One eyebrow raised in question, Daegel looks over. His pants are down, hard cock free while he holds the cast-iron pan in one hand with the burned bird inside.
“I can’t—” I wheeze. “This is?—”
I can’t finish a sentence, tears rolling down my cheeks from laughter. The whole situation is so ridiculous.
“Very funny,” Daegel says with a smile. He puts the pan down and pulls up his pants.
I brush the tears away. “I’m sorry. But this was just too much. Roman walking in on us? The raven in the window? And the burning bird?”
I shake my head and laugh some more.
Daegel walks up to me and pushes my pants up my hips. He presses his lips to my forehead. “Roman should have some boundaries. I don’t like that he can walk into your apartment anytime he desires.”
I rest my palms on his shoulders. “He’s my friend. I can walk into his apartment anytime I want, too.” Daegel doesn’t lookcomforted. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.” I take his hand and place it over my heart. “You’re the one who has my heart. Besides, Roman likes cocks.”
“You’re mine,” Daegel says, eyes serious. “I don’t care if he likes cocks. He should know that.”
I cup Daegel’s face. “And he does. Everyone does by now, Sir Ezkai Major. You made sure of it.”
Daegel purses his lips.
“Come on, baby. I’ve got a mission to get to,” I say and plant a smooth kiss on his lips.
Daegel doesn’t let go of me.
He brings his lips to my ear. His next words send a shiver down my spine. “I’m not finished with you, princess. After that mission I want you in my bed. Under me.”
I almost melt right then and there.
“Sir, yes, sir.”
That finally makes him smile and he lets me go. I rush to the bird in the window and retrieve the message. “Let’s make it quick, then.”
CHAPTER TWO
PHOENIX
We make it to the castle right on time for the briefing.
With a sigh, I plop on the chair next to Roman. Ezkai Xander from the Spy Unit stands at the head of the table where fourteen of us sit. He jerks his chin at Daegel and he approaches.
“Ezkai General is not on this mission?” I whisper to Roman.
He shakes his head. “Ezkai Xander said it’s him and Ezkai Daegel leading the mission.”
I hum and nod. Worry squeezes my chest.
Since my graduation, when I chose the Executioner Unit, there were only three missions in two months I was assigned to that were led by the General.
Three in two months.
I’m not vain. I don’t expect the fae who rules the country to choose me to join his team every time there’s a mission just because he knew my father. However…all three missions the General took me on pointedly excluded Daegel.
I hope I’m just paranoid, but the General only ever leads important missions, and it looks as if he avoids taking Daegel on those missions.
What’s worse—something I try not to admit to myself, even—is that I worry my relationship with Daegel is affectingmyrelationship with the General.
I must say, it would be unfortunate to waste such a potential by siding with the wrong crowd, Cadet Wildarrow. Wouldn’t you agree?The General’s voice rings in my mind.
