“Will you be?”
“No, Your Highness,” she said immediately. “I will always put you first.”
“I think Conri would answer the same,” I nodded. “So there isn't a problem.”
“There isn't?” Gradh stopped walking.
Behind us, Killian was still extolling the futility of Conri's potential pursuit of Gradh. So it was particularly entertaining when Gradh turned around, walked up to Conri, and laid a hot kiss on him. Killian's expression was so hilarious, I pulled out my cell phone and took a picture.
“Hey,” Killian protested the paparazzi moment. “Did you know about this?”
The rest of the Star's Guard didn't seem at all surprised. A fact which Killian also noted.
“Did all of you know about this?” Killian huffed.
“Yep,” Ainsley gave Killian's wide shoulder a pat. “Sorry, Kill.”
“Why didn't you tell me?” Killian asked Ainsley.
“It was way more fun to watch you make a fool of yourself,” Ainsley shrugged.
“You're all dicks,” Killian grimaced and trudged up to me. “You too, Brutus?”
“It wasn't my secret to tell,” I shrugged. “And honestly, I didn't know the rest of the Guard was aware of it.”
“We didn't either,” Gradh cleared her throat, and resumed leading us through the woods.
“You allow far more freedom in your Guard than I allow in my team,” Soren noted, then looked back at his people. “Don't get any ideas.”
“So, we just gonna walk up to the elf door, and give it a good knock?” Killian asked.
“I... uh,” I looked to Gradh.
“Yes, in a way,” Gradh kept walking.
“In a way,” I repeated to Killian.
“Thanks, I got it, Human Telephone,” Killian rolled his eyes.
“And you allow far more insolence,” Soren scowled at Killian.
“Killian is an ambassador, not a knight on my Guard,” I explained to Soren, even though I knew he was already aware of Killian's status.
“That's right,” Killian smirked. “I can be as insolent as I damn well please.”
“That's a shame,” Soren's expression turned disdainful, “you could benefit from some discipline.”
“I've got some discipline for-”
“Killian!” I snarled.
“Here it is,” Gradh stopped before a flat-topped boulder, a little taller than Killian.
“That's a rock,” Killian said dryly.
“Well spotted,” Soren drawled.
“Look closer, Rat-Breath,” Conri sniffed at the stone, then placed his hand on it.
