Wulfe Untamed (Feral Warriors #8)(60)

In the center of the massive bed sat Kara, lounging against half a dozen pillows, dark circles under her eyes.

“Hi, Natalie,” she said cheerily despite her less than healthy pallor. She patted the bed. “Have a seat.”

Falkyn, Delaney, and Julianne strode into the room, Falkyn carrying two bottles of wine in each hand, Delaney holding a large water bottle and corkscrew, and Julianne a platter of canapés, which she placed in the middle of the bed. A row of pretty hand-painted wineglasses sat on the dresser.

Olivia and Skye each uncorked a bottle of wine and began filling the glasses.

“Melisande popped out for a minute, but she’ll be right back,” Kara told them. “She decided we needed chocolate-covered strawberries to go with the Chardonnay.”

Olivia lifted a brow. “Where’s she going for those?”

“California.”

Delaney smiled. “Only an Ilina could pop across the country and back in ten minutes. Well, ten seconds. The minutes will be for the actual purchase. Sit,” Delaney commanded. “All of you. I’ll serve the wine.”

“You should sit,” Skye countered. “You’re the one who’s pregnant.”

“Yes, which is why I’m not drinking the wine. It makes perfect sense for me to serve it.”

Skye shook her head with a smile. “Yes, ma’am. Thanks, D.”

Natalie joined the others as they climbed onto the bed to sit cross-legged in a semicircle around Kara and the platter of food. Delaney handed them each a glass, then joined them with her water bottle.

“We do this every afternoon,” Olivia said. “It’s our way of thumbing our noses at the Mage, even if those pricks don’t know and don’t care. We refuse to give in to the fear of what might happen. And if worse comes to worse, we’re going to continue this ritual of sisterhood. Because we’ll still have each other.”

As one, Delaney and Olivia gripped Falkyn’s knees, one on either side, their expressions pained. “Most of us.” Falkyn would share the fate of the Ferals.

Movement caught Natalie’s eye on the far side of the room as Melisande appeared suddenly, a white box in her hands.

“Success!” Melisande announced. “I bought three dozen because they’re exquisite.”

“Strawberry. Now,” Delaney moaned. “I’m suddenly having a massive craving.”

Melisande grinned and joined them on the bed, placing the box beside the tray of canapés, then taking the extra wineglass Skye held for her.

When they were all seated, Olivia lifted her glass. “To sisterhood.”

“To sisterhood,” the others replied.

Natalie lifted her glass with a smile, saying nothing, and noticed that Julianne did the same. The pretty brunette with the bright blue eyes was a wife, but not a Feral wife, if Natalie remembered correctly. Yet both of them had been included in this extraordinary group.

As Natalie took a sip, her gaze roamed the circle, and she marveled at the welcome she’d received from every single one of them. They were a wonderful group, women she’d love to keep as friends. When and if the day came for her to return home, for Wulfe to take her memories again, she was going to lose so much.

As the women shared wine and strawberries, the talk steered resolutely away from the topic that Natalie knew must consume them all—the Ferals’ waning immortality. Soon, she found herself the focus of their attention.

Olivia eyed her curiously. “So . . . what’s up with you and Wulfe? You like him. Maybe more than ‘like’?”

Natalie looked down at her wineglass, startled by the sudden rush of emotion. She loved him. But that was a foolish thing to admit when it was still all too likely she’d be sent back to her world with no memory of him. It was best for both of them if he never knew how she felt.

“I do like him,” she said evenly, looking up to meet Olivia’s gaze. “Wulfe is one of the finest men I’ve ever met. Wolf eyes or human, his soul shines through, and it is truly beautiful. He’s beautiful.”

Olivia smiled. “I like you, Natalie. You’re the real deal.”

Natalie smiled. For several moments, they sipped their wine in silence, but the pall they’d pushed to the corners of the room began floating forward to hang, once more, heavily over their heads.

“There has to be something we can do to stop all this, to stop Inir,” Kara murmured. “There is so much cruelty, so much evil in that man. And he’s nothing compared to Satanan.”

Natalie opened her mouth to ask more, then closed it. Then decided if anyone would tell her the truth, these women would. “Will you tell me about the Daemons?” Natalie asked. “At least the wraith Daemons. I was attacked by one, but I have no memory of it. I keep hearing that life will be terrible if they’re freed, but I need to understand.” For a moment, the others were silent, shadows in their eyes, and Natalie regretted bringing it up. “This wasn’t the time or place, was it?”

Delaney patted her shoulder. “You have every right to ask. The guys keep trying to protect us, but if the Daemons rise, we need to know what we’re facing. All of us.”

Skye nodded. “Our silence wasn’t because you shouldn’t have asked, Natalie. It’s because it’s hard to know where to start or what to say. I saw the three wraith Daemons who were freed in the caverns. I saw them feed.” Her eyes flinched with remembered horror.