The three little shits don’t hesitate to kick me anywhere they can reach.
“Wait, stop!” Gasping, Arienna swats at them as she sits with her knees up on my chest.
My head falls back onto the floor. The muscles that have been tense for the last week finally relax at the feel of her against me. Even if her weight on my chest is making it hard to breathe.
“He’s not a test,” she says.
“Are you sure?”
Little shit number one kicks me in the ribs again.
“Yes. Stop it, Stevie. He’s the king,” she says, a soft giggle escaping.
“Why would he be in here?” The little boy doesn’t sound convinced.
“Because Echo snapped my neck and tossed me in,” I say, not even mad anymore as I bask in the feel of my queen. Exhaustion pulls at my eyes as I feather my thumbs across her hips. I haven’t slept in so long...
“You fought Echo?” Stevie looks at me in admiration.
“No. She kicked my ass. I didn’t even see her.”
“But you’re the king,” the other girl says. “I thought you were a good fighter.”
“You’re thinking of Jace,” the boy says. “He’s the good one.” His eyes lighting up, he says, “Is he here?”
“You know he’s just a royal guard, right? Below king?” I ask dryly.
“And you’re below anewbie,” Stevie says, snickering as the other girl giggles.
My arms tighten around Arienna as I feel her shift to get up. Then I reluctantly let her go.
She rises quickly, but I take a moment to breathe before sitting up. My eyes linger on her. She doesn’t look at me.
The non-Stevie girl looks between us and then elbows Arienna in the hip. “Oooh. I think helovesyou,” she teases. “He looks at you like Daddy does Mum.”
“Shut up, Frances,” she says, shoving her into Stevie.
“But she’s right,” I say, not taking my eyes off my queen as a cute little blush stains her cheeks. “I love you.”
As the little boy squeals, the two girls make fake gagging noises. Holding their stomachs, they walk around the room, pretending to vomit. Frances ends up behind Arienna, and her eyes light up devilishly.
Moving quickly, I stand just as the girl shoves her in the back of the knees, making her stumble. Arienna falls against me, herhands landing on my chest as my arms rope around her. I look down at her as she looks up at me.
Swallowing hard, I force myself to let her go.
With a quick pivot, Arienna grabs her and hoists her into the air by her shoulders. Frances kicks her in the stomach with both feet. My queen stumbles back, letting her go, and the girl spreads her wings to hover in the air.
Grabbing Arienna’s hips, I steady her at the same time as I twist us around so I’m between the two of them. Snagging the little shit’s ankle, I shake her upside down.
She doesn’t hesitate to punch me in the dick, so I toss her onto the top bunk.
“Enough,” Stevie says as Frances flies off the bed to come at me again, a smile on her face. “It’s time to get dressed.” Authority laces her high-pitched voice. They all, including my wife, quickly obey.
“You’re part of their squad?” I ask with a frown as she throws my presents onto one of the lower bunks so they can reach the cupboard behind them.
“A shit one,” Stevie says, peeling her nightgown off as the little boy opens the door and starts tossing people their kit. She steps into a brown tunic that ties under her wings.
As my queen does the same, my eyes linger on her body. There are bruises on her, and I know they’re all from kids, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to kick their asses for hurting her.
