“Listen up, assholes. This is Sage Hexwood, my mate,” I said, pushing a gruff, domineering tone that had Sage whipping her head at me in surprise. The look in her eyes assured me it wasn’t triggering. And the way she bit her lip told me she might actually like it.
We could play with that later.
“That means you treat any orders from her like they were from me. And if I catch even a whiff of disrespect, I will cut off your head, mount it on my wall, and hang my dirty towels from your horns. Got it?”
“Yes, Mr. Oniguro!” they replied in unison, their backs bent forward and eyes cast downward.
I started to lead her towards the private areas of the house when Sage twisted around and waved. “I’m looking forward to meeting all of you!”
So cute.
Once we were in my room, I gave her a quick kiss. “Unpack, take a nap, do whatever you want. I need to go send the reporters away, and then I’ll be right back.”
She looked around, nervously tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “Um, okay. Don’t be long.”
A growl rippled through my chest and I kissed her again. “Never.”
It was difficult, but after some more hugs and kisses, I finally managed to leave, and found Toru now sitting with the grunts downstairs, nodding towards me as I walked past them. “Hey, Ronan! When am I going to meet—”
“Not now,” I grumbled.
He got up and jogged to my side, following me to the front door. “Look, I just wanted to say, your mate is going to need a dedicated security detail. And I’d be honored—”
I took his shirt and slammed him against the wall, leaving a small dent.
Whoops.
“I am not trusting you anywhere near my mate.”
His eyes narrowed in anger. “And why the fuck not? I’ve proven myself.”
I got closer, letting smoke curl out of my nostrils. “The only thing you’ve proven to me is that your first loyalty will always be to my dad. And that is exactly the kind of person I’ll never allow around her.”
“Of course my loyalty is to your dad, he’s the boss,” he hissed.
I leaned in further, whispering in his ear. “He won’t be the boss forever. And don’t assume for one second that when I take his place, I’m not taking my memories with me.”
I shoved him again for good measure. “Now, fuck off.”
His lips peeled back for a second, a challenge bubbling beneath the surface, but he managed to tamp it down. “Understood.”
I let him go and then left the house, making my way down the long driveway to the gate. “I take it you’re here for me?” I called out.
A handful of reporters jumped out of their vans, straightening their ties as their cameramen followed.
“Mr. Oniguro! Mr. Oniguro! Is is true that you orchestrated the attack on the Premier’s Mansion in Noctis?”
“Did you kill Premier Victor Corvane?”
“Where is the Premier’s mate? Have you taken Sage Hexwood?”
“No questions!” I barked. The corner of my mouth lifted slightly as their shoulders flinched. “Now, I’m only going to say this once. Everybody ready for your stupid soundbite?”
Microphones crowded the space in front of the gate I stood behind, and I leaned forward.
“Sage Hexwood is my mate. Always has been, always will be. Victor Corvane lied about his mate bond with Sage, using coercion and violence to keep her trapped. I removed her from that situation as soon and as best as I could. She’s now with me, and she’s safe, but she will not be making any of her own statements or appearances. So I better not catch any one of you assholes trying to shove a camera or microphone in her face.”
Eyes widened and jaws dropped.
