“Mostly,” Jess said, her hand at her side. A large tear ran the length of her dress, from just under the side of her breast to her hip. “I need some clothespins or something. I nearly shifted earlier, and the dress couldn’t handle it.”
“Oh my—here, come with me.” Earnessa held a hand out. “We can find you something to wear.
You’re about my size.”
“I might need some socks for my bra to fit into your clothes,” Jess said, giving Austin a funny look as she passed him.
“Let’s head out.” Kingsley stood and grabbed his glass. “They probably won’t be long changing.”
“Aurora?” Austin asked.
“Will keep to her room and get leftovers if there are any,” Mimi replied with a slightly raised chin. “She’s lost the privilege of our company.”
“It was my fault as much as anyone’s,” Austin replied. “She’s angry with me. She has every right to be.”
“An alpha can have many emotions,” his mom said, “but she must be conscious about when to show them. She knows this. It was a grave slip in her control, and she needs to reflect.”
“The women have spoken. C’mon, Austin, Mac…” Kingsley jerked his head toward the back door, this one leading to the sunroom. “Let’s get things underway while they fuss about fridge holes and borrowed clothes.”
“Why me?” Mac asked, pausing in reaching for the chips again.
“Because you’re a man.” Kingsley followed that up by beating on his chest.
“That answer has zero relevance—”
“Just go with your father,” Mimi interrupted. “Give us a moment away from your whining.”
“Maybe I should challenge Uncle Auzzie so I can go to my room, too,” Mac grumbled, trudging after Austin and Kingsley.
“Don’t even joke about that,” Austin’s mom warned.
“Why?” Mimi replied. “He’s never going to be an alpha.”
“Don’t you start,” Mom told Mimi. “We’ve had enough arguing for one day. Go get a book if you need to—”
Kingsley closed the door behind Mac, cutting out the sound from the kitchen. He paused with a weary sigh.
“Did you miss all the bickering, Uncle Auzzie?” Mac asked, perusing the long table set up with all sort of ingredients. He grabbed a piece of what looked like sausage and popped it into his mouth.
“Dinners are always like this now. That, or everyone pretends to be social and the conversation is awkward and forced. It’s a real hoot.”
“No one asked you,” Kingsley said, walking over to the table with Austin to check everything
over.
A plethora of shredded cheeses were identified with little signs. Chopped veggies, also labeled, lined one side of the table, and cut meats covered the middle. A couple of different fruits, including pineapple, had been arranged at the end.
The table beside it held balls of dough, large cutting boards, and bins of flour. A third held wooden trays, plates, utensils, and tomato sauce.
Kingsley crossed the room to the far French doors.
“Don’t tell me you got a brick oven,” Austin said, following him.
Kingsley stopped before reaching for the handle, though. As he looked out, his body tensed and his power swirled, but he didn’t push through the door to confront whatever was troubling him.
“One of yours, I believe,” he said, turning.
Mr. Tom stood just outside wearing a trench coat, large gold glasses with dark lenses, a checkered scarf, and a fedora hat.
“What is that?” Mac asked, coming to see.
“It’s a weird gargoyle who can actually blend into stone and buildings but instead chooses to put on these ridiculous, elaborate disguises that paint him as the nutcase he is.”
“Sticks and stones, sir,” came Mr. Tom’s muddled voice through the door. “Sticks and stones.”
“Nothing wrong with his hearing,” Kingsley said, finally opening the door.
TEN
Jessie
“I’M REALLY sorry about that, Jessie,” Earnessa said as I quickly changed into a navy dress that was a bit loose everywhere but the bust area, which was very loose. “She’s always had an affection for her uncle despite…the past.”
“They have a similar intensity.” I stepped out of the large bathroom decked in marble with threads of gold running through it. “No sweat. I get it. I was just surprised, is all. It’s hard to be rational where Austin is concerned.”