"Several of the females who were originally rejected are now extrely jealous," Damon added with a grin. "There was actually a petition circulating yesterday asking if they could volunteer for ’backup feeding duty’ in case Elena needed a break."
"A petition," Eve repeated faintly.
"Which we denied, obviously," Damian said. "Raphael made his choice clear. He wants Elena specifically, and we’re respecting that preference."
"How generous of you," Eve said dryly. "Respecting his preference while also using it to keep him away from ."
"Multi-tasking," Damon said cheerfully. "We’re very good at it."
Eve shook her head, still processing all of this information. Her uncle....her father’s brother, the man who’d protected her from the shadows for twenty-three years....was currently engaged in an intense sexual relationship with a pack oga that the entire estate could hear. And her mates had orchestrated the whole thing as a strategic maneuver to minimize his ti around her.
It was absurd. Ridiculous. Completely insane.
And sohow perfectly fitting for her new supernatural life.
"Okay," Eve said finally. "I’m choosing to be okay with this. Raphael needs to feed, Elena is apparently very willing and satisfied, and you three get to feel less threatened. Everyone wins."
"Exactly," Damian said, relief evident in his voice.
"But," Eve continued, pointing a finger at each of them, "you need to stop being weird about him training . He’s teaching things I need to know to survive. Things about my powers, my heritage, Court politics. I need that knowledge, and I need it from soone who actually understands the Seraphim world."
"We can be present during training," Damian said. It wasn’t quite a question, more a statent of fact.
"You can observe," Eve agreed. "But you can’t interfere. No hovering, no questioning every technique, no growling when he has to physically adjust my form to demonstrate sothing."
The three brothers exchanged glances, clearly unhappy with this but recognizing they didn’t have much choice.
"Fine," Damian agreed grudgingly. "We observe without interfering. But if he crosses a line...."
"He won’t," Eve interrupted firmly. "He’s my uncle. He sees as his niece, his responsibility, his brother’s daughter. There’s nothing inappropriate about our relationship, and you need to accept that."
"We’re trying," Silas said honestly. "It’s just... difficult. Our wolves don’t like other males near you, regardless of the relationship."
"I know," Eve said, softening again. "And I appreciate that you’re trying. That you’re letting him stay and train even though it makes you uncomfortable. That ans a lot."
She glanced at the clock on Damian’s desk and realized over an hour had passed since she’d left Maya in the sitting room. "I should get back to Maya. She’s probably wondering what happened to ."
"Damian pulled her close for a proper kiss. "Know that everything we do....the security protocols, the arrangents with Raphael, all of it....cos from a place of wanting to keep you safe.
Eve lted into the kiss, feeling the truth of his words through their mate bond. When they pulled apart, she smiled up at him. "I know. And I love you for it. All three of you, even when you’re being insane."
"Now I really need to go," Eve said, pulling away reluctantly. "Before Maya decides I’ve been murdered and calls the police."
"That would complicate things," Damon agreed solemnly.
Eve laughed and headed for the door. Just as she reached it, Damian’s voice stopped her.
"Eve?"
She turned back. "Yes?"
"Your friend Maya....she’s welco here. For the next month, she’s under our protection."
The declaration...made Eve’s heart swell with love. "Thank you," she said quietly. "That ans everything."
As she left the office and made her way back toward the sitting room, Eve reflected on how bizarre her life had beco. Security etings about her human best friend. Discussions about her uncle’s feeding arrangents. Strategic sexual distractions. Territorial wolves and ancient incubi and assassination attempts.
And sohow, despite all the insanity, she’d never been happier.
She found Maya in the sitting room exactly where she’d left her, though now the oga Lora had brought tea and small cakes. Maya looked up as Eve entered, relief evident on her face.
"There you are! I was starting to think you’d gotten lost in this massive house."
"Sorry," Eve said, settling onto the sofa beside her friend. "That eting took longer than expected."
"Everything okay?" Maya asked, her expression concerned.
Eve thought about security protocols and restricted areas and all the things she couldn’t tell her best friend. Then she smiled. "Everything’s fine. Just had to discuss so...things about your visit."
"so things?" Maya repeated skeptically.
"The brothers are very particular about security," Eve explained, sticking as close to the truth as possible. "There are so areas of the estate that are off-limits...business offices, private quarters, that kind of thing. And they prefer if guests are escorted when moving around, just for safety."
Maya’s eyebrows rose. "Safety? What, are there like secret passages full of booby traps or sothing?"
"Sothing like that," Eve said with a small smile. "They’re just very private people. Very protective of their space and their business interests."
"Billionaire weirdness," Maya said with a shrug. "I can deal with that. As long as I get to spend ti with you, I don’t care if I have to have a chaperone to go to the bathroom."
Eve laughed. "It’s not quite that restrictive. You can use most of the common areas freely. Just... if you want to explore, let soone know so they can go with you."
"Got it," Maya agreed easily. "No wandering off like I’m in a horror movie. Stay in the well-lit areas with other people."
"Exactly," Eve said, relieved that Maya was taking this so well.
"So," Maya said, her expression turning mischievous. "Are we going to talk about the fact that you’re living in a mansion with three gorgeous billionaire brothers who are clearly obsessed with you? Because girl, I have questions. So many questions."
Eve groaned. "I knew this was coming."
"You bet your ass it’s coming," Maya said, settling in with her teacup like she was preparing for a long conversation. "Spill. Everything. I want details."
And despite everything,,,,,the secrets she had to keep, the dangers lurking outside the estate, the complexity of her new life....Eve felt herself relax. This was familiar territory. Girl talk with her best friend. So things, at least, remained beautifully normal.
Even if the reality behind the conversation was anything but.
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