Page 67 of Beast

Now, I utterly humiliated my new family. I heard the news ofmy failure reported on the DLs that everyone here seems to watch. I am beingcalled the Dellacourt Beast.

And Dante is further away than ever. He still makes love tome, but he is always working. He doesn’t have time for me anymore. Now that weare back in his home, he seems to understand that he made a mistake.

I wish I could talk to Meg.

The machine finishes. There is a lovely teacup with a saucerand steaming liquid sitting in the center of the machine. “Does my mistresswish for cream and sugar?”

“Yes.” I never had cream and sugar, but it seems likesomething interesting to try.

“And where should I put it? Directly on your thighs andbuttocks?” The machine’s voice becomes distinctly nasty.

“No.” I take a step back and hear a chuckle.

Dante stands in the doorway, his jacket gone. He still wearshis tie, but his hair is utterly perfect. He is cool and collected, and thevery image of the modern vampire. He is a man who should be married to theperfect consort, not one the press reviles.

“Mom put the beverage dispenser on ‘weight management’ mode.It gets bitchy. You have to learn how to talk to it. You’re the boss.” He getsdown on the machine’s level. “Look here, you piece-of-shit machine. She saidshe wanted cream and sugar, and if you don’t give it to her, I will pull yourplug, shove you into the recycling bin, and you’ll come back a toaster. Do youwant that?”

Immediately a stream of white comes from the machine’sdispenser followed by a cube of sugar. “I hope you enjoy your beverage. Pleaselet me know if I can help you further.”

Dante reaches in and grabs the delicate cup and saucer. Heindicates that I should sit at the table and places it in front of me beforeturning back to the machine. “Give me three fingers of Scotch. Single malt.Fifteen years.”

The machine seems to race to do his bidding. In no time atall, he is picking up the glass and sighing as he sips the Scotch. He drinks alot of Scotch lately. Still, he turns and sits down at the table in front ofme. “I heard you had a rough day.”

The tea smells lovely, but I suddenly know my stomach willnot accept it. I push it away. “I made a mistake.”

I wait for him to berate me. I will take it. I know I shouldnot have allowed my four-legged form to be seen.

Dante’s lips quirk up. “Not a mistake, Kaja, baby. You werebeautiful. I told you, I think you’re gorgeous any way you are.”

The doors to the small kitchen open, and Alana Dellacourtwalks in. Her face is lined with worry, but when she realizes she is not alone,she seems to force a smile on her lips. “Oh, hello, Dante, Kaja.”

I want to hide. I put Dante’s mother in a terrible position.I embarrassed the poor woman. I start to get up, to excuse myself like theetiquette tutor taught me, but Dante’s hand comes out and covers my own.

He grins up at his mother. “I saw the DL story about yourbrush with the paparazzi today. Nice use of four-letter words, Mom.”

Alana actually laughs. “I also used my four-inch Louboutinstilettos on one of those jerks. He tried to touch Kaja’s fur.”

Dante’s fangs pop out. “Who?”

His mother waves him off. “I’m not telling you because Idon’t want to bail you out of jail. I took care of it. He won’t be walking fora bit. Calm down. It was only natural. No one has ever seen a shanimal before.”

Dante’s hand slaps at the table. “Motherfuckers! I told Meg.I came up with that. I totally came up with that.”

Alana shrugs and orders a wine from the beverage dispenser.She smacks it when it asks if she really wants the calories. “Well, CVN news isclaiming to have named the new species. And more.”

Dante’s eyes light up. “Was bestiality mentioned?”

His mother sighs but ruffles the top of his head as thoughshe knew he would ask. “Yes. You’re being called a pervert of the first order.”

“Nice.”

Now his mother slaps his perfectly coifed head. “It isn’tnice for Kaja.”

I watch their byplay with growing curiosity.

Dante shrugs. “I’m not worried about it. Something new willhappen, and the fact that Kaja’s also a wolf will totally blow over. Maybe Ishould give them a photo op of me and Kaj playing with a Frisbee in a park.”

“You will not,” Alana says, giving her son a stern look.