The whiskey was doing what it was supposed to. “My cheeks feel numb,” Alanna said and topped up her glass.
“Not as numb as that brain of yours,” Rosa muttered.
“That’s not fair,” Alanna protested. “Like I said before. I didn’t do anything.”
“You should have told me about Anton’s visit two years ago.”
“I was sworn to secrecy.”
Rosa scoffed. “That’s never stopped you before.”
“It was Anton. Grand Dragon Anton. How many visits would you say you’ve had from the head of Marylebone?”
Rosa shrugged. “None before I was Called.”
“No sense in blaming anyone,” Beth stepped between them. “Calm down. Zelda’s correct. We need to provide a united front.”
Alanna looked at her fingers. They were beginning to feel as numb as her cheeks. “I can look after myself. He’s not that scary.”
“He siphoned Anton and Goran’s magic. He could have taken yours from your aura as well.”
Something she hadn’t thought of. “No. He wouldn’t do that.”
“Don’t be fooled by his charm.”
Alanna scoffed. “You can’t judge. You weren’t there. You haven’t met him.”
“Rosa.” Beth interrupted once again. “Before you return to Marylebone could you check the protection spells around the Gallery to ensure the repairs Goran did to them are all working correctly?”
“Listen to you,” Alanna sneered. “I’ve already got rid of one bossy-boots for a sister. I don’t need another.”
“I’m not doing this just for you,” Beth shot back irritation in her tone. “I’m doing this for all of us.”
Alanna felt color rise on her cheeks. “The morning’s been the strangest ever. It’s all getting to me.”
“And alcohol first thing in the morning isn’t going to help either,” Beth pointed out the obvious. She headed into the kitchen. “I’m going to make coffee and I’ve some healthy blueberry bran muffins I baked earlier. You need to eat something. I’ll zap them in the microwave.”
All the bravado Alanna had been hiding behind deflated and she sunk into the closest chair before her knees buckled and she ended up in a puddle on the floor. “I don’t know what to do next.”
Rosa accepted a muffin from the plate Beth held out to her. “Hopefully, Gregori’s gone for good.”
“But why would he do that,” stated Alanna. She might as well tell Rosa the rest. “He’s um … suggested that I’m his destined mate?”
Rosa’s muffin slipped through her fingers and broke into sections on the polished floorboards. “You’re what?”