Sometimes, the girl was far too observant. Alexius wasn’t going to address her last comment.

“Chloe is Levi’s fated mate. He suspected that from the beginning. Of course he pursued her. Leave it alone, Greer. If you know what’s good for you.”

He left the drawing room, and started up the stairs. He’d almost reached the first floor when his acute hearing caught her reply.

“I won’t. Because I know what’s good for you.”

Annoying, meddling matchmaker.

The Hill

Avani woke up wincing, glaring offendedly at the sunlight bathing the room. Damn chirping birds and sunny Saturday mornings to all hell.

To her right on the bedside table, there was a flask of green liquid with a cap labeled G.V. Avani grabbed the card next to it first.

Hangover cure. Don’t share with Greer. -A.

The writing was both flourished and chaotic. She grinned. It certainly fit him.

She drank it in one go, and felt relief almost immediately. Damn, that was good stuff.

Avani was sorry to let go of the shirt wrapped around her shoulder, Alexius’s scent still strong, though it commingled with hers. She tucked it under her pillow before heading to the bathroom.

She took her time in the tub, simply because she could. She’d had some time to herself in the pack, but she would never have felt right wasting a whole hour in a bubble bath in the morning. When she woke up, she ate and got out to see if she could be of assistance.

Here…she truly had no role. She imagined that in the long run, it might end up making her feel useless or unfulfilled. For now, it was a nice break.

When she got downstairs, breakfast was ready—not quite as excessive as the previous night. There was a fair bit of food, but only the stuff she’d eaten. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, blueberries, milk, and orange juice.

Greer was already up, groaning and wincing. Avani seemed to be interrupting an argument.

“I know you took my flask.” Greer’s growl was almost threatening.

“Well, then you also know why you deserve to suffer. Good morning, Avani.”

Greer waved her way. “Hey.” Then her eyes narrowed on her. “You look perky. Why do you look perky?”

Avani winced. “I did get a flask. Green stuff? G.V. engraved on it?”

Greer threw a piece of bacon in Alexius’s general direction. He caught it between two long fingers, and took a bite. “Don’t play with your food.”

“Don’t steal a girl’s hangover cure after a girls’ night in!” To Avani, she said, “G.V. stands for Greer Vespian. I made it.”

Avani slid onto a breakfast bar stool, grinning.

“Well, if it’s any consolation, it works.”

Alexius handed her a plate piled up with all her favorite things.

“You know, you don’t have to serve me like this every morning. I’m already taking up your space.”

“My ancestors would roll in their graves, come out and kick my ass if they suspected I might not adhere to proper etiquette with my guests.”

“You don’t usually make me breakfast,” Greer pointed out.

The vampire shrugged. “That would be because annoying little girls aren’t considered guests.”

These two truly did act like siblings.

“Little girl? Avani’s a year younger than me.”

“Yet only one of you acts like a seven-year-old.” He went to the fridge, extracting a small bottle of red liquid.

“Blood, again?” Greer had stopped sounding petulant. Now, she was worried. “You don’t usually drink that much, do you?”

“I’m in control,” Alexius said smoothly, walking out of doors. “Have fun, ladies.”

Avani didn’t see more than a glimpse of him for most of the weekend.

Greer roped her into practicing yoga with her that morning, then they visited Chloe, who was practicing fancy sparring techniques with the hot blonde vamp Avani was formally introduced to for the first time: she was called Cat.

Then, they headed off the hill, to Adairford. They were trailed—by whom, Avani wasn’t sure, but she definitely caught a glimpse and a whiff of a vamp on their heel. Mikar? Maybe. He certainly seemed powerful enough to mask his presence.

Avani stole numerous glances toward the woods as they approached the small town, still feeling eyes on her. She knew it was unlikely that anyone would bother her when she had a witch and two vampires with her—not to mention whoever was guarding them. Or more specifically, guarding Chloe.

They arrived in front of a white stone mansion with two wings; inside, everything was smooth black and white marble, Greek sculptures, columns. It was fit for a king. But the girls told her it was the dorm.

“I live in the right wing, with the rest of the scary things that go bump in the night.” Chloe rolled her eyes.

“So, me,” Cat said, holding her hand up.

“Now we’re waiting for my friend, Gwen, and my mentor, Blair.”

They remained in the hall. Avani was rather intimidated as she looked at the fancy room, about ten times the size of her miniscule house in the pack territory. Was she going to live here too if they managed to enroll her in the Institute like they said they would? Shit.

“I think they’d put you inside our wing,” Cat told her, as though she’d been reading her mind. “I mean, I don’t think you’re dangerous or unstable like a fledgling vampire, but as an Elder Pack were, they’d probably want to take precautions.”

They’d be right to.

“Besides, you’re enrolling late; the west wing might be full, even though there’s only about a dozen students in the west wing at any given time.”

“That’d be nice!” Chloe said. Then she rolled her eyes. “Not that I actually spend any time in the dorm. But I’m technically a resident until December. I signed up for a year last January. Oh, maybe you could have my room, if they don’t manage to find you a place.”

Avani didn’t know what she felt about any of that. The place was fancy and gorgeous. She’d be lucky to live here. The issue was that a part of her wanted to stay exactly where she was now, in Alexius’s house.

She was spared the need to answer when two women walked out of the left-hand side door: a tall and striking brown lady with silky black hair and curves to die for, arm hooked in the hand of a brunette with a short bob highlighted in blue streaks. She wore leather warrior gear and her body was obviously well trained.

“Hey! Sparring time. Hey, while I think of it, still up for a séance on Halloween?”

“I think it’s the dumbest idea in the world,” Greer supplied grumpily.

“Hush. You’re just grumpy because you’re hungover.”

The pixie-like brunette frowned. “Why didn’t you take one of your cures?”

Greer bared her teeth, growling.

Avani had to laugh. The girl would have made a good werewolf. “Alexius stole them from her. Apparently, she offended him yesterday somehow. Can’t remember the details. There was wine.”

The brunette laughed and opened the satchel at her side. She fetched a green flask identical to the one Avani drank that morning and handed it to Greer. “Here, sweet. You definitely deserve it; your cures have saved me many a time in the last four years.”

The witch snatched it up and drank it greedily, moaning in relief. “Thanks. I owe you, Blair. By the way, Blair, Avani. Avani, Blair. The gorgeous one is Gwen.”

Avani smiled and waved her hand to both of the women.

Blair looked between Chloe and her. “Wait, Avani, as in the werewolf who helped you on your first day after Jack made you run in the woods?”

“Mm-hm. Long story short, she has a thing for helping people, regardless of the consequences for her. She’s one of us now.”

One of us.

Just like that, tension Avani hadn’t even realized she’d been holding on to left her shoulders.

She’d spent two days wondering why the hell these strangers were nice to her. Now she knew. For some reason, they considered her part of the pack she’d been observing from the sidelines.

Head trip.

“Awesome. If you want any lame rain spells, I’m your girl.” Gwen pointed to her chest. “Otherwise, go to one of these two.”

To her surprise, she was indicating Blair and Greer. Avani wouldn’t have identified the former as a witch. A huntsman, perhaps.

“Shush. You’re doing great with water spells—including ice, snow, and binding. That’s more than most can do in their first year.”

Gwen shrugged self-consciously. Seeing that she was uncomfortable, Avani was keen to change the subject.

“So what are you guys doing on Saturday afternoon?”

Chloe grinned. “Same as any woman, I suppose. Slaying it.”

Avani discovered she actually meant it literally. The women gathered by the lake, dragging large bags behind them. They set up a temporary archery range and practiced their aim for a few hours. Blair seemed to be the authority among them; all her shots hit target. She helped them hold their bows correctly, stand at the right angle, position their feet well.

Avani surprised herself when she realized just how much fun it was.

They ate on the hill, at Chloe’s dark, intimidating mansion.

“What about everyone else?” Avani asked when Chloe invited her.

“Levi and Alexius are in their labs, and no doubt, Luke is getting some admin done, but I texted them. They’ll come. It’s Ruby’s day off; she likes to do her thing. Mikar is probably still patrolling the area.”

In the end, everyone did turn up, even Alexius, though he sat too far from Avani for her to catch up with him.

Avani had assumed the black stone hall at the summit belonged to Levi, but once she saw them all together around a large, white, round table, it made sense that the house would be Chloe’s. The woman, though younger than any of the vampires, and sweeter than anyone, immortal or not, ruled the room. Her words were orders everyone was only too eager to carry through. She presided over the barbecue without any challenge; Avani assumed she’d command a war as smoothly.