but nothing spectacular.” Imogen tilted his neck to the side, as if studying Kody while waiting to understand where my brother was going with his question.
“Okay then you guys take your stuff out of the truck and go stay with Trey or Avery. They’ve got human and wolf mates and the pack there is enough protection and no vamps.”
“I’ll go pack,” Aaron said as I shifted back. Everyone was calm now, and it seemed silly when I could change again in a flash if I needed to.
“I beg your pardon?” Imogen said, his eyes flaring violet with anger. “You’re not invited, vampire.”
“You’re my mate and so is Sasha,” Aaron whispered, looking devastated.
“I will not have a vampire keeper!” Imogen shouted.
“Who said anything about being your keeper? You’re not a pet!” Aaron looked equal parts horrified and shocked at what Imogen had said, not understanding the meaning any more than I had.
The whole room erupted in shouting and yelling as everyone weighed in or was trying to calm each other down. Well fuck. So far this was going well. Insert sarcasm here because, at any second, I was going to pull out my hair one strand at a time.
“Enough!” I roared and was pretty sure any glass we hadn’t broken earlier was done for now. Everyone went quiet and turned to me. “Keeper is a fairy’s term for a mate.” Then I turned on Imogen. “Aaron is my other mate. I will die if I don’t claim him in the next two days so he comes with but in a separate car so there are no issues. Agreed?”
“I–I,” Imogen stuttered as his eyes went wide. He cleared his throat, trying again to speak, and nodded. “I apologize, my feisty kitten.” He moved closer to me and wrapped his arms around my naked waist. “I forgot momentarily about your constraints. Will you ever forgive my selfishness? I would never have been so vocal if I had remembered.”
“Can you forgive me for being a dumbass and bringing you into an estate filled with vampires?”
“You’re naked, Sasha.” He laughed and kissed my chest. I stared down at him with a raised eyebrow, and he winked at me. “I could forgive you anything when you’re naked and looking so delectable.”
“I like the way he talks. Why haven’t you guys ever called me delectable?” Kody chuckled and wiggled his ass at his mates.
“I call your hot body mouthwatering all time.” Marc groaned and swooped my brother up into his arms.
“That’s true,” Kody purred. He glanced at Imogen and Aaron. “I like both of you, but if you hurt my brother, I will eat your balls for an appetizer. We clear?”
“I see feisty runs in your family.” Imogen chuckled as he turned to my brother and bowed. “If I hurt my wonderful keeper, I will offer them freely to you.”
“Can I ask why you call a mate your keeper without starting another fight?”
“You may. Your brother will keep my heart once we’ve bonded along with my very soul. It makes him the keeper of all that I am.”
“Awww,” Kody cooed and gave a soft smile. “I like that.” Then he frowned and turned to me. “You might want to talk to him about what happened to Avery and why that term will be sensitive for him.”
I cringed and nodded. “Yeah, good point. You were always the smart one.”
“Naw, that’s Trey. I’m the easygoing one.” He looked sad as he glanced from me to my mates. “I do wish you were staying longer. It’s been forever since we’ve just hung out and caught up. You’ve not even gotten to see mom and our dads.”
“We’ll visit Avery and Trey next week once they’ve settled in, my sexy tiger,” Conley said gently. “They’ve built the helipad, and we’ll take a chopper over with your parents. I figure Marc and I will be fine now that we’re prepared for the smell of Imogen. I simply do not feel it’s safe for them here. Not all the vampires at the estate are as old as we are.”
“I agree and thank you for understanding,” Imogen said formally. It seemed