"Your face."Lola gasped.Her tone might have made someone think she'd step away, but instead, the little cat moved closer.Her hand reached up to touch him."There's fur… and damn, those are some big teeth."
Callon's chest vibrated as he growled and hissed at her.The hand wrapped around her wrist was no longer fully human.It had transformed into half-lion paw with massive claws at the tips.He forced himself to loosen his grip, worried he might hurt her.Then he remembered why he had grabbed her in the first place, and he hissed again.What the hell is wrong with me?
"Did you just hiss at me?"A smile turned up on Lola’s face.A 'v' formed on her brow, though her smile didn't fade."I thought you weren't supposed to be able to shift until you were mated."
"I found my mate," he snapped.
"Hmm, maybe."She nodded, and still didn’t look the least bit afraid.Callon could feel his teeth stabbing into his bottom lip, yet Lola acted as if nothing were amiss."But we're not technically 'mated.'"She emphasized the last two letters.
"What do you mean by 'mated'?"Callon couldn’t keep the suggestive purr out of his voice.
She tilted her head and lifted a brow."If you're trying to embarrass me, it's not going to work."
Callon chuckled."Is that why you're two shades of red?"
"Butthead," Lola muttered under her breath.She straightened her shirt and pushed her hair from her face."Well, if you're determined to do this, let's go."
Callon reached up and cupped her face.He probably shouldn't touch her so much, considering she was so new to him, but he couldn't help it.He loved the feel of her soft skin against his.He loved the warmth that infused his own.The way his beast moved inside of him, as if trying to climb out of his body to get closer to their mate."Please don't be upset," he implored softly."I wouldn't have brought you to them if I thought you would be harmed, even emotionally."
Lola stared into his eyes, her pale-green ones mesmerizing him.Her plump lips turned up slightly."I'm a big girl.I can handle it.I just had a momentary freak out.I'm good.Besides, when will I ever have the opportunity to meet the king and queen of a supernatural race of shifters?"
"From this point forward?"He smirked."Actually, quite often."
She blew out a breath from puffed cheeks."Okay, I'm not sure if I should be nervous or excited about that."
Callon dropped his hand from her face and wrapped his much larger one around hers."Come on.My parents are waiting."
"They know we're coming?"
"Yes.I texted them this morning."He pulled her along with him."They're eager to meet you."
Lola remained quiet as they stood in the elevator.Callon knew his mother would be there, waiting to meet his mate.Lola had no idea how crucial she was to their species, not just as ananimus, but as the mate to the next in line to rule the Kingdom of Claws.From the time he'd spent observing Lola, he had no doubt she would make an extraordinary Prima.
As the elevator doors opened, Callon kept Lola at his side as they stepped into the lobby of his father's floor.
"Fancy," Lola murmured, glancing around the space.Then her eyes widened."Wait."She tried to stop, but Callon gently tugged her forward.
"You're seeing through the glamour," he explained."An environment that suits my family more than a stuffy office."
"So, this isn't really a tree-lined pathway, with a field of high-grass plains beyond the trees?"she asked, her voice filled with awe.
"No,Sazzi.It's a normal office building, albeit, an opulent one.We like to be surrounded by a working environment our beast prefer.Felines in Damara live in wild places similar to those in this realm."
"Hello, Callon," a female voice interrupted his thoughts.The human female, employed as his father's secretary, grated on his nerves even on the best of days.The intimate way she addressed him caused his beast to snarl.
"What's wrong?"Lola gave his hand a gentle squeeze.He looked down at her, and she pointed to her mouth."You've got snarly teeth."
"Snarly teeth?"His teeth must have elongated without his realization.Lola could see it, but the secretary would not.She would only see the handsome face she seemed to be infatuated with.
The secretary eyed Lola with disdain, her face unyielding as she spoke."May I ask if she has an appointment with Taras?"Her voice was clipped, like the sound of scissors cutting through thick fabric.Callon disliked the weight of the woman's gaze on his mate, the way it seemed to crawl over her features, examining every inch.The expression in the secretary's eyes was one of disgust, examining Lola and finding her wanting.After what felt like an eternity, the woman's lip curled up in distaste and she looked back to Callon.
Lola turned away from Callon and looked at the blonde woman."Taras?"
"She means Mr.Leo," Callon corrected.He couldn't even remember the secretary's name – didn't care to know it– especially now as the female looked at his mate with disdain.
The blonde cleared her throat and tried to appear neutral."Yes, that's what I meant.Does she have an appointment with Mr.Leo?"The female didn’t even bother to address Lola, but instead continued to look at him.
"She's with me," Callon snapped."She doesn't need a damn appointment."
