Elara POV
“Why did you adopt the bosses?” I asked MRS. HOLT.
We were sitting in her living space, sipping black tea from tiny, delicate cups painted with pastel floral designs. I needed a distraction from going over and over everything I’d learned about CLAIRE. The guys were out of the house for the afternoon—gone into town on some mystery task. I’d first sought out AYA and NALANIE, but the fox shifter was also in town today, and AYA was in a rotten mood for some reason she didn’t want to talk about. So, tea and conversation with MRS. HOLT served as my distraction.
Her smile touched her eyes.
“Because I saw something special in each of them.”
“And what was it?” I asked, leaning slightly forward.
She angled her body toward mine. In a low, conspiratorial voice, she said,
“They despera
