I love how protective she is.
“Jay... It’s fine. If she wanted me dead, her mate would’ve been first in line a long time ago.”
She kisses me on the cheek and heads toward the buffet, where others welcome her into the pack as my luna.
“Caleb.” She pushes off the tree, smirking.
She approaches me, and I bare my neck out of respect... and maybe fear.
Her hybrid nature has her smelling different from before. It’s similar to Dax, but her fragrance is much more potent. I can still recognize her as one of my own kind, but it’s definitely... different.
Looking Jay up and down, she says, “So this is why you weren’t able to fight alongside your queen?”
I sigh as my mate mingles, winning everyone’s hearts. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I guess I can forgive you. Dax tells me she tried to stab you.”
I chuckle. “Try? More like she did.”
“Then I like her already. It’s good to see you. Stick around. I like seeing you happy.”
The queen strolls toward Jay, and they embrace each other as she congratulates Jay. I’m so moved by the act that I’m taken off guard when I’m spun around to face the king with flaring nostrils and a hand grasping my throat. “We had a deal, mutt. You mate Medein and avoid a war. Jay mates with someone else, and you take a mistress. Explain yourself.”
I’m choking out the words under his vice-like grip. “You—owe me—one.”
“No, no, no . . . We’re even.”
I shake my head, a grin forming. “No, we aren’t.”
He inhales, ready to kick my ass.
“You said I could have a mate of my choosing.”
“And youchoseMedein. My debt is paid.”
“Not of my own free will—that makes it coerced. You said I could choose. I choose Jay.”
I’m firm in my response. He’s threatened to kill me so many times I barely blink anymore. I will always stand up for those I love. And no one, not even the king himself, can scare me from that.
He stares me down with blazing maroon orbs. When I don’t falter, they return to caramel. And then he smiles, not of sadism like normal but a genuine smile.Toward me.“Huh,” he laughs. “You’re right.”
I must be mistaken. No way I heard that right.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You’re right.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. He was terrifying when he was angry. But I knew what I was going to get from that version of him—it was likely going to hurt. But this agreeable version ofhim, especially after I’ve done something wrong? It’s uncharted territory.
“I am a man of my word, and I honor my debts.”
“But what about the witches?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Eh... My father has quite the stolen collection... I might have something the witches would prefer to have back. I’ll try to smooth things over with Medein as well.”
I bow my head. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
He pats me on the back. “Your father would be proud. I... am proud.”
