“If you say ‘snack,’ I will end you,” Koa warned, adjusting his cufflinks.
“Fine, fine.” Zane grinned and dropped a quick kiss on my lips. “But let the record show I’m the one who picked this dress and look what a fine job I did. I knew it would showcase your perky—”
“Zane!”
“—assets.” He dared to look wounded as he glanced at Casimir.
I felt heat rise to my cheeks. Months of marriage, and they could still make me blush like we’d just met.
“Where are the other two?” I asked, looking around for Foster and Brumous.
The question was answered by a crash from the kitchen, followed by Foster’s deep voice.
“See? I told you not to, Brums.”
Then a familiar scramble of claws announced Brumous’ arrival. He ran into the foyer, his gray fur freshly brushed, wearing his tiny black top hat.
“Pretty Seri,” Zane translated for us.
“And you’re very handsome, Brummy.” I scratched behind his ears, earning a lolling tongue
Foster appeared next, straightening the cuffs of his black dress shirt. The boys and I were surprised he’d stuck around after everything ended, but I was happy he had. He’d become part of our strange little family, whether he’d really wanted to or not.
His black eyes darted to me and widened.
“Hot damn, Little Boss! If you weren’t already taken—”
“She is,” three voices growled, making Foster chuckle as he threw up his hands in surrender.
“Should’ve sent you on your way,” Casimir sighed as he straightened Foster’s tie. “Butnoooo.Someonehad to name you.”
Foster raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Then, “Love Alpha Toast!” Brummy shouted through Zane, who snickered, and crouched down to hug the pup.
“Yeah, yeah, Brumster. Now, are you ready to go charm the royal court with your winning personality and minimal drooling?”
Brumous’ tail wagged furiously, nearly knocking Zane over.
“That’s my good little murder dog.”
#
The drive to the palace was quiet, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I watched the landscape slip by as Koa held my hand in his, his thumb tracing patterns on my skin. Casimir drove with his usual focus, Zane humming in the passenger seat next to him, while Foster sprawled in the backseat with Brummy dozing next to him.
As we passed through the imposing gates of the werewolf kingdom’s palace, I remembered the one and only time I’d been here before and shivered a little.
“You okay, baby?” Koa squeezed my hand as Casimir parked.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak as memories washed over me in waves. The weak, hollowed-out feeling after months of Arabesque siphoning my magic. Brummy a silent shadow of scars and bones next to me. The tiny bundle in my arms, so innocent, so vulnerable. The dread of leaving her, the fear that I would fail her.
“Find my sister a good home,” I’d begged King Julian and Queen Lilah. “One with parents who will love her, but can also protect her if my stepmother breaks our contract and ever tries to find her.”
They’d promised they would, and in the chaos that followed—meeting the Cimmerians, discovering I was their beloved, the battle with Arabesque—all I could do was trust that they’d kept their word.
“You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?” Koa whispered in my ear. “The baby.”
“Yes.” I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I just wish I knew if she’s okay.”
