“Your parents don’t have the same room?” I asked, my steps growing sluggish the more we moved.
He shook his head. “I told you. Their relationship is … Well, I’ll let them explain it.”
Huh.
We turned another corner and Alexei was waiting, leaning casually against the wall, his thumb swiping through his phone. He tucked it into the pocket of his jeans, straightening and smiling as we approached.
“Printsessa,” he greeted me.
“It’s Skye,” I muttered, rubbing a hand down my face. “Just Skye.”
“This is your room,” Dimitri said, pointing a finger at the closed door.
“Dimitri said you would want Tate to be with you,” Alexei explained with an indulgent smile. “She’s inside, still asleep. She probably won’t wake up for a few more hours.”
“Is it healthy for her to have slept this long?” I asked, my gaze shifting between them with concern.
Dimitri nodded. “Yeah. The cocktail we gave her was the same as the doctor and your uncle. It has a little extra something in it courtesy of a simple spell. She’ll be fine, but it keeps people asleep longer.”
“I put her on your bed,” Alexei said, “but we can have a cot or another bed brought up for her.”
“We can share.” I waved off the thought. Honestly, I was kind of relieved not to be alone.
“You have your own bathroom,” Dimitri added, “and there’s fresh clothes for both of you.”
“You went shopping?” I frowned.
He shrugged, his eyes glittering. “I called ahead when we got on the plane. I had things stocked for you both.”
“Uh, thanks.” I glanced down at the jeans and shirt I had been wearing for a couple days now. I hoped I would have the energy to shower before I collapsed into the bed.
I heard the soft clicking of heels a second before someone stepped around the corner.
“Looks like a party,” the woman said as she walked towards us. The chunky, off the shoulder white sweater contrasted beautifully against her dark skin, her long black hair hung in loose waves around her face. She stopped several feet in front of us, her blue-gray eyes striking.
“You must be Skye,” she said with a warm smile.
“She is,” Dimitri answered for me quickly.
Her gaze cut to him shrewdly. “And can Skye not speak for herself?”
Alexei covered his mouth and turned away, but I saw the smile he was hiding.
Dimitri’s grin turned colder. “I was being helpful.”
“That’s a first,” she said with a smirk before looking at me. “I’m Lulu.”
“Hi,” I replied slowly.
She gestured to my hand, the one with the bracelet. “May I?”
I held out my hand and she stepped forward, wrapping her small hands around my wrist. A second later, my skin warmed and when she drew back, the bracelet was in her hands, still whole and unbroken.
“Whoa,” I murmured, rolling my wrist reflexively.
I could have cried when I felt my wolf start to wake up, like she had been asleep. She stretched, slowly coming back to life.
And there, buried deep, I felt the bond I shared with Remy.
I pressed a hand to my chest and took a deep, steadying breath, but I was unable to stop the small whimper of relief that escaped.
“Are you all right?” Lulu asked, concern on her face as she stepped forward. “That shouldn’t have hurt you at all.”
“What’s wrong?” Dimitri demanded.
I waved them off. “I’m fine. It’s just … I can feel my wolf again, and I feel the mating bond. I feel Remy.”
Lulu whirled and glared at Dimitri, hands on her hips. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”
His eyes narrowed. “What?”
She waved a hand at me, her eyes dark as she turned to him. “You used a suppression charm on a bonded wolf? Are you completely stupid?”
“I didn’t want her to wake up in the middle of a flight over the Pacific and lose her shit when she realized her mate was still on the ground!” he fired back, eyes flashing dangerously.
I took a step back, seeing clearly why Dimitri was an alpha heir. He went from chill to intense in less than a second. The transformation was a little intimidating.
Clearly not caring that he was pissed off, Lulu took a step closer. “I didn’t give you these things so you could deny a woman her mate for any reason. You know how special the bond is between mates. We don’t ever cut that tie. What you did was cruel.”
“So, her shifting and possibly taking down an entire plane of people would have been better?” he demanded hotly, leaning over her.
She scoffed and eyed him with barely veiled contempt. “You’re telling me that all it would take is one wolf to take you all down?”
A muscle thrummed in his jaw as he bit back a reply.
Lulu’s eyes slid to me, softening. “Are you okay? Is there anything you need? I can get you a phone if you need to call your mate.”
“She already talked to him,” Dimitri ground out through clenched teeth.
“Well, at least you got one thing right,” Lulu retorted coldly.
Seething, Dimitri looked at me. “You’re good here, right?”
I nodded wordlessly.
“Perfect. I’ll come check on you in a few hours.” He turned and stalked back down the hall.
Alexei finally released the laugh he was holding in. His eyes were dancing as he looked at me, and he opened his mouth to say something.
“Alexei!” Dimitri barked, all but snapping his fingers.
Still grinning, Alexei turned and headed after his friend.
Lulu rolled her shoulders and shook her long hair over her shoulders. “I swear, that man drives me crazy.”
“Sounds like it,” I agreed softly.
She sighed, waving a dismissive hand. “I've known Dima since we were little. He’s always been infuriating. One of these days I’m going to curse him for good. Maybe make him fall in love with a brick or bark like a dog when a pretty girl walks by.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “You can do that?”
She shook her head. “Sorry. He brings out the worst in me.” She tucked my bracelet into the back pocket of her jeans. “Your friend also has one, right?”
“Tate,” I confirmed. “She’s inside.”
Lulu pushed open the bedroom door and walked to where Tate was sleeping on a massive bed against the far wall.
I slowly followed, my eyes huge as I realized this bedroom was the size of the apartment I shared with Mom back in Blackwater. It had its own sitting area with a fireplace, dressing area with doors thrown open to reveal a walk-in closet, and the bed itself was ginormous.
Lulu leaned over Tate and a second later straightened, twirling the silver bangle on her index finger before pocketing it.
“Is she bonded, too?” Lulu asked me quietly.
I shook my head. “No, but she has two boyfriends who love her.”
Lulu glanced back at her. “Lucky girl.” She turned back to me. “Do you need anything?”
“Uh, no,” I replied, but then I tilted my head curiously. “You’re really a … witch?”
“I guess that’s one word for it,” she answered with a wink. She moved to the door, but paused and spun around. “It’s kind of cold in here.”