Lifting my head from the rattan lounger, I took a sip of my cocktail, careful not to spill it on my beach dress. “Reuben soaked him with a water gun that was loaded with curry-flavoured NSTs. So Salem chased him into the rainforest. Where’s Evan?”

“Swimming. Or, more accurately, taking turns with one of his squad at trying to drown Denny. Kind of impossible for them to do that, since Denny’s gift lets him mimic both sea cucumbers and hagfish.”

“Guys are such odd creatures,” muttered Jude.

“Where’s Chico?” I asked her.

She tipped her head toward a group of guys who were attacking each other with water balloons. “Being an idiot.”

“I really can’t believe the DJ’s playing Club Tropicana.” Paige, who was sprawled on the lounger next to mine with Imani, shook her head.

From her bed on the porch of a cabana, Sam laughed. “Fletcher’s playlists are always hilarious.”

“Does he dress up at every party?” asked Imani. Paige was very protective of her, and since Paige’s gift was to take an injury and give it to someone else, she was perfectly capable of doing so. Imani needed protecting, since her gift was to sever blood-links, making it possible for her to destroy a vampire’s connection to their Sire or even their mate. Such a gift could be misused, as we’d all learned the hard way…but that was a whole other story.

“Nope,” replied Sam. “Not sure what inspired Fletcher to dress up as Captain Jack Sparrow, and I’m not sure I want to know.”

“I have to say,” began Maya, our new resident shapeshifting vampire, “I wasn’t expecting this.”

Sam cocked her head. “What?”

“When you said there would be a party, I imagined some sort of ballroom with classical music and champagne.”

Cassie nodded. “Yeah, I was panicking about it, because I’m not good with formal gatherings. Hell, I’m not good at any gatherings.”

“I know what you mean,” chuckled Sam. “I’m the same, and I promised that any parties I threw would be fun, not pretentious. But Fletcher’s the mastermind behind it all.”

Hearing Evan laughing hysterically, we all turned to see that Salem was now pursuing Reuben at the far end of the beach – only this time, Salem was in possession of the water gun loaded with curry-flavoured NSTs. Both Reuben and Salem looked like they’d been dunked in a sewer.

I giggled. “I never thought I’d say this…but I think Salem is having fun.”

Studying him, Sam said, “It’s hard to tell from all the way down here.”

“It’s hard to tell even when he’s up close,” Alora quite rightly pointed out. “He always looks so serious.”

“So the tall, surly – and, I have to say, totally hot – blond is yours?” Maya asked me.

My smile was wide and proud. “He is.”

Cassie looked from me to Salem. “Considering the size of him to the size of you, I’m surprised he hasn’t broken you.” I laughed.

“They haven’t done the dirty deed yet.” Alora drained her cocktail.

“That’s for later,” I chuckled.

“He won’t hurt you,” Paige assured me. “I mean, I don’t know him well. I don’t think anyone knows him well. But I’ve seen the way he is with you. He’s like freakishly overprotective. He’ll be gentle.”

I shot her a horrified look. “Why in the holy mother of fuck would I want him to be gentle?”

“I don’t think you have to worry, Ava.” Sam shook her head. “There’s nothing gentle about Salem.”

She was right. Even his feather-light touches weren’t tender. They were teasing, seductive, and possessive – promises of what was to come.

At that moment, Jared approached with two snow cones. Having handed one to Sam, he laid on the lounger beside her.

“Where’d you get them?” I asked him.

“There’s a snow cone machine under the marque.”

“I have to get me one of those.” I rose to my feet, stretching. Then I frowned. “Who are they?” Three vampires were just removing their shoes to cross the beach.

Sam followed the direction of my gaze. “That must be Salem’s Sire. I agreed for him to move here permanently in exchange for information on the brothel’s owner. I didn’t think he’d arrive so soon.”

“He has information on the brothel’s owner?”

“Salem didn’t mention it?” When I shook my head, Sam quickly gave me a rundown.

“Wow.” I was a little put-out that Salem hadn’t told me, despite knowing he wasn’t a guy of many words. At the very least, it would have been nice to know that his Sire was coming with his mate, since it was much like ‘meeting the parents’. “Who’s the other female?” The very attractive female with long dark curls, an hourglass figure, and a very sensual walk. She fairly oozed sex, despite that she wasn’t dressed seductively. Her outfit was very ‘Lara Croft’.

Sam shook her head. “I have absolutely no idea. They asked to move here with their guard, but Salem said it was some bloke called ‘Todd’.”

Alora planted a hand on her hip. “I think it’s safe to say that isn’t Todd.”

“I see Salem’s disappeared again. Good.” Sam put a hand on Jared’s arm. “Don’t telepath him just yet. I want to talk with his Sire a bit first.”

That was when I sensed something. “You don’t like him.”

“I don’t trust him.”

Well if Sam didn’t trust him, I didn’t trust him. She’d always had good instincts. I would have asked for more details, but they were almost within hearing range. The rest of us took our cues from our Grand High Pair and stood, waiting.

Obviously recognising Sam and Jared, the three Pagoris headed straight for them – all wearing pleasant, gracious smiles. They bowed, which almost had Sam grinding her teeth. She really hated the bowing thing; it made her feel uncomfortable.

“It’s an honour to meet you both,” said the dark-haired male, smooth and confident. “As you may have guessed, I’m Will. This is my mate, Blythe. And this is my first-born, Gina.”

Jared raised a brow. “You requested to bring your mate and your guard.” It was a reproach. The Grand High Pair liked to pre-approve their visitors and residents.