Page 58 of Blood Red Rage

I dressed and headed downstairs with Luka and Nico falling naturally into position behind me. I didn't argue anymore and that surprised me. Before the shooting, I'd thought Viking was insane for assigning guards to me. After having a bullet tear through my arm, I'd decided perhaps the psychotic vampire had a point. Not that I would ever tell him that or he'd be unbearable.

The women were in the large family sitting room when I found them. Sunlight poured through enormous windows overlooking the grounds, filling the room with warmth. Runa was curled into one corner of a sofa with a book. Layla sat at the long table with a laptop open in front of her, while Sorcha was eating something directly from a bowl that looked suspiciously like cake mixture.

She looked up, saw me, and grinned. "There she is."

Runa lowered her book and Layla looked over the top of her screen. Three sets of female eyes landed on me.

I stopped. "What?"

Sorcha slowly put her spoon down a lazy grin appearing across her face. "How are the legs?"

My face immediately heated. Runa choked on a laugh. Layla pressed her lips together, clearly attempting to maintain some dignity on behalf of the group but quickly failed.

"I hate all of you already," I muttered.

Sorcha burst out laughing. "You should've seen yourself coming down those stairs."

"I walked perfectly normal."

"You were holding the banister."

"I was being careful."

"You were walking like you'd recently discovered muscles you didn't know existed." Sorcha teased.

"Sorcha!" I grunt as I feel my cheeks heating with embarrassment.

Her laughter became uncontrollable. I dropped into an armchair, mortified noticing from the corner of my eye as Luka and Nico positioned themselves far enough away to pretend they couldn't hear us. Cowards.

Runa closed her book. "We did warn you."

"You did."

Layla smiled. "Several times."

"Yes."

Sorcha leaned forward eagerly. "And?"

"And what?"

"Was it everything we promised?" I stared at her. She stared back. Runa started laughing again.

I covered my face. "I'm not discussing this."

"Oh, please." Sorcha waved dismissively. "We could smell the two of you from the other end of the corridor, and we’re not vampires."

My head snapped up. "What?"

Layla's expression became apologetic. Runa suddenly found the ceiling fascinating but Sorcha looked delighted with herself. "The scent," she explained. "Vampires have heightened senses, remember? And bonded mates produce a very distinctive scent when they're..." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Occupied."

I wanted the floor to swallow me. "You're telling me everyone knew?" Sorcha nodded enthusiastically.

"Everyone?" I ask looking at the other women.

"Pretty much. I mean, if the scent didn’t give you away the sounds emitting from that room surely would" Runa replies with a smile.

"Oh my God."