Finn blinked. “There’s no way. She’s head over heels for God. They’re a perfect match.”
My nose crinkled as I took my own last bite of ice cream. “You may be right. But she does flirt a little bit.”
“Seriously?” He grabbed my treat cup and spoon, throwing our trash away in the wastebasket nearby. Then he dipped back behind the tree with me.
“Yes. She probably doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.” That made sense, thinking more on their interactions. “It may merely be an unwanted attraction. Just because you’re mated to someone doesn’t mean you don’t find other people attractive, right? Or is there some magical spell blinding people from that?”
“There’s no spell,” Finn murmured. He stared at the tree as if it had the secrets to life carved into it. “If God figures this shit out, he’ll kill Cass.”
He was serious.
My goodness. “Since Cassander is the seer, only his mate can do that, right?”
“The seer position never has a mate. That’s the seer’s own internal battle to bear.” Finn’s attention snapped to me, the mood changing instantly. His eyes glazed over with the possible future of his friend’s death. “Only the alpha king has the power to kill the seer.”
“Then we should probably keep our mouths shut.” A man stepped around the tree into our space. He had a towel wrapped around his waist. The rest of his impressive physique was as bare as the day he was born. “Don’t you agree, Finn?”
Finn’s eyes shuttered of all emotion, his expression a blank canvas. “Theron, how long have you been standing there?”
“I’ve been at the park longer than the two of you. I didn’t intend to spy on you, but you came. I listened. You two talk loud enough to wake the dead, by the way.” He turned his attention to me, dark beautiful eyes scanning my body from head to toe in a cold evaluation of my person. “Hello, Mina.”
“Hello,” I squeaked. “It’s lovely to meet you, Theron.”
How old did he look? I couldn’t tell.
Somewhere around twenty to thirtyish.
My eyes widened, realizing my blunder. “I meant Mr. King.” Then I realized I didn’t know if he had the same last name as his son, born over a thousand years ago as he was. Barely stopping myself from kneeling in front of him like he was an ancient—because he was an Ancient—god, I babbled in rapid succession, “I mean, it is Mr. King, right? I would assume so, but assuming is horrible. I should have asked. My apologies. I’ll do better next time. I swear.”
My teeth clicked as my mouth snapped shut.
Had I really said all of that?
The skin on my cheeks heated up.
That. Was. Mortifying.
Finn cleared his throat. “It is King, Mina.”
I nodded like a broken doll with its head half hanging off, damn near down to one knee now. Perhaps I was going to kneel in front of him after all. My body currently had a mind of its own, and it kept lowering toward the ground.
Theron grabbed my right forearm and yanked me up straight. “Are you the fainting sort?” When I didn’t respond, he jerked his attention to Finn and kept a steadying grip on me. “Is she ill or something?”
Finn closed his eyes for a moment of peace. “I believe she’s overwhelmed by your presence.” He slowly opened them again to stare into the Ancient’s gaze. “She’s had a tough day. Give her some slack.”
“If I give her any slack, she’s going to end up eating dirt.” Theron pushed me toward Finn, the Ancient’s hands hovering around me as if I would drop any moment. “Take her. She’s making me nervous.”
A hysterical snort spewed out of my mouth. I grabbed onto the lapels of Finn’s tuxedo jacket, staring up into his face, hissing, “I need a break. I’m making a two thousand year old Ancient nervous. Thatreallycan’t be good. I may end up running through the park like a lunatic soon. I’ve had enough for one day.”
The Ancient ignored my tirade.
“You know, Finn, there was something you said to Mina that I feel needs better clarification. You understand, of course, since we’re apparently spilling all shifter secrets to this human that I haven’t seen before,” Theron lifted a finger, turning his regard to me, “but anyway, I want to point out that not all Ancients are odd because of their age, as Finn told you. There are a few Ancients who are just fucking odd and have been their entire lives.”
I stared, not releasing the tuxedo I gripped. “Pretty much like humans, but on a larger scale?”
“Exactly.” He shrugged his bare shoulders. “That is just life. People are not perfect, human or shifter. The problems may differ between our species, but emotions and actions never do. Like jealousy…”
Finn wrapped his arms around me. “I get your point, Theron. We’ll keep our mouths shut. God won’t hear anything from us on the matter since neither Poppy nor Cass is doing anything wrong.”
