“Get dressed,” he said when he pulled back, his voice rough. “Before I say fuck the banquet and the council and take you back to bed.”
“Tempting.”
I stepped back before I could give in, returning to my wardrobe to finish getting ready. My high school guidance counselor had definitely not prepared me for any of this. Queen of a werewolf kingdom while running a bookstore on Earth. Splitting my time between two different worlds.
Tonight was going to be politically important. A chance for alliances to strengthen or crumble-
I heard footsteps. Thundering, chaotic footsteps that could only mean one thing.
“Brace yourself,” I warned Mal.
The door burst open and Killian flew in at full four-year-old speed, a tiny tornado of pure energy. Torin appeared right behind him, looking patient and apologetic and also slightly sticky.
Never a good sign.
“MAMA! PAPA! LOOK!”
My son was covered in honey. Head to toe. Hands, face, hair - everything sticky and golden.
“Apologies, Your Majesties,” Torin said, clearly fighting a smile. “The young prince woke up and went straight to the kitchen. I tried to stop him but…”
Torin looked ashamed. I swallowed down a snort. I was sure it wasn’t easy to admit a four-year-old had outrun you. I knelt down to Killian’s level, carefully avoiding the sticky hands he was waving around. “Oh no. What did you find, baby?”
“HONEY! It was hiding!” He bounced on his toes, vibrating with excitement and too much sugar.
Mal crouched beside me. “Hiding from what?”
“From me! But I finded it!”
“Found, sweetheart. You found it.”
He wasn’t listening. Too excited, too wired, bouncing like he had springs in his feet. “And it’s REALLY sticky! Feel!”
He lunged at Mal before either of us could stop him. Sticky handprints appeared all over the formal vest I’d just spent ten minutes buttoning.
I started laughing, so hard I had to sit back on my heels.
Mal looked at me, then down at his ruined vest, then at our honey-covered son who was grinning like he’d accomplished something truly amazing.
“How much honey are we talking about?” I asked Torin, trying to control myself.
“The entire jar, Your Majesty.”
“The BIG jar?”
“Yes.”
Mal stood slowly, honey smeared across his chest. “Where is it now?”
Killian patted his stomach proudly. “In my belly!”
“You ate the whole jar?”
“I’m pretty sure he’s wearing half of it,” Torin mumbled.
“It was yummy!” Killian beamed.
I exchanged a look with Mal. We both knew what was coming in about ten minutes when all that sugar hit.
