“You're right, that went too far. I'm sorry,” I purred. “Maybe I should start sleeping in my own bed so I don't seduce you into being a negligent king.”
He grimaced. “You've made your point, my queen. I was merely trying to tease you and compliment you, but that strange Earth attitude of yours seems to have gotten in the way.”
“You mean that strange attitude of women who don't want to be blamed for crimes because they're attractive?”
“What the Pixie fuck is going on?” Everan growled and straightened in his seat. “Why are you attacking me?”
I sighed deeply. “I'm sorry, sweetheart.” I meant it this time. “I'm worried and it's making me touchy.”
“Worried about what?” His fingers wove through mine. “What haven't you told me?”
“I should probably start with the good news,” I said as I realized that I hadn't told him about Kyrian. “Kyrian proposed, and I accepted.”
“Kyrian proposed?” Everan grinned at first, then grimaced. “It's about time.”
“He didn't propose sooner because I was marrying Malik and then Cyprian. He knew it would be too much at once. He put his needs aside for the rest of us.”
“Yes, I know. And I'm happy for him; it's wonderful news. So, why are you upset?”
“Someone is selling supernatural abilities to the wealthy on Earth. But, honestly, that isn't what has me worried—it's Braxis.”
Everan cursed. “What has that damn Bleiten done now?”
“He's found Gregory and executed him,” I said softly.
Ever went still. “He did it? He found that murderous bastard?”
“Yes.”
“And King Lucifer made him a duke of Hell?”
“Yes, of course. Lucifer wouldn't renege on an agreement,” I murmured.
“Then why are you...” he trailed off as comprehension lit his face. “He's coming for you.”
I made an annoyed huff. “You don't have to make it sound as if he's some barbarian enemy on his way to abduct me.”
“That is precisely what he was, Shalani,” Everan said gently. “And precisely what he did.”
Shalani—it meant “female warrior” in Danutian. It helped to ease the sting of his words even more than his tone. It reminded me that I was strong, stronger even than the brutal Bleiten warlord who had abducted me. Abducted and then fallen in love with me.
“Yes,” I admitted, “but that's not who he is anymore.”
“Andthat'swhat worries you,” Everan said.
“Perhaps,” I whispered.
“Do you think you won't be strong enough to resist him?” he asked carefully.
I let out a burst of laughter.
“I guess that's a no,” he drawled.
“I'm not a slave to my desires, unlike another person in this room,” I teased.
“You told us how he made you feel,” Everan reminded me.
I had laid it all on the table for my kishanos. I didn't want there to be any lies between us. So, I'd told them everything about my time as Braxis's prisoner. I told them what he did to me, what I did to him, and how he made me feel. Specifically, how he aroused me. Under different circumstances, I might have kept it to myself. But Braxis was coming back to Earth with the intention of courting me. Well, not courting exactly, I hadn't agreed to that, but he intended for us to get to know each other better with the hopes that we'd get to the courting stage. And if there was a possibility of us getting serious, my kishanos needed to know everything.
