Page 67 of Lost & Found

Either way, it was just the two of us once more. I examined it more thoroughly now that I was alone, where surely it was more appropriate for me to acquaint myself with this new version of me.

A knock sounded, and I scrambled to get dressed. When I opened the door, Victoria and Kinsley were on the other side. Their expressions varied between amusement and curiosity, and I laughed at their eager anticipation of my experience.

“How was it?” Victoria asked.

“Yes, give us all the details. Don’t leave anything out,” Kinsley said.

“I’m happy to say I survived, barely. It was touch and go for a minute there. Did you know there are several different ‘normal’ vulvas?”

“Really? We should compare later, at home you know,” Kinsley offered, looking around like I expected her to whip her dress up for a peek.

“I think I’ll pass. I’ll need some time alone with mine to get to know her first before I share.”

Victoria’s eyes met mine, and she burst out laughing. Before long, the three of us were laughing hysterically. We looped arms, a smile crossed my face, my heart dangerously close to bursting.

The club was a welcoming respite from the chaos of the house. I’d come here tonight to blow off some steam before Isabella and I were scheduled to leave. Bambi was working tonight, and my eyes drifted toward her, but my dick didn’t stir.

So much for that idea.

“Dancer.” Sebastian didn’t ask if the seat beside me was taken before claiming it.

“Needed a breather, too?” I asked with a smile.

The girls were all in an uproar at home, rushing to pack last-minute. I had that shit done three days ago. I braced myself as Sebastian settled in and studied me. I knew in my gut that this conversation was inevitable. It didn’t surprise me in the least that he was here tonight as well.

The lead-up to our departure had only gotten more tense as the day drew near. Sebastian was struggling with every bit of this bucket list business with his sister. For once in my life, I was glad I didn’t have siblings. Loving someone that fiercely looked exhausting.

“You’d think Isabella was moving away forever or something with the amount of tears shed.” He scoffed, draining the whiskey in his glass.

“Did you expect anything different?” I asked.

“No, not really. Just don’t entertain thoughts of traipsing all over the South looking for Winter,” he said quietly. “Hope makes people reckless.”

“I will do my best to dissuade her, but your sister is one stubborn woman. If she feels like there is the slightest chance she could bring her home, she would. Did you hear the latest?” I asked, keeping with the theme of Winter.

“Waiting on the wedding plans for Marcel and Victoria? Yeah, I swear these fools don’t understand that the possibility of finding the woman is going to be damn near impossible. I get they want her to attend it and all, but I don’t know.”

The tension slipped out of him in a thin stream of air. Our eyes locked, and he spoke again. “The Kings have done everything aside from torturing Mikhail to get answers of her whereabouts. He swears he has no idea.”

I slammed my drink back and sneered. “Liar, the lot of them. I swear I hate that man.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “That sounds personal. I wasn’t aware you were so acutely acquainted with him.”

“Yeah, when I was young, there were always stories about him and Fedorov. I know he tried to paint a saintly image to Kinsley, but I don’t buy it. And it is personal. He threatened my family once.”

“Does tiny tot know?”

I shook my head, not wanting to focus on the memory of that night. He’d slipped into our house the night Kinsley’s family was buried.

“No, and she doesn’t really need to.” Looking to steer the conversation away from Kinsley’s connection to her grandfather, I changed the subject. “I’m curious about something. Are the Kings waiting to collar Kinsley until they find Winter, too?”

“That’s the plan. Not sure how wise it is. What if Winter hates the idea or can’t understand why Kinsley would agree to it? That’s too much to place at risk in my opinion but she told Alek no babies until then.”

I shook my head because it was true. She could be so willing and obedient, but when she felt strongly enough about something, you could forget about trying to change her mind. She and Isabella were two peas in the same goddamn pod.

“Well, I guess it’s an excellent thing Kinsley has no idea the collar exists.”

It was true. The guys were still working through some of her issues, and while they were one hundred percent sold out for her; they knew she wasn’t ready. I was still learning the ins and outs of collaring.