Chapter 54

Elise turned to face the newcomer. As she’d suspected it was Marla, though her attire was decidedly un-Marla-ish. Sturdy boots, jeans, and a winter jacket weren’t Marla’s usual garb and would almost lead a person to think the woman was planning to do physical labor of some kind. She was smiling too, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

Rose stood up and nodded in greeting. “I wondered when you’d get here.”

“I knew you’d wait for me. Why should I hurry?” Marla flipped her hair arrogantly and Rose compressed her lips, as if holding back a retort. Instead, she replied in her usual quiet tones.

“Well, we don’t want to keep Elise too long. You’ll never guess what exciting news she has. Did you know that she and Kane have bloodbonded? I’m sure he’ll be keeping tabs on her now.” She strangely over-emphasized the words ‘blood-bonded’.

Frowning, Elise stared at her. What was Rose doing? It seemed a rather unusual way of delivering the news, almost as if she was trying to