It didn’t take long for the doors to open and the Pride butler, Carl, to step out. Carl was in his late seventies and was good friends with the king’s father, Fred. He also used to be high in the inner circle of the pride before wanting the lazy days of being the butler. Carl smiled, and his well-groomed mustache seemed to dance on his lip.
“Good afternoon, Master Doy,” Carl said with a tilt of his head toward Mike.
“Hi, Carl. How are you? This is my mate, Jake, and his brothers, Sam and Abel.” Mike looked at Jake. “This is Carl. He’s been the butler for the home for as long as I can remember. He’s also a prominent member of the pride.”
Carl grinned. “Princess Vanessa told us you met your mate. Congratulations.” Carl gave Jake a bow. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Jake replied. I had to suppress my laugh at the little curtsy bow Jake had done. I knew this was a new experience, and coming to the pride house must have been overwhelming.
“We’re here to see His Majesty,” Mike said formally.
“Yes, of course. Please come in,” Carl said, holding his hand toward the doors.
I bumped the boys on the shoulders and we continued past Carl, “Hi, Carl,” I whispered.
“It’s good to see you, Master Talon.”
I’d always liked Carl, but I could never just get him to say my name. I wasn’t high in the pride. I didn’t deserve the ‘Master’ moniker. I was just an average Joe enforcer.
A gasp pulled me out of my thoughts, and I looked at Jake. His mouth hung open wide as he took in the gorgeous interior. The twin staircases and the marble flooring. It was stunning, and I couldn’t blame him for his reaction.
“Whoa,” Sam whispered, and Abel nodded, his little eyes the size of saucers.
“Hello, Mike.”
The deep voice sent a jolt through me, setting my pulse racing. Instinctively, a low rumble emanated from deep within, the primal roar of my lion. Seeinghimhere was unexpected.Why Lucas? Why now?Just a glimpse of him had my lion perking up with interest.
Hell, I was interested. Lucas was hot. No, he was beautiful. He had short, sandy blond hair, a tight, muscular body, and pretty blue eyes that reminded me of the ocean. When I first met Lucas, I thought he was my mate, but I wasn’t sure after talking with Lucas’s brother Brian and my king. They said my lion would know, and I’d know, but my lion didn’t know or wasn’t telling me. I felt lost.
“Talon,” Lucas’s gaze met mine, his eyes unreadable as he uttered my name, his voice dripping with frost.
“Lucas,” I whispered before clearing my throat. “What are you doing here?”
Before Lucas could reply, Mike asked, “Hey, Lucas. Are you visiting the prey princess?”
A low growl rumbled in my throat, the term ‘prey princess’ igniting a familiar spark of anger. It was a common prejudiced term many predator shifters would use to describe prey shifters. I hated anyone who would call Lucas’s kind that, all because he was a rabbit instead of a lion.
Lucas’s eyes narrowed, a shadow crossing his face as he fixed Mike with a withering stare. “Ooh, you’re gonna be in trouble when I tell the king you called his mate that.”
Mike laughed. “The king will be fine. It’s Brian and my thing. He calls me a pussycat, and I call him a prey princess.”
“You shouldn’t call anyone that,” I said through clenched teeth. I loathed the phrase.
“Relax, Talon. It’s just a joke,” Mike replied.
Jake tilted his head. “Wait, is ‘prey princess’ derogatory?”
Lucas sighed. “In our world, predators sometimes label prey shifters as divas, and ‘prey princess’ can be a snide remark. Mike and my brother, however, have a history of teasing each other.”
Lucas stepped forward and extended his hand to Jake. “We haven’t been introduced. I’m Lucas. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Jake reached out. “Nice to meet you, too. I’m Jake.”
Lucas smiled and glanced at me. “It’s always a blessing to meet your mate.”
I inwardly flinched and looked away.Did he think I was his mate? Why was I so bothered by his words? Fuck! Why’d I have to have the problem of not knowing?
“These are my brothers, Sam and Abel,” Jake said awkwardly.
