"Why are you ringing the doorbell to your own home?" Kai quizzically questioned his cousin, casting him the weirdest incredulous glance.
It was Friday afternoon, and they had just arrived at Evan's beach house mansion. After observing the karaoke bar had burnt down to ember and then supervising the cleanup, Kai sent his advisors and the guardians back home, while he preferred to hang out with Evan for the night. He figured his married friends deserved a break to be with their families. Besides, Evan's clan was present, so Kai didn't require their assistance for his protection. Honestly, he just needed a break from his friends.
"Just let me have my fun," Evan hushed him, earning an eye roll from Kai.
"Bark! Bark!"
Upon hearing a dog yapping, Kai nastily growled. "You have a dog!"
Out of all the animals in the world, he despised dogs worse than cats. Dogs were at the top of his list with the aversion he has for animals, along with barn animals and ducks. He hated the stench of those animals the most.
"I got Tilly a puppy," Evan confessed without a hint of regret. "Don't you dare kill her puppy, or you will owe me big time!"
Upon hearing his warning, Kai scoffed. His older sister, Veronica, even knew to keep her dog far away from him.
"I make no promises if it jumps on me or touches me," Kai gruffed before the door swung open.
"Bark! Bark! Bark!"
A small, creamy tan-colored collie puppy with long brown floppy ears yapped in Tilly's arm as she pulled the door open with her free hand.
"Is there a reason why you are knocking?" she gawked at Evan with her hooded silver-colored eyes.
Her light-tinted, long blonde hair is thin like a violin string, laying naturally straight. Then, her nose is small and sharp at the tip, making it a flawless fit for her oval-round face. Lastly, her lips were sharp and shone ever so brightly every time she smiled, in Evan's opinion.
"I forgot my key," Evan lied between his smirking lips.
"It's the weekday. You know it stays unlocked after the vamp kids and the teenagers leave for school with the young granted humans." Tilly giggled at him as the puppy tried licking her face, causing Kai to cringe, repugnant by it.
"Right, I forgot about that too," Evan chuckled before Tilly took a sidestep to let them in.
In a whisper, to evade Tilly from overhearing him, Kai teased. "You are more pathetic than I thought."
"Shut up!" Evan quietly chuckled, and then they entered his home.
He purposely did this to grab her attention since he knew most of his clan wasn't home. But he knew Tilly always answered the door when his butler was off duty at noon to go hunt.
"It's nice to see you, Kai," Tilly greeted. "I'd give you a hug, but I know you hate dogs."
"It's fine, Tilly." Kai smiled at her before he scowled disdainfully at the puppy.
"Bark... bark...Grrr!" The puppy aggressively responded to Kai's scoff. She didn't like the mean expression he gave her.
"Let me put Pebbles away so she won't bug you," Tilly sweetly offered.
"I'd appreciate it," Kai chuckled, glad to hear it.
"Sure, you're sweet to her, but not with me," Evan was sure to tease as she sauntered off.
"I like her better than you," Kai laughed as Evan joined in.
"Victoria is my favorite cousin over you as well," Evan chuckled, joining the playful banter as Tilly returned.
"Are you here to check out the new place?" she sweetly asked Kai.
"You could say that," Kai gently smiled.
After Evan saved Tilly from being a courtesan during the vampiric wars, all the vampires in the Coven treated her with care. For a long time, she was afraid of vampires, so they had to treat her gently to get her adjusted. Nothing made her recovery easier when she also feared men. While she was human, men used her as a courtesan as well. Life for Tilly didn't sweeten after vampires destroyed her city, and captured her to be turned during the Blue Moon for her to serve vampires after a battle had been won or lost.
On the night she was offered to serve Evan in his tent, he didn't exploit her as others might have. Instead, he offered her safety and freedom after buying her, and for that, she joined his clan and always stayed by his side. With time from healing and having Evan's full support, Tilly went the extra mile to mend the emotional wounds both men and vampires inflicted on her.
Over time, her fear faded, and she beautifully blossomed into her lovable personality, making herself a home in the Collin Coven. As a vampiress, Evan became her guiding support, teaching her how to hunt and navigate the challenges of her new life. Overall, he showered her with care, akin to treating her as his destined mate.
"He's here to do that, and it's about my offer to keep Victoria safe," Evan added, and Tilly nodded with comprehension.
"Well, let's show him around before you show him where he can hide Victoria." Tilly declared, and Kai followed their lead.
They showed him around, yet Kai didn't fail to notice Tilly's closeness to Evan. Kai knew they were perfectly compatible for each other, so he needed to be discreet in figuring out why Tilly didn't desire Evan. Yet, her laughter and the way she looked at his cousin all hinted at a genuine fondness. Moreover, he sensed a certain hesitation from Tilly, making him wonder why she hadn't embraced a deeper connection with Evan. Kai pondered this silently.
"I saved the best room of the mansion for last," Evan claimed, taking Kai to his sunroom deck with Tilly by his side.
Around the walls and part of the ceiling were created out of glass. From walking in towards the left was a bar area, and to the right, Kai narrowed his eyes at the large fish tank that was built inside a half wall for additional enrichment.
"Don't you glare at my fish tank," Evan chuckled at his grumpy expression. Marine animals and fish were on his hatred list.
"What a waste of space." Kai shook his head in disapproval. "An empty tank would be better."
"Leave my fish alone!" Evan exclaimed. He took pride in those sea fish that he bred.
Kai stepped down one step and checked out the room. To the front of his view is a large glass panel window that goes to the floor and connects to the glass ceiling. He had a perfect view of the beach, which was covered in snow and sand. Greek art and armless sculptures, including ancient swords that were closed in a glass stand, adorned the room with historical inspiration. Evan was known for having a passion for fine art and swords.
To add some embellishment to the room, Tilly put enormous embroidery airbrushed flower pots on the floor. One of the flecked-painted pots grew an indoor fan tree in the left corner. Other than that, it had a lot of space, and nothing was overcrowded in decorations.