Standing barefoot in the terrace’s doorway was a stunning woman dressed in black leggings and a bright yellow, sleeveless tunic that fit the curve of her hips and chest. Golden cuffs encircled her wrists and upper arms. Her jet-black hair, braided in narrow, tight rows, nearly reached her waist. The pale, wintry blue eyes were a striking contrast to skin as beautiful as the rich black of the night-blooming roses. There was some vague familiarity about the slant of her cheeks and the shape of her brow, but I knew I’d never met the female wolven before.
“Because she insinuated that I could be stabbed later?” Kieran muttered. “Shocker.”
Oh, gods, I really needed to stop talking about stabbing people.
The woman laughed. “Of course.” She stepped out of the doorway, her gaze flicking to Casteel. “Why are you standing there so quiet?”
“I am not interrupting you.” Casteel held up his hands. “The last time I did, you knocked me on my ass.”
I blinked.
“That is not why I knocked you on your ass,” she replied. “I don’t exactly remember why I did it, but I’m sure it was because you did something to deserve it.”
The corners of my lips turned up.
“Since both of them have no manners, I’ll introduce myself. I’m Vonetta, but everyone calls me Netta. I’m Kieran’s sister.”
Shock rippled through me. “You have a sister,” I blurted out.
Vonetta shot her brother a look. “Wow, Kieran.”
“Hey, Casteel never said I had one either.”
“Don’t drag me into this,” Casteel remarked.
“My feelings are hurt, and I am the baby of the family. My feelings should never be hurt,” she tossed over her shoulder. “I expect an extra batch of the candied fruit.”
“As soon as I have an hour to make some, I will.”
“You have had plenty of hours to do so already.” Facing me, she extended a hand. Her nails were painted a yellow as brilliant as her tunic.
“I’m Penellaphe,” I said, taking her hand. The moment our skin touched, her eyes widened. “Did you just feel something weird?”
“Yeah. Like a static charge,” she answered as Casteel moved in closer. She let go of my hand. “That’s strange.”
“Coulton felt the same thing,” Casteel said.
“And I felt something like that back in New Haven,” Kieran reminded me.
“That’s right.” I clasped my hands together. “I'd forgotten.”
“Well, I'm kind of offended now,” he muttered.
“Do you feel anything like that?” I asked Casteel, recalling a similar feeling a few times we’d touched.
“I have,” he said, head tilted as he examined me closely, like I was a strange new species. “I thought it was my imagination.”
“I’ve felt it when I’ve touched you.” I turned back to the siblings. “But I didn’t feel anything now or when Coulton or Kieran felt something earlier.”
“Apparently, we’re not as special as Casteel,” Vonetta commented.
“You should’ve already known that,” he replied.
She shot him a look. “You saying something like that was probably why I knocked you on your ass the last time.”
I laughed. “I like her.”
“Of course, you do.” Casteel sighed as he placed his hand on my back. But when I looked up at him, he had that look to him again. Like he’d lost his breath. Swallowing, he looked over at Kieran’s sister. “Are you going to invite us in?”
“Are you going to be less annoying?”
“Probably not, but since I’m your Prince…”
“Whatever. Fine.” Then she smiled. “Come in. I just finished making sandwiches.”
The living area was a round, cozy area full of color. Thick sky-blue floor cushions circled a low-to-the-ground white table. Bright orange and deep purple throw pillows covered a black settee. The breeze let in by the open windows and terrace doors lazily turned the blades of a ceiling fan. A stack of books on an end table by the settee snagged my attention as Casteel tugged me down onto one of the cushions on the floor while Vonetta and Kieran disappeared through a rounded archway.
“Is lemonade fine?” Vonetta’s voice carried out from the other room. “Kieran made it, so it’s more sweet than sour.”
Casteel glanced at me, and when I nodded, he called out, “That’s perfect.”
A few moments later, Kieran returned carrying four glasses, which he placed on the table before dropping onto the cushion on the other side of Casteel.