“To have that put on a shield, of course. That’ll make a good belated coronation present, I think.”
Chapter Thirteen
“My love. Come to bed. Come to my arms. You have been so busy.”
Jocasta’s speech slurred as she looked up from the notes where she had fallen asleep. Ink stained her cheek. Her hair listed to the side. “What time is it?”
“Midnight.”
She bolted upright. “That means it is today! Today is the summit. I must check the ballroom. I have to speak to—”
“To me. Your husband. King, as well, but that is less important, honestly. I will be there tomorrow, but you will do all the speaking. Hm? And I’ll get a front seat, I do hope.”
“You’ll be there?” Jocasta grimaced as she rubbed her eyes.
“Yes. Clapping loudly.”
“I don’t know if this is the sort of thing you clap for.”
“Ah. Glaring menacingly?” he growled and scooped her up.
She giggled. “Yes, please. Especially if you see the Fox called Nemo. He was asked to come. We had the manager of our bank in Frost Hills seek him out specifically. We said there was going to be a discussion on raising rates and third-party-controlled mortgages. Sir Benevent told me that’s the term I should have used.”
“Excellent. I will sit in the front, but when people mingle at the intervals, I will hunt for him.”
“You don’t have to hunt him down. I don’t know if he knew he was doing anything wrong. That’s why—”
“Education and health centers need to be built, and roads need to be built, and printing presses are needed to make more copies of pertinent laws.” Girion smiled at her. “Would you liketo talk to a trade delegation from Endymere next week? I’m already seeking an increase in timber.”
“Thank you!” Jocasta hugged his neck tightly. “And did you see my note?”
“Which one of a hundred, oh best and fairest queen? Jocasta the Just and Wise,” he whispered, putting her down on their bed.
She moaned as his hands skimmed up her skirts, raising them over her hips. “The one about irrigating the land near the hot springs and planting quick-growing hardwoods?”
“I saw that, and I left a note for you in your study, saying I approve and directing you to talk to the Minister of Agriculture. You truly are a helpful bride. A ruler in equal measure.”
“Not equal, but ah! I’m trying,” Jocasta punctuated her words with a sigh as Girion’s fingers pulled down the layers of fabric surrounding her legs. “Darling...”
“You wouldn’t deprive a hungry Bear of his midnight feast?” He raised his head and pouted at her.
“You don't look like a Bear at this moment,” she teased.
Her breath caught as Girion slowly shifted. His face, still human in some ways, sprouted white fur. His ears shifted. His body widened. He licked his lips with a long tongue, now in Bearfolk form.
She tensed, breathing short and shallow.
“Am I too frightening like this?” Girion asked. “I mean, for a human. For another shifter, it would not matter.”
“But... Do you still want me like this?” Jocasta asked.
“If you want me like this.” He nodded.
She closed her eyes and felt his warm breath on her bare skin. Felt gentle, scraping claws slowly tracing down her thighs, and then a much longer, wider tongue began to swirl across her skin.
“I want you, always,” she whispered, her hand reaching to grip his as he feasted.
GIRION COULD NOT HAVEbeen happier or prouder. Last night had amazed him in ways that he never knew could exist. This morning, he presented Jocasta with her engraved shield, and she burst into happy tears. And now, he was standing (as unobtrusively as a man of his size could stand) in the back of the crowded ballroom, watching bankers and brokers in their best suits talking and hoarding free sandwiches, mingling with ministers who looked thoroughly alarmed at the shoddiness of practices in the outer settlements.
