Vaughn eased her down his body until her feet touched the floor, but his hands remained on her. She leaned into him a little, even though she couldn’t explain what it was about the wolf that made her feel safe. He’d threatened her, and still, she wanted to be closer to him. From what she knew of wolves, they were honorable and cared deeply for their mates. The same couldn’t be said of the fae.
“She’s weak,” Vaughn said.
“I say we kill her now,” Finn said with a growl to his voice.
“No!” The alpha glared at Finn. “We don’t kill innocent women.”
“She’s fae!” Finn yelled.
“So is my mate. Do you want to kill her too?” the alpha asked.
The wolves fell silent and a redhead came out of the other room. Her stomach looked like it might pop at any moment and Tulip assumed she was the alpha female. Autumn. The woman moved closer and placed a hand on the alpha’s arm.
“Gabriel, what’s going on?” Autumn asked.
“She wants asylum.”
“What she needs is a bath and a good meal,” Autumn said. “The poor thing can barely stand and you’re all standing around yelling at one another.”
Tulip wanted to smile a little at Autumn’s words, but she refrained. The last thing she needed to do was anger anyone again. They might mistake her amusement. Tulip shifted and fell back against Vaughn. His grip tightened on her a moment, then eased once she had her balance again.
“Take her upstairs,” Gabriel said. “Run a bath for her and I’ll see if I can find something for her to wear.”
“Nothing of mine will fit her,” Autumn said. “Not even my pre-pregnancy clothes. If I had to guess, I’d say, in her half-starved condition, she’s probably an extra small.”
“I might be too skinny for my frame,” Tulip said. “But I’m a long way from dying.”
“You can barely stand,” Vaughn said.
“I just need some rest and I’ll be fine,” Tulip said. “I haven’t slept for nine months. Not really. I dozed off here and there, but I always jolted awake shortly after. It wasn’t safe to sleep.”
Autumn looked at Vaughn. “Go buy her some clothes. She’ll need pajamas, maybe some summer dresses, under things, and get a pair of flip flops for now. I can take her shoe shopping when she feels better.”
“Under things?” Vaughn asked, sounding less than pleased.
“Do I need to spell it out?” Autumn asked. “Get her a package of panties, probably the smallest size they have in the women’s department, and…” She stared at Tulip’s chest, then scurried out of the room only to return a moment later with a tape measure. She looped it around Tulip just under her breasts. “A 32 B bra. That should fit. If not, I’ll go out tomorrow and pick up something else for her.”
“I don’t need a bra,” Tulip said. “I’ve never worn one.”
That silenced everyone for a moment.
“Why are you sending Vaughn?” Finn asked.
Autumn narrowed her eyes, but Gabriel growled.
“You’re questioning my mate?” the alpha asked.
Finn paled. “No, alpha. I was just surprised. It isn’t like Vaughn has any attachment to the fae.”
Gabriel and Autumn shared a look and a brief smile, which made Tulip wonder if they knew something she didn’t. Vaughn didn’t move away, even though he’d been given orders to go shopping. His hand was still warm against her hip, helping her remain upright.
“Vaughn,” Gabriel said, “would you please help the fae to the room at the top of the stairs?”
“My name’s Tulip,” she said.
“I’m Gabriel and my mate’s name is Autumn,” the alpha said.
Vaughn lifted her into his arms again and carried her upstairs. He walked toward the bed but she stopped him, not wanting to make the pretty bedding dirty.
