“Can’t do that, royalty, Commander, warrior or not,” Kian said as he put the phone to his ear while he held up his other hand as if his measly arm could keep Callon from getting past him.“Hey, we have an issue.”
Callon heard Roan’s voice through the phone as if the male was standing in the room.
“Other kingdom’s beastwalker giving you problems?”Roan asked.
“Nope,” Kian bit out.“They’ve been behaving when they come in.This problem is in the form of a large pissed-off lion who is in nearly a mid-shift.He’s not mated so don’t ask me how the hell he’s able to do this.But I’m pretty sure he wants to rip my head off,” Kian paused and narrowed his eyes, “And possibly eat it.I’m not sure.I’m not versed on the looks of the lion-version Callon.”
“Callon?”Roan snapped.“He’s atWild Ink?”
“Weird, right?”Kian asked.“He’s not really the social type and since this is a place that a lot of beastwalkers hang out you wouldn’t think that he’d be here, but in walks this little spotted kitten and like a stray he followed her in.”
Callon felt his bones rubbing against each other as he hissed at Kian’s words.“Spotted kitten?”
“No offense, I already told you I think she’s beautiful.”
“Kian, shut up,” Roan growled through the phone.“You obviously know how he feels about her, so how about you not antagonize the unstable lion.”
“See, here’s the problem, when faced with certain death, I tend to think of all the things I’ve wanted to say and never did, and then I think damn, I might not get to say them, so I should just say them all now.”
“You’re not going to die.”Roan sighed.“Give Callon the phone.”
Kian scrunched his face up as he seemed to examine Callon.“I don’t think that’s a good idea.He’ll probably crush it.I just got it.It’s the latest model.”
“Kian,” Roan barked.
“Fine, I’m putting you on speaker phone.It’s not like he couldn’t hear you already anyways,” he muttered as he held the phone up between them.
“Callon, you need to calm down and step away from the situation,” Roan said calmly.“Take a rest from your guard detail and let someone else keep an eye on her.”
Callon swiped out a clawed hand that almost looked like a paw, but Kian pulled the phone back just before he could hit it.“Wrong thing to say, Ro.He doesn’t like anyone touching, looking, being in the same breathing vicinity, of Lola.”
“Do not say her name,” Callon said in a deadly serious voice.
“Oh,” Kian’s brow rose, “and you cannot mention She Who Must Not Be Named.”
“How are you still alive?”Roan asked the panther, sounding like a tired parent.
Kian shrugged.“I’m a cat.I got nine lives.”
“If you keep talking, you’re about to be the cat to go through all nine lives the fastest.”
“Good point,” Kian nodded.“So, are you going to come deal with this, or send the Prime?”
“One second,” Roan answered and there was some shuffling on the line.
Callon was trying to talk his beast out of killing Kian.He was fighting to hold on to the rational side of his brain, but the lion inside of him, that was a part of him, was so present, more than he’d ever felt before, and he wanted one thing– to get to Lola.
“Son,” the Prime’s voice came through the phone and Callon’s eyes snapped down to the metal object.“LeaveWild Ink, that’s an order from your Prime, not your father.Disobey and youwillsuffer the consequences.”
Callon’s chest filled with a rumble, the sound that came just before the roar of a lion.
“Do.Not,” his Prime said in such a calm tone someone else might not have thought to listen.Those of their kingdom knew when Taras spoke in that tone, you were one swipe away from claws across the throat.Kings didn’t stay in control of their kingdoms by toleratinganyform of insubordination.
He took a deep breath and stood up straight.Callon felt his beast’s frustration, but he was able to think clearly again.
“Okay, he looks less likeMufasaand has his usual RBF on,” Kian said.“Now, who’s going to actually make sure he leaves without destroying any more of Jaxine’s shop?”
“How much damage has he done?”Taras asked.
