Page 93 of Blade

Based on everything she’d talked about and what we’d read online, I was pretty sure I knew what was coming next and I got why it was so weird for her.

“This is difficult but I would be remiss as your financial advisor if I didn’t bring it up.”

His will.

“I need you to talk about what should happen to the trust if something happens to you, Mr. Singletary, or to your mate.” Glancing between us, she sighed. “I have to know what name to put for him if you want me to have the assets transferred to him upon your death…so…”

Ah.

Okay, so smart people were frustrating sometimes too.

“I’ve been thinking about this as we reviewed everything.” Blaine made it sound like he hadn’t spent the last couple of days reviewing every option out there. “I would like us to wait until we get my mate another set of identification. That will be the one weuse to list him as my husband for the legal documentation and he’ll inherit it all that way.”

Husband?

Hmm.

Was that something we’d have a serious discussion about or could I just use it to fuck with him?

Serena seemed relieved to have that out of the way and looked like a weight had been lifted off her. “I think that’s a good plan.”

Did she have a therapist?

As they went through the necessary details and fought about having the coven listed as the next in line to inherit if something happened to both of us, I zoned out until Blaine’s voice went up. “You don’t understand. My mate’s family can never get access to this much money. It has to be ironclad that someone else like the coven gets the money if we’re killed.”

Oh.

Had she thought it was weird that the coven should get the money if I couldn’t inherit?

Her eyes just kept getting wider until I raised my hand and smiled. “Oh yeah. I know it feels weird to you for the coven to get the money if something happens, but if we’re killed before we die of old age, my family probably did it.”

I wasn’t hiding my identity because I was paranoid…they were dangerous fuckers who’d made me paranoid.

She just blinked like her brain couldn’t comprehend what she was hearing. That was probably what made me weak, but I had to make sure she understood. “They’re dangerous and insane. If they get their hands on this much money, I don’t know what they’d do.”

Was that enough?

She’d spent all her life trying to fix Blaine but she seemed kind of naïve.

I glanced over at my frowning mate, trying to see what he wanted me to do. When he shrugged and put the ball back in my court, I sighed. “Monster hunters exist. I know most of your people around here think they’re weird urban legends or larpers online, but they’re real. My family is dangerous and can’t ever get this much money.”

Or there wouldn’t be anywhere on Earth I could keep my mate safe.

“Everyone here is genuinely safer not knowing my name. I know it’s coming across as quirky or as a paranoid human, I’ve run into those so I understand how strange humans who know about your world can be, but I’m trying to keep us all safe.”

If they didn’t take this seriously, some curious local was going to get us all killed.

Finally letting out a breath, she closed her eyes. “Why couldn’t you have just been weird?”

Nothing I could do about that.

“I am. I’m just weird and from a very dangerous family.” I shrugged as she finally opened her eyes. “Just think about it this way…this isn’t something that you can blame your family for.”

The way she rolled her eyes finally made her look normal, not like the woman who was always the most functional person in the room. “Alright, that is nice.”

She was going to need a raise.

“You need a name and a cover story.” She waved her hand toward me, making sure we all knew which crazy man was frustrating her this time. “Most people are still focused on magical elements, but sooner or later the mating thing will take center stage.”