Levi winced. “Yeah, that’d do it.”
Just then, Raini made her way over to them, beaming. “Congrats on finding your anchor, Levi. We’re all so pleased for you. And we’re all totally planning to big you up so she’ll cave and form the bond fast.”
“We call it Operation Break Piper,” Khloë chipped in.
Raini frowned. “No, you call it that.”
Devon nodded. “The rest of us simply call it helping Levi out.”
Khloë let out a tired sigh. “And you wonder why I think you’re all boring.”
Devon pursed her lips. “I don’t wonder that. I don’t wonder why you do or think half the things you do.” She gave the imp a condescending pat on the head. “I’ve given up on trying to understand you, sweetie. It’s a pointless endeavor.”
“Only for those who are weak of mind and will,” said Khloë.
Devon rolled her cat-green eyes. “Just go answer the phone.”
“It’s not ringing.”
“Pretend it is.”
“Like we’re pretending you’re not constipated?”
“Khloë.”
The little imp raised her shoulders. “What? It’s nothing to be ashamed about. We all struggle to drop the Lincoln log from time to time.”
Devon squeezed her eyes shut. “Stop.”
“Especially pregnant women. A lot of them get sewer capped.”
“Seriously, stop.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll release the kraken sooner or later.” Khloë patted her arm. “This poo shall pass.”
Raini swore. “Dev, you can’t keep grabbing her by the throat!”
*
Later that day, Piper blew out a breath as Levi pulled up outside the bungalow that Whitney and Joe shared. Celeste was already here—her car was parked nearby. Awesome.
Piper was tempted to delay passing on her news. Not for the sake of procrastinating, but because she didn’t want to spoil what had otherwise been a good day. She’d gotten a job, which she’d officially start tomorrow. Levi had taken her to one of her favorite Underground restaurants to celebrate, so that had been a bonus. They’d talked for hours, exchanging funny stories, not touching on anything too serious or personal. It seemed a shame to shit all over the day.
But backing out wasn’t really an option. She and Levi had been seen together by many people in the Underground. Someone would pass on that little nugget of info to her family, who’d then for sure ask her about it. And if she had to be all, “Well we’re anchors but I didn’t get around to telling you,” it would look like she’d been hiding it. It would look like she’d felt that she had to hide it. Which would only feed Celeste’s belief that it was wrong for Piper and Levi to bond—that was how the woman would see it.
“It’ll be all right, Piper,” said Levi, resting his hand on her knee.
He really needed to stop touching her, because it wasn’t helping her friend-zone the holy hell out of him. “You sure you want to come with me?”
He snorted and slid out of the car.
She’d take that as a yes.
Piper edged out of the vehicle and took a steadying breath, her inner demon very still and serious. With him behind her, she walked up the path, used her key to let herself into the house, and then followed the sounds of voices into the kitchen. Whitney was plating up food while Joe and Celeste stood near the open back door, talking to each other.
Whitney looked Piper’s way and smiled, but that smile wavered when she spotted Levi. Just the same, Joe’s warm look faltered at the sight of the reaper. And Celeste? She went utterly rigid.
Her hands clasped, Whitney came forward. “Hello, sweetheart.” She kissed Piper’s cheek. “Levi, I wasn’t expecting you.”
Joe sidled up to his mate and gave Piper a gentle smile before offering his hand to Levi, who then shook it. “Always good to see you, Levi. Is everything all right?” Ah, Joe had assumed he was here to discuss a lair issue of some sort.
“Everything is fine,” said Levi. He gave Piper a ‘the floor is yours’ look.
She turned to the others. “I came to tell you … well, we came to tell you … that we recently discovered we’re anchors.”
Delight lit up Whitney’s face. “Oh, that’s wonderful news.”
Just like that, the hard lump in Piper’s stomach fell away.
“Well damn,” said Joe, his lips curling. “Congratulations. It was the last thing I was expecting—”
“You are kidding me,” Celeste blurted out, her voice dead.
And here we go.
Celeste strode forward, her hard gaze bouncing from Piper to Levi. “Anchors?” She might as well have said the word ‘cannibals’ it came out ringing with so much disgust.
“Anchors,” Piper confirmed.
A humorless chuckle bubbled out of the banshee. “This is a joke, right? A bad one.”
“No joke.”
Poking the inside of her cheek with her tongue, Celeste folded her arms. “And have you formed the bond?”
“No, but—”
“Good. At least you’ve got the sense to realize it can’t happen.”
“Do you really think I’d have come here and made this announcement if I meant to forsake Levi and the bond?”