TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 161

One hundred and sixty one

Cameron POV

I typed the message, deleted it, then typed it again.

Luna Catherine wasn’t someone I spoke to carelessly, and I wasn’t about to start now. The words needed to hold weight without sounding like an accusation. There was a line between authority and insult, and crossing it would create problems I didn’t need.

I read it one more time before sending it.

Luna Catherine,

Lisa is under your protection while she’s in your territory. The child has already gone through distress once. I expect the environment around her to reflect that reality. You understand what’s at stake, and where responsibility sits. Let’s get through this without complications.

I hit send and set the phone down.

I didn’t mention it to Evangeline. There was no reason to as bringing it into the open would only turn it into something else.

Voices echoed faintly from the hallway. I followed the sound to the corridor to see Evangeline arguing with the cook as she wanted to handle dinner alone.

“You don’t need to do that, Eva,” I said. “That’s why Gertrude and the maids are here. You should be resting on the sofa.”

“P’ve been resting. Doing what I love won’t kill me. I want to make dinner for us.”

I let out a breath. “You don’t have to prove anything.”

“Since

Lisa.

oosing to do something in my own house become proof of anything.”

, telling the cook to let her have the kitchen and I headed back to the study.

phone buzzed on the desk. I looked at the screen.

I stared at the notification for a moment longer before reaching for the device.

We just got in. Thank you for the security. Everything is settled here.

It was a relief, still, something in me eased without permission.

Good. Have fun..

I stared at my response before sending.

There were more questions I could have asked. Where she was exactly. How the guards were positioned or whether she felt safe in her pack. I didn’t ask any of them.

Dinner was ready in an hour. Nadia joined me in the dining room and immediately I sensed something was odd with her.

Evangeline’s voice cut in from the kitchen. “Dinner will be ready soon.”

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Nadia looked toward the doorway, then back at me. “Good. I’m hungry.”

“What happened?” I asked.

She glanced at me. “Nothing.”

“Try again.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m fine.”

The three of us were at the table. The roast was there, but the conversation wasn’t. Evangeline served the plates without saying much. Nadia picked at her peas without focus. It was extremely unusual for Nadia and Evangeline to not talk.

Nadia broke first.

“The court accepted the filing,” she said.

I looked at her. “And?”

“And it’s moving forward,” she replied. “Desmond wants a public trial.”

Bastard.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” I said.

“It should,” she replied. “He’s confident for someone who should be begging. That confidence comes from somewhere and I really want to get to the bottom of how he found out about Franklin and I.”

Silence followed.

“I didn’t meet Franklin outside this house,” Nadia continued. “Not once. We didn’t speak where anyone could overhear. The family wing is restricted. So how?”

“That sounds like you’re asking me,” Evangeline said.

“I’m asking the situation,” Nadia snapped. “If you think it applies, then answer it.”

Evangeline’s gaze held. “If you have something to say, say it.”

“I am saying it,” Nadia replied. “Something doesn’t add up.

“That doesn’t make it my responsibility,” Evangeline said.

“No one said it was,” Nadia replied.

“Then don’t imply it.”

Evangeline looked at me. “She’s been distant since this started.”

“And you’ve been silent,” Nadia shot back. “That doesn’t make either of us guilty.”

I stepped in before it went further. “Enough.” Then I looked at Nadia. “If you’re taking it to court, let it run. Let

him present where he got his information, that’s where this gets answered.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“It will,” I said. “Let’s eat.”

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After the slightly heavy dinner, I decided to take a nap and then wake up later for my night patrol. I did and woke up after midnight feeling as though something pulled me up from the mattress.

My body didn’t respond the way it should have. There was a weight to it, like a stone pressing me down without force..

I tried to move my arms. Nothing. My eyes opened halfway. The bedroom wasn’t empty. I couldn’t make out details. Just a shape. It was too close to the pillow.

I tried to focus, but the edges didn’t hold. The figure shifted, and my vision lagged behind it, like I was watching something through water.

A hand came into view. It hovered near my neck, then pressed against my throat. Something cold spread across my skin.

I tried to react. My muscles didn’t follow.

A repetitive sound, like a clock or a heart, filled the space. It settled into my head without meaning. The pressure at my neck lingered, then lifted.

The shape moved away toward the shadows and I remained in the same position until I came back to myself slowly. The bedroom was empty.

My body felt heavy, like I hadn’t rested at all. I pushed myself up. My hand went to my neck and felt nothing

obvious.

Still, something felt wrong.

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