Just like his.
“You heading out?”
“Yeah. Gotta go to the house first, make sure everybody’s doing what they should be doing. And not doing what they shouldn’t be doing. Then back to my place to pack.”
“Don’t worry. You won’t need much.”
The tip of her boot rubbed the leg of her desk. “That right?”
“Yeah. Just a pair of jeans, sweater, couple of changes of panties…if you insist.
Don’t bother with a bra, I like knowing I can put my hand under your sweater at any time and play with your tits.”
“Classy.”
“That’s me.”
She chuckled. “Anything else?”
“Don’t be late. I really, really need to see you. And then I need to fuck you.”
Neecy leaned against the desk. It was the only thing preventing her from dropping to the floor. Well at least she wasn’t the only one this out of control.
She’d hate that.
“Miss me, did you?”
“Yeah, baby. I missed you. More than I could ever say.”
Running her hand through her short hair, Neecy begged, “Stop Yager.”
“Nope. Won’t ever stop. Not with you, baby. See you tonight.”
Then he hung up and Neecy dropped the phone back into its cradle.
“Was that her?”
Will, his feet up on his coffee table, his hands behind his head, simply smiled.
Morgan sat down next to one of her many “sons.” Although, she secretly admitted, Will was her favorite.
“I won’t see you all weekend, will I?”
His smile grew wider and Morgan jabbed him with her elbow. “Get control of yourself, boy.”
“And what you wanna bet she’s going to want to have one of her ‘conversations.’
” Will accented that with lovely air quotes before putting his hands back behind his head.
“Poor thing has no idea what she’s gotten herself into with you, does she?”
“Not a clue.”
Morgan had been a Valkyrie since she was eighteen. She’d known Ravens for more than thirty years and the one thing she could say about all of them…they were the most determined sons of bitches on the planet. Tough, loyal, warrior alpha males. It took awhile for them to find “the one,” but once they did…Christ, they didn’t give up until they got her.
Her husband of twenty-‐seven years was an Elder Raven…and even with her sagging ass and tits, her disturbing loss of height, and the grey overtaking her once light brown hair, the man couldn’t seem to keep his goddamn hands off her.
And she would be forever grateful.
At one time, she’d hoped Will would find himself a nice little Valkyrie to take as his own. But she understood why he’d found a Crow. They both had wings and they were both fierce fighters. Plus, the Valkyries just weren’t what they once were. None could fight or train the boys to fight. In fact, buxom strippers were a bit of a distraction to teen boys. Actually, they were a distraction to anything with testosterone.
Really, at fifty-‐four, Morgan should be able to retire. Except that none of these new bitches had learned any adequate healing skills beyond bandaging basic wounds and wrapping up sprained or twisted ankles or wrists. Not impressive.
But she’d damn near hit a wall with Odin and his bullshit. The two of them had a long history and Morgan was pretty sure she found the next crop of Valkyries who could bring them back to their former glory. Still, first things first. And that meant getting Will Yager happy and settled with his vicious little Crow. She didn’t know much about Denise Lawrence but Didi respected her and Morgan respected Didi. So that made Morgan feel better. Because what she didn’t need was some little twat coming along and breaking her Will’s heart.
She’d stab the little bitch in the face before she let that happen.
“I’m out of here, Will. I can’t stand the level of mooning I’m witnessing at the moment.”
Will looked at her blankly. “What?”
Oh, he was really lost. That little girl wouldn’t even know what hit her.
Arri was halfway down the walkway, thinking she was home free, when Janelle's voice stopped her.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going, Arri-‐girl? Alone?”
Cringing, Arri turned to face the bigger woman. Janelle wasn’t as tall as Neecy—
who was?—but she was more curvy. And definitely meaner. She’d love to have a body like Janelle’s. All lush and womanly. Unlike Arri’s. Everyday she wondered what it was like to have tits that actually needed a bra.
Trailing right behind Janelle was Katie. Crap. Just perfect.
“I’m going to the bus stop, then I’m heading into the city.”
Janelle looked truly stunned while Katie merely smirked. “Are you nuts?” Janelle snapped. “It’s not remotely safe out there for any of us, but especially not for you.”
“Why especially not for me?”
“Come on, Arri, be real. If someone is trying to snatch Crows, you’re a prime candidate. You can’t fight for shit. Your Magick skills are off the charts. And you can do that aura thing…”
Arri opened her mouth to argue, but realized she couldn’t. Everything Janelle said was true. “I’m a mess. I know.”
“I never said that. And that’s not what I meant. I meant you’re powerful, but until you learn to truly control it, you’re vulnerable.”
“But I really have to go.”
Janelle frowned. “Where?”
“A comic bookstore.”
“Arri, come on! There’s tons of comic bookstores around here.”
“This one is expecting me.”
Janelle’s frown deepened dramatically. “Why are they expecting you?”
Arri scratched her head and kicked the gravel at her feet. “Um…they’re expecting me for a signing.”
Blinking in surprise, “You? You draw comic books?”
“Uh…yeah.”
“Under what name? Cause I know it ain’t under Arri Chang.” After she’d help convict her father of attempted murder, she changed her last name back to the one on her Korean birth certificate. She didn’t change her first name, though.
She loved it.
“I write under Arrianna Days.”
Janelle stepped back as Katie spun around to stare at her.
“You’re Arrianna Days?” Katie demanded. “Who writes Viking Eternal? That Arrianna Days?”
Arri didn’t expect Janelle and Katie to know that. A lot of the Crows were into Anime. But American comic books didn’t seem like the Crows’ thing and Arri never bothered telling them about her side career…mostly because none of them seemed to care what she did as long as she stayed out of their way. So that’s what she did. She stayed up in her room and worked on her books day and night. The Crows didn’t even miss her.
She nodded. “Yeah. That’s me.”
“Holy shit! I gotta tell Rachel and Sophie…” Arri grabbed Janelle’s arm before she could run off.
“No!”
“Why?”
Arri looked at the ground again.
“Christ, Arri. You really need to get over the shy thing…it’s gettin’ old.”
“I’m working on it.”
When neither Janelle nor Katie said anything else, she looked up at them. “Please don’t tell anybody.”
“Okay. Okay.” Janelle dug out a set of keys and cell phone from her baggie jeans.
She tossed the phone to Katie. “Let ‘em know where we’re going.”
“Huh? Wait? Where are we going?” Arri asked, confused.
“To your signing. You can’t miss that and we’re not letting you go on your own.”
“And,” Katie added as she speed-‐dialed the other Crows, “we better get a first edition of Issue one…signed.”
Arri grinned as she followed Janelle and Katie to the car.