My eyes widened in hope—real hope.
I barked too quickly, “Yes!”
Lord Cato’s lips trembled.
I cleared my throat and calmed myself and straightened my back in my chair. I tried again with decorum. “Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you, my lord.” I scratched at my cheek in thought. “Actually, if he finds her attractive, I’m pretty sure she needs to get laid too.”
My father stared. And snorted so hard his entire body lurched in his chair, failing to contain his hilarity at the absurd request. He quickly straightened his tie and ran his right hand down it to cover the mistake, and asked evenly, “Are you attempting to pimp out my assistant, your majesty?”
I shrugged my right shoulder. “Yes. Joshua is attractive—and don’t you dare tell him I said that—and my assistant has been eyeing my bodyguards. If he’s going to train her at her job… Well, two birds, one stone, my lord. And don’t tell me you’ve never asked him to do it before. I want my assistant focused—and trained—and she is not right now.”
“Harmony isn’t exactly known for her love affairs.” Lord Cato ran his hand down his tie again and looked off to the side while he thought it through. “Eh. I guess it’s manageable. Nothing Joshua can’t handle. He’s seduced tougher targets. When do you want her trained and fucked by?”
“By the end of the new week. Tell Joshua to work his magic quickly on her.”
“Done.” My father shrugged a shoulder. “He’ll probably do it faster.”
I bowed my head to him. “Thank you, my lord.”
“You’re welcome, your majesty.”
I turned my head to my king, muttering, “Make sure you pick your assistant wisely.”
He lifted a blond brow. “It’s safe to talk to you now?”
“I’m looking at you, and my mouth is moving. I would take that as a yes.”
King Niallan smiled, baring all his teeth. “I really do love your bitchy side.” He added a wink that was meant to be sexy—perhaps it worked on most. I wasn’t most. He purred, “It turns me on, your majesty.”
I patted his shoulder. “I’m glad to see you’re acting like yourself again. Back to business as usual now?”
A shadow of pain crossed over his eyes. “For the most part.”
“I understand that completely,” I murmured honestly. I gifted him a rare, genuine smile. I spoke softly, “I’m here, you know, if you need me.”
I was pleased my king was back to rights.
I needed to be close to him. Watching him.
I couldn’t do that if he stayed in his room crying all the time. King Niallan feeling better…made everyone else in the room feel better.
So the Overlords and I could kill him. Once we figured out where the fuck he always hid the Original druid amulet. Then theSecretcould be completed.
Lord Cato just needed to stay alive, in the meanwhile.
“I might take you up on that offer.” King Niallan’s own resulting smile was genuine and beautiful. “If you can handle the wicked mist in my room again.”
I snorted. “You might press pause on the mist while I’m in there. It’s too damn cold for my liking.” I shook my head. “And it’s a little disturbing.”
My king chuckled under his breath. “It could be a lot more disturbing if I wanted it to be.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
Lord Belshazzar cleared his throat—hard. “Everyone, let’s focus on the point of why we are here. The attack on our stronghold and who is behind it.”
The room quieted of any other discussions.
I turned my attention to my vampire Overlord.
