Deloria no doubt had decided she’d waited long enough to lay down the law on her daughter.
By the time he reached us, Justice and I were standing side by side, backs against the wall, chatting. Mentally I was practicing everything I’d learned lately in controlling my power—I really didn’t want to kill the queen's favorite guard because he couldn't keep his eyes off Justice.
That would not be the best way to start this little negotiation.
"Princess," the guard said when he marched up toward us. He bowed formally. "Your mother requests your presence in her library." He straightened. "Would you please follow me."
Justice managed not to sigh or roll her eyes, and that was an impressive display of control. Seemed both of us were learning to regulate our tempers. "Absolutely, but I don't need an escort," she said, effectively dismissing him. "Jacob will be with me, and I'm also not without my own powers and strengths."
The guard looked like he wanted to argue. He opened his mouth, and there was too much fire in his eyes for someone who should be professional and detached from the situation.
"Princess—" he started but I cut him off.
"She said that she doesn't require your presence." I sidled in front of her, even though I knew it would piss her off.
Tough luck, though. My job was to protect her.
"This has nothing to do with you," he shot back. "I guard the princess and her parents. You are—"
"Her fucking mate," I rumbled, cutting him off again.
That drew him up short. "How…?" He tilted his head, eyes drawn back to Justice like he wanted her to refute my claim.
She didn't.
"How can your mate not be from the ruby lands?" he finally asked.
Justice’s nose screwed up as she scowled at him. "What do you mean? Grace's mate wasn't from the diamond lands, so why would you assume my mate would be from ruby?" She shook her head. "And … in actuality, Cam and Gretley are from two different jeweled lands as well."
The guard straightened, his face neutral as he worked to hide his emotions. "Yes, but ruby has never had anyone find their true mate outside of our own people. It's a weird little quirk that we thought was just because of how strong our jewels are—that we couldn’t find a true match with anyone weaker."
"Guess there's finally a supe strong enough, then," Justice said blithely. She reached out and grabbed my hand, threading our fingers together. There was a heavy thud in my chest at that possessive gesture, and I would have given anything to be able to throw her over my shoulder and drag her out of here.
The guard shook his head. "Your parents are not going to be happy about this, Justice."
Before anyone—mostly me—could rip this asshole’s head off for being too familiar with her, he spun on one foot and strode away.
Justice let out a deep breath. "I really didn't want to chase the best orgasm of my life with a downer conversation with my parents. Their disappointment in me might be inevitable, but I was hoping to avoid it a little longer."
Using my free hand, I gave her a gentle hug. "You're about as far from a disappointment as anyone could be," I said in my don't-fucking-argue-with-me voice. "And no one should make you feel like you’re not good enough because of their unrealistic expectations."
I'd been happy to give her this time with her family before I pursued our bond. And on face value that was the best thing for everyone—Justice was calmer, happier, and at peace. Clearly, though, it was a fragile peace, and her family should be careful about how they treated her. I had entrusted something precious to them, and if they did not do the right thing, I'd be the immovable boulder between them and their daughter.
"I won't let them hurt you," I promised, and her eyes went very wide. "I don't make promises lightly."The absolute truth, "but unless I'm dead and buried, you're going to have a very different life from this point on."
Justice was still just staring, shocked.
I laughed. "Come on, Ruby. You know me well enough by now, I don't lie. I don't promise lightly. And I protect what is mine."
And Justice was mine.
When she snapped out of it, she shook her head in a few quick jerks, then she was dragging me down the hall, heading in a different direction to the ballroom.
"You're an enigma," she said over her shoulder. "But I really like that I never know what to expect."
I'd been described as many things over the years, but no one had ever called me an enigma like that. As if it was amazing.
Girl was very good at ripping away at my insides, forcing out emotions I didn’t even know I had. I could grow very used to a life with a lot more of Justice in it.
