Her eyes lit in a way he liked at the news Moose was back and they started dancing in a way he liked even more at his comment about living room three.
“Which one is that, then?” she asked.
“I’ll take you there,” he offered.
“Awesome,” she said softly, and he used his hand at her neck to pull her around until she was at his side. Then he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and started guiding her to the door. “We should officially number them so there’s no confusion, you know, seeing as it seems we’re gonna be here awhile,” she went on as she slid her arm along his waist.
“We’ll do that after you welcome home Moose and I get your dad and Jabber so they can do the same.”
She looked up at him and said, “Right on.”
Even as they walked out the door, he bent and touched his mouth to hers.
Her arm curled around his waist gave him a squeeze and her eyes gave him a smile when he lifted his head.
Then he took her to her friend and found her father and Jabber and took them to Moose too.
It ended up being after training when they officially numbered the living rooms.
There were twelve.
* * * * *
Yuri
Yuri was annoyed, and thus, he didn’t speak.
“Yuri?” his father on the other end of the phone called. “Did you hear me? I want you to report in the minute you secure the implements.”
But Gregor didn’t want Yuri to report in the minute the implements were secured. He simply wanted him to report in.
“I’m not one hundred anymore, Father,” he replied drily.
“I’m aware of that,” his father returned even more drily.
“I’ve got a coven of thirteen witches who Aurora has shared are quite powerful at my back,” Yuri reminded him of something he’d told him but moments before. “However, as per their plan, which they’re quite adamant I follow, they are the ones who are in the most danger.”
And this was true, as Barb had told him, and he believed her.
Which meant Yuri was concerned.
He might not be Barb’s favorite being, but he had to admit, he held some regard for her if only for the fact she adored her daughter.
Though, it was more.
She might not like him, but he couldn’t help but have some affinity for her, considering she was not only Aurora’s mother, she was also taking her life in her hands to assist with this mission. Not to mention the fact she could be quite amusing when she wasn’t being irritating.
But the truth of the matter was, Yuri was mostly concerned about Aurora.
He’d learned she was only twenty-seven years old. She was brave. She had what she referred to as “juice,” something he’d witnessed repeatedly, and she was far from stupid. However, if something happened, this would affect Yuri’s future plans of fucking her, which he was very much looking forward to.
But it wasn’t only that.
If something happened, it would mean a world without the witch Aurora living in it, and Yuri didn’t like the thought of that at all.
It was Gregor’s turn to be silent.
“It’ll all be fine,” Yuri told him.
“After this is over, I’d like to meet this Aurora,” Gregor stated, and Yuri sighed.
It was rare when he envied humans. However, this was a time when he did.
His father had had centuries to get to know him and could likely correctly predict any move Yuri made before he made it. More, Gregor could read into subtleties no human parent had enough time or experience to read.
This meant that Yuri had not shared Aurora’s pull on him, but his father had read it.
“There’s a great deal to do before such a meeting can occur, not only securing the implements, but also in locating Abel’s brother,” Yuri reminded him.
“Of course,” Gregor muttered just as a knock came at the door.
Yuri moved that way, speaking. “I’m to leave shortly to meet the coven. I should let you go.”
“Fine, Yuri. I’ll expect a call in a few hours,” his father replied.
Yuri didn’t reply this time because he smelled her before he made it to the door. He looked through the peephole, regardless, and saw her standing outside, her head turned, eyes aimed down the corridor, her mass of dark hair arranged in soft plaits leading to a loose bun at her nape.
She looked as if she was prepared to go on a date, not approach a volatile coven in a battle of magic that might have dire consequences.
Furthermore, he was meeting her and her sister witches. Why she was at the door to his hotel suite, he had no idea.
Except she was Aurora, vexing in a way he liked.
“Good-bye, Father,” he murmured into the phone.
“Until later, Yuri,” his father replied.
Yuri ended the call, then unlocked and opened the door.
Her little, curvaceous body jolted when he did, as if she wasn’t expecting him to answer.
“You’re here, my sweet…why?” he asked as greeting.
“Hey, Yuri,” she returned.
“Hello, Aurora,” he replied, then ordered, “Now, answer my question.”
She looked beyond him and asked, “Aren’t you going to ask me in?”
He had no desire to ask her in. They had important tasks to see to that night. They had no business being in a suite of rooms that included a king-sized bed and two double beds, not to mention two couches.
Nevertheless, it was Aurora, and he had less desire to leave her standing out in the hall. Therefore, he shifted to the side to allow her entry.
She took his invitation and moved in, graceful on another pair of attractive, but ludicrous in the circumstances, high-heeled boots. She wore them with enchanting light gray slacks that hugged her generous heart-shaped ass and a very un-witch-like, stylish periwinkle sweater that did lovely things to her eyes and was woven so loosely, he could see the skintight matching camisole underneath.