Well, if he could fake courtesy, I could do the same. “Thanks.”

He looked at Sam. “You made a good decision when you recruited Imani.”

Sam didn’t seem to know what to make of him. “I did,” she agreed.

Marco’s gaze slid back to me. “Come have a talk with me; tell me what you’ve been doing all these years.” It was more of a gentle demand than a request.

For some reason, I got the sudden and inexplicable feeling that he already knew what I’d been doing. But that couldn’t be possible. “Maybe later.” Or maybe fucking never.

His eyes flared ever so briefly, but it was enough for me to note the anger he was doing an excellent job of hiding. “Surely you can spare your own Sire a little of your time.”

“As I said, maybe later.”

A blonde slinked her way into his group and leaned into him, placing a possessive hand on his chest as she looked at me. “Who is she, Marco?” The knowing glint in her eyes told me she knew exactly who I was but was trying to communicate that I had little significance.

He didn’t look at her as he replied, “Juliet, this is my Imani.”

I gritted my teeth at Marco’s use of the word ‘my’. Butch went stiff as a board. Juliet…she just switched her full attention to Marco, and I got the feeling that I actually was completely insignificant to her. She was fully secure in her place in his life.

“Are you sure you won’t stay and talk with me?” There was a silky menace to Marco’s words, and I knew he’d be thoroughly pissed if I once again refused.

Just then, Tait appeared and curled into his other side, equally possessive as Juliet. The display was pitiful. Honestly, the way they stroked his chest and nuzzled his neck…all that was missing was someone fanning him with leaves while they fed him grapes.

“I’ll leave you and the Playboy Bunnies to it,” I said with a smile. Someone snickered. I wasn’t sure whether it was that snicker, my refusal to stay with him, the hand Butch then possessively slayed on my back, or the fact that I’d insulted his consorts, but a low growl rumbled out of Marco. Just like that, I had Max, Paige, Ava, and Salem behind me.

Huffing, Juliet soothingly rubbed his chest. “Be calm, Marco. You don’t need to be upset on my behalf, but I appreciate you being so protective.”

Glaring at me, Tait sneered, “You might be technically Marco’s first-born, but I’m the one who’s been supporting him. I’m the one who’s always at his side. I’m the one who does everything expected of a first-born.”

This was supposed to affect me? I shrugged one shoulder. “Good for you, and good for him.”

“You think you’re so special, don’t you? Well, you’re wrong.”

“So hostile.” Seriously, her hatred of me was so thick, I could almost touch it. “You don’t even know me.”

Another sneer. “I don’t need to know you. I’ve heard enough to know you’re a complete bitch.”

Wait, Marco had stolen my human life and then abandoned me…but I was the bad guy? This girl was wacked.

Butch tensed beside me as she took a small step closer. I placed my hand on his thigh to hold him back. I could deal with her, no problem.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to give you a piece of my mind.”

“Can you afford to give me a piece?” I quipped.

Tait flicked a hand at me. “See, a complete bitch.”

“It’s a tough job, and quite often thankless. But I’m thinking it’s still a better job than being a second-born playing at being a first-born.”

Her fangs descended. “Such bravado coming from someone who ran away to play human because they couldn’t handle their new life. Pitiful.”

I rolled my eyes. “If I throw a stick, will you leave?”

“You’re the one who doesn’t belong here. You ran from your nest, you deserted them, and you can’t simply reappear and expect to be welcomed. That’s the issue here.”

“That’s not the real issue. But the issue isn’t actually even the real issue. It’s your issue with the issue that’s the true issue, don’t you think?”

Eyes blazing, she bared her teeth. “I’m not someone you should toy with.”

“Does that mean you’re done now?”

“Done? I haven’t even started with you.”

“That’s too bad, because I’m a little preoccupied right now. But you could try consulting my middle finger if you like.”

In a millisecond, she was directly in front of me and her hand was wrapped around my throat. She was unnaturally fast for a Keja. She was also gonna freaking pay for that.

My movements swift and smooth, I grabbed her wrist, snapped it back, punched her in the throat, and swept out my foot. Flat on her back, she gaped up at me in what appeared to be utter shock. That made me frown. “What do you think I do for the legion? Take notes?”

Her eyes tightened around the edges, and she tensed as if readying herself to lunge. But then Marco slowly came forward, his expression hard and his mouth set into a harsh line. I braced myself for an attack from him.

Her cheeks crimson, Tait stood upright. “Marco, you don’t need to interfere. Really. She and I will duel this out.”

Sounded good to me.

Gently, Marco skimmed his fingers over her face. “You don’t like your mother, do you, Tait?” The female blinked, her brow creasing. “As a matter of fact, you hate her,” he went on. “You’ve rambled on countless times about what a bitch she is. But let’s say that someone else insulted your mother. You wouldn’t like that, would you? No. Because we can insult what’s ours but we don’t like others doing it, do we? And that’s the situation I find myself in with Imani. I can be angry with her, but I really don’t like anyone else being angry with her. And I really, really don’t like anyone wrapping their hand around her throat. So consider yourself lucky that she put you on your ass, because I’d have done much worse if the punishment was mine.”

Okay, well that was definitely not what I’d expected him to say.

(Butch)

Based on the facts that Sam had given me, there were a dozen things I’d expected to happen at this little reunion.