“Lucian talked like you,” Allie murmured, getting up as well. “But you said Victor was old, and his speech is more modern.”

“You can thank Stephanie for that. She has spent years working on getting him, DJ, Harper, and Drina to use contractions. She claimed their speech made them sound old.”

“It does,” Allie said with amusement. “It kind of makes it obvious that you’re somehow different too.”

Magnus’s eyes widened at that claim, and then he frowned and said, “Then I shall endeavor to change my speech pattern.”

“I’ll help if you like,” she offered.

“I like,” Magnus said with a smile, and then bent to press a kiss to her forehead. Straightening again, he asked, “Are you hungry?”

“I could eat,” Allie admitted, and then grimaced. “And since you’re smelling like steak again, I probably need more than just food.”

“Of course. I should have . . .” Shaking his head, Magnus left her by the dresser and strode around the bed to the cooler next to it. He bent to open it, and then slammed it closed and snatched up his dress pants.

“We are out of blood. But we can get that along with the food,” Magnus announced as he pulled on his pants. He did them up quickly, and then moved back around the bed and caught her hand in passing on the way to the door.

The upper hall was dark and silent, but the lights were on downstairs and enough of it reached the stairwell that descending the stairs was no problem. Victor was in the dining room, peering out the front window. He glanced around at their arrival and smiled faintly, but then turned his gaze out the window again. Allie was relieved. She knew Magnus’s shirt covered her decently, but still felt uncomfortable wandering around in it.

“There’s plenty of food in the fridge if you want it,” Victor said, still looking out the window.

“That is what I was hoping,” Magnus admitted as he led Allie around the counter into the kitchen area. Releasing her then, he opened the refrigerator and retrieved two bags of blood. He handed her one, but when she peered down at it with bewilderment, unsure what to do with it when her fangs weren’t out, he moved closer and set the other bag on the counter behind her. Much to her surprise, he then caught her by the waist and pulled her against him as he lowered his head to nuzzle her ear.