“Qhev’in!” Thisa cried as the male appeared in a crowd of security escorts. “Oh, wow, there he is!”
Nerus winced as he watched his little sister bounce on her toes, jostling Cora in her eagerness. Cora took it in stride, grinning widely. She took an immediate liking to Thisa that morning when I took them gown shopping for Della’s party.
A pampered Eissoi female all her life, Thisa was used to getting her way on virtually everything. At first, Cora seemedto find this amusing, but as the day wore on, I feared she was taking notes. Not that I really minded. If Cora wasn’t the most thoroughly spoiled female on the face of Venastea, I wasn’t doing my job. And the brat behavior she was picking up from Thisa? Well, that just gave me an excuse to spank her.
She let the younger female pull her along all day, making her security detail—and her husband—hustle to keep up. They whispered together like they’d been friends for years, but no matter how hard I strained to listen, I couldn’t tell what secrets they shared.
“Bay-beee,” Qhev’in crowed when he saw my mate. Leaving his security team behind, he all but ran to embrace her over the partition. Grabbing her face, he planted a loud kiss on her cheek. “Looking gorgeous as always, Mrs. Ahlon.”
I liked hearing that. When she brought it up again, Cora explained the human custom of females taking the males’ surnames. It sounded odd at first, but when she said her surname reminded her of the hurt her parents had caused, I showed her how to register a name change with the Venastean government. All her credentials now read Cora Ahlon. It was another way to let everyone know who protected her. Who she belonged too. Maybe it wasn’t such an odd custom.
“Qhev, meet Thisa,” Cora said, beaming at the younger female. “She’s been explaining to me how ridiculous it is that I’ve never heard your music.”
“Her grumpy mate is depriving her,” Thisa said earnestly. “It’s criminal.”
Qhev’in threw back his head, laughing loudly. “You know who he is, Thisa-love?”
Nerus snarled and shoved his way to his sister’s side just as I made it to Cora.
“I’ve known Yiri my whole life,” Thisa waved it off like I was no one of consequence. “He’s a grumpy old butt.”
Cora laughed with Qhev’in at that, so I grabbed her by the waist and bent to growl into her ear.
“Think that’s funny?”
Still smiling, she nodded.
“We’ll see if it’s still funny when you’re over my knee and your ass is red,” I said it quietly enough that only she could hear, but from the knowing look Qhev’in sent over her head told me he had the gist of it.
“That’s right,” he said, flashing his trademark grin. “Hold onto your mate, because I’m about to drive her wild. You’re welcome.” He winked at me—me, Yiri Fucking Ahlon—and then said his goodbyes to Cora and Thisa.
Thisa sighed as he left. “Wow. He kissed you, Cora. You are so lucky.”
Cora snorted. “He’slucky.”
Lucky he’s still alive.My wife was no fool. She knew she was the only thing standing between Qhev’in Kon and my wrath. I enjoyed that she knew, and even flirted with the knowledge of what I’d do if I was pushed too far. She kept Qhev’in just inside the lines, her cat eyes glittering with mischief the whole time.
“Come on,” Nerus said, tugging at Thisa’s hair. “Let’s get you to your seat so you don’t miss anything.”
She narrowed her shrewd eyes at him. “You just want me in a little box away from any males.”
“Yes,” he admitted. “Yes, I do. I’m still not convinced you’re old enough to be here at all.”
“There are younger females here,” Thisa said, gesturing around the crowd. “And Mom said it’s okay.”
Nerus scowled all the way to our private box, which was front and center, nearly level with the stage.
“This is amazing,” Thisa gushed. “I’ll bet his sweat hits us when he’s dancing.”
“Ew,” Cora laughed. “I hope not.”
Nerus looked like he was ready to open a phase blade into his temple. “There’s a barrier, Thisa,” he said. “Lasers can’t get through, let alone the guy’s sweat.Ibar,help me.”
Ignoring him, Thisa hugged my arm tightly. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Uncle Yiri!”
“Thank Cora,” I said gruffly. “If not for her, I’d never have come to this.”
Thisa transferred her enthusiasm right back to my mate as they settled into their seats and chattered back and forth. Nerus and I took a few moments to make sure our soldiers were in place around the box and in the crowd, and then I sat down next to Cora. Without looking away from Thisa, she slipped her soft hand into mine and twined our fingers. Instantly, my whole body loosened. How did she do that? She set me at ease when I didn’t even know I was on edge with a simple touch. It was more than many females offered their mates, especially in public. EvenIbarchosen mates often remained distant.
