Zul had his doubts about the fireworks, but the pictures Ursula showed persuaded him to allow such incendiary frivolity.
“Now, we just need to acquire them and figure out how to launch them without blowing the place up,” she muttered under her breath.
Having already given his permission, Zul was reluctant to rescind it, so he set himself and two of the castrati to researching fireworks. What he learned made him wonder if she’d hookwinked him into doing something terribly foolish. Taking her aside one evening after supper, he cautioned her as to the danger of such entertainment.
“Well, of course, they’re dangerous,” she agreed with a chuckle. “That’s why we need experts, people who understand how to handle gunpowder and explosives.”
“I cannot risk you or Crow getting hurt.”
Ursula’s hands closed into fists which she propped on her hips. She glared at him. “Are you reneging?”
Zul’s hearts constricted. His lungs seized with dread and he nearly gulped in fear, not fear of any physical retaliation she might bestow with her small stature, flat teeth, and blunt claws. She could not hurt him in that way. But she could withdraw heraffection for him, which had been slowly building as her comfort in his presence grew. He extended a hand toward her. “No! No, I am not reneging. I will keep my word.”
She nodded, a curt gesture. “Good.” She threw a hard glare at him. “If I can’t trust your word, then there’s no future for us. Trust iseverything.”
He nodded. “I will see it done.”
Ursula granted him a beatific smile and settled a hand on his arm, and all was right with his world once again. “Thank you, Zul. I know this is difficult for you, but I’m not inclined to run headlong into my own demise. Humans have been using fireworks for centuries. Yes, some have been injured or even killed, but the vast majority of fireworks result in no harm. Besides, we’ll be well out of range of the explosives during the show.”
Zul heaved a relieved breath and squinted his eyes. “You will take care of the rest of the arrangements?”
“I’m already on it,” she replied with a grin. “Addilli’s being a great help.”
Zul blinked at her and waited for further explanation. She did not disappoint.
“Gallik and Sifgul have given their permission for Addilli to help me.”
“They are not ignorant of the prestige of allying with the Fangrys Triad,” Zul said.
Ursula nodded. “No, they’re not. And I have assured them of Addilli’s safety and well-being when she visits here.”
“As if I would allow harm to come to any female!” Zul snarled, offended by the other two males’ apparent distrust.
Ursula laughed, a sound he found simultaneously charming and offensive, for he thought she laughed at him. “No, Zul, they have no fear she shall come to anyphysicalharm when we meet here. What theydofear is that I will contaminate her with my ideas of women’s liberty and female agency.”
“Explain.”
Ursula pointed to herself. “Am I stupid?”
He reared back, sensing a trap. “No, of course not.”
“Am I incompetent?”
“No, of course not.”
“Am I foolish and incapable of making smart decisions?”
He paused, thinking of her determination to have fireworks at her festival, then rapidly said as her expression began to sour, “No, of course not!”
“Then, if I am a functioning, intelligent adult, why should I have to seek and obtain permission to do what I want?”
Trying to choose his words carefully so as not to insult his mate and earn her enmity, he slowly replied, “Because the world is a harsh and dangerous place, and females do not have thephysicalstrength to prevail.”
Ursula snorted and reached up to touch his cheek. “Just because I don’t have a man’s brute strength doesn’t mean I can’t figure out other ways to get things done.”
He leaned over her, looming in a manner that would have been threatening if she didn’t already know he would chew off his own arm before harming her. “I am stronger than you, faster than you, and much, much more dangerous than you, pretty mate.” He bared his pointed teeth at her, and she retracted her hand. “Thatis why you must ask and obtain permission; otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety and well-being.”
Ursula sighed. “I hate to break it to you” —her tone indicated she did not actually regret her words— “but no one canguaranteemy safety and well-being.”
