Page 30 of Shifter Situations

“He couldn’t say my name when we were little, Barbie. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

“I can’t help it,” she mumbled. “Fighting makes me—”

“Bitch,” Jack called, twisting his head sideways and squinting his eyes. “Actually, never mind. Let me know how that position works out for y’all. I’m curious.”

I coughed obnoxiously and started pulling her toward the cabin we’d claimed as I shouted over my shoulder, “Bye, Bay. I’ll call you later.”

Once everyone was inside, Palmer and Sloane began adding magic to several of the doorways. I wasn’t entirely certain that I knew what they were doing, but when she swung a door open for me to peek inside, I got it.

They were putting spells on the doors to lead to our rooms at her house. Or… Our house? This one went to mine in particular.

Though we still had the apartment, I didn’t think we would call it home anymore.

I couldn’t go back to simply being roommates with the guys. I needed to see Barbie every day. Even if it was just sharing her space while she worked from home. I didn’t want to consider what a day without her would be like now that I had her.

The guys felt the same way. I could see it on their faces when they gazed at her. Novak had been clear about not going back to the apartment. And I was pretty sure she’d have to drag York’s dead body out of that house before he left her side again.

I jumped in the shower and quickly washed the day away before realizing that all of my clothes had been moved. Everything that had been in my room at our apartment was now here, except the bed.

I snatched a t-shirt off the hanger and searched the dresser drawers until I found my pants. Smiling to myself, I wondered if the guys had noticed that all their things had magically appeared without our knowledge.

When I opened my door, I heard Palmer announce, “And for my finale, what was once a linen closet is now… yer walk-in wardrobe.”

“That wasn’t supposed to happen,” she remarked, struggling not to laugh at his confusion. “I’ll just use your shower.”

“Aye. Ye’ll have ta find a warm bed elsewhere, though. I think one of the cabins next ta us is empty. Would ye like me to put yer room over there?”

She snorted at him, ambling across the hallway as her clothes disappeared from her body and landed on her closet floor.

“I’ll make do, Mage. There are some books in your room that I haven’t read yet, so I’m sure you’ll be seeing me around.”

He followed her, thoroughly explaining what he would do if she got blood on his books. I shook my head as I wandered into the kitchen, searching the cabinets for cookware before I made a grocery list.

“Barbie,” I shouted into my mind, then winced when I realized exactly how loud I was.

“Fuck. You don’t have to scream at me.”

I chuckled, then grimaced. “Sorry. I didn’t know if you’d hear me. We’re going into town, so hurry up.”

“We who?”

“You and me.”

“Where are we going? And who is driving?”

“Come on. You’ll see,” I grumbled, walking away as I griped, “Risked the wrath of Satan but terrified of my driving. This is my mate.”

She bounded down the hall, tying the ends of Palmer’s white button-down together over one of those strappy bra-things that she liked wearing. Her black denim shorts were high on her thin waist, but they were short, showing off her long legs.

She tugged me through the Void to the lodge where we borrowed one of Charlie’s trucks. She played with the radio while I drove us to the small town outside of pack property.

I didn’t want to burst our somewhat quiet bubble, and I knew that going to town would probably do just that. But it was better if the stronger shifters saw us together instead of separately.

Public knowledge of our mated status would deter almost all of them. It would only be the apprentices that we needed to worry about, and it would be a least two days before they arrived with their faction alphas.

The drive was long enough for us to enjoy the companionable silence and for her to change the radio station every three minutes. I swatted her hand away as I pulled into the parking lot of a massive franchise store.

“Where the fuck are we?” she hissed.