of the van, smiling to myself. Blue’s apparently warming up to me if he’s attacking guys who hijack my van and me.

The psychotic dog comes rushing inside before I can shut him out, because it’s like he knew I was going to do it while I had the chance.

He stinks. He stinks so bad. And I just don’t know how to address that.

The Neoprys don’t all think it’s sensible to bathe regularly, since they’re used to it being more of a hassle—a thousand years ago. Some are just scared of the showers. Bobo and Ighan haven’t informed me on why they abstain so much, and I’m simply not rude enough to ask.

I stop and back up again when I see Vance in the kitchen, smiling over at Bobo, as he instructs him on chopping. Bobo looks freshly showered and very clean, along with Ighan, as they both mimic what Vance is showing them.

How the hell did he get here so fast?

Oh, he had so better not be using them against me.

They follow each and every movement, including gathering pans, and follow his lead as he starts tossing things in. Bobo seems riveted by whatever he’s saying about the stove.

Leiza is suddenly at my side, nudging me.

“He’s teaching them to cook, and explaining the amount of cleanliness required to prepare food that people want to eat,” she says as she lifts the back of my shirt, inspecting the skin that took the worst of the beating.

“How are they already just dull marks? Idun wasn’t holding back. She was just shy of unleashing her monster’s strength on you,” she continues.

“Apples and oranges, remember? I work differently than most people,” I state absently, eyes running over Vance, as he pulls his fancy shirt off to avoid getting anything on it.

It’s a terrible idea to keep watching now.

“He knows I’m standing out here, doesn’t he?” I ask, which causes Vance’s eyes to lift, as he winks at me. “And clearly he can hear me as well,” I add before rolling my eyes and walking away.

“I actually came to talk to you about Emit getting a written invitation. The wolf omegas would feel better if he had permission to be near if we need the protection,” she says quietly as she follows me.