“Maybe I’m trying to help you,” Baba said. “An extra set of eyes is always a good thing when going to see Knobb.”
Stron sighed. “Females will be the end of me.”
17
STRON
After the meal and Adryel and Baba bonding much faster than any two females had a right to, Baba retired to her room, swearing that she was going to sleep, but Stron knew better. She was going to be digging into all of her contacts to find out what she could for him about this situation.
He went over his own connections, looking for some kind of clue that might give him some idea of what was going on and who was behind this. Rumors were heated that it was an extremist faction who were zealots when it came to the purity of the Kantenan lineage. They were usually the ones who screamed for any Kantenan who questioned the doctrine, or worse, went against it, to be banished. They held a lot of pull in different circles as well, including the Council. While Stron didn't know for certain who was connected to that, he had his suspicions.
He leaned back in his chair and ran his hands over his horns. Exhaustion from the day was finally catching up to him.
He stood and started toward his bedroom, then stopped. Old habit. He couldn't sleep until he'd checked the perimeter and confirmed every door was secured. He'd done it so long it had become something close to instinct.
He made a circuit through the house. At the rear, he noticed the balcony door standing open.
He froze.
Took a couple of steps toward it, exhaustion gone, every sense suddenly sharp and ready to strike.
Armor growing, and he was ready to attack
One step closer, and he froze again.
This time, not because of an attack.
But Adryel.
She stood on the balcony, looking out at the darkness, her hands on the railing, lost in her own thoughts. Her red hair flew around her like a wave of chaos.
It was stunning. The lunar light hit her skin, making her seem almost angelic there on his balcony.
And then his armor began to grow, slow and certain, a different kind of sensation. Not an attack, but something more. He knew that was going to complicate things.
She was going to complicate things.
"Get in here," he snapped, stepping out onto the balcony.
She turned and stared at him. "What is your deal?"
He crossed the balcony and took her by the arm. "You need to get inside," he said, guiding her toward the door.
"Calm down, big guy," she said, pulling her arm away from him.
"No, I will not calm down," he muttered. "Your safety is paramount, and I need to keep you protected."
"From what, exactly? Is a leaf going to fall on me?" She gestured out into the air. “There’s nothing out here.”
"You could get attacked."
"Out here. At your secure home. The home of goddamn Kantenan royalty." She looked around at the dark and the trees and the silence. "On your balcony."
Her arrogance was palpable, and he opened to rebuttal, when a shriek erupted.
From the trees, an animal landed on the balcony railing, still screeching at them both. Larger than a lap pet, it shook the balcony where it landed, tail raised high to intimidate.
It was working.
