Trust my feisty human to give as good as she got, even in a match of wits.
Once Venna and her contingent were out of sight, I guided Leda back into the manor, closing the door behind us.
“Who in the hell was that?” Leda asked, practically spitting the question.
“The daemoness who owns the neighboring estate.”
“What proposal did she have for you?”
I sighed as Leda pulled away from my touch, turning to face me. My arm dropped to my side even though I itched to reach out and bring her close to me again.
“She wished to mate me.”
Leda’s eyes widened. “You’re involved with her?”
“Involved?”
Frowning at me, she explained, “In a relationship with. Dating. Wooing.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m not wooing her or…datingher. Whatever that is.”
“But you’ve slept with her?” Leda saw my confusion immediately and snapped, “Bedded her, Bokkan. Fucked her.”
I shook my head. “No. I have never so much as kissed her.”
Leda’s head cocked to the side. “Then why does she think you should be her mate?”
I shrugged. “I think she is after my wealth and property. Masu believes she feels she’s entitled to me for the mere reason of wanting me.”
“I think Masu is right about this one,” Leda muttered.
“I know I’m right,” Masu said, appearing at the mouth of the hall. “Are you two going to come finish your breakfast, or should I feed it to the pigs?”
“I could eat,” Leda said, turning her back to me as she headed for the hall. “Do you really think Lady Venna feels entitled to Bokkan?”
“Oh, yes,” Masu answered readily. “She’s a spoiled brat who thinks she deserves whatever she wants, whenever she wants it. That’s why she’s so upset about the master’s refusal. And about your arrival.”
“My arrival?” Leda asked.
I wanted to put a stop to this discussion, but I knew it was no use. The two females would just continue it as soon as my back was turned. With a sigh, I followed them into the kitchen.
“Yes, your arrival as the master’s guest,” Masu repeated.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Well, I’m sure someone has told her that you’re sleeping in the master’s bedchamber,” my housekeeper continued. “Which implies certain things.”
“But we aren’t… I mean, it’s not like that!” Leda sputtered.
I tried to ignore the pinch of pain her words caused. She wasn’t a daemon. She didn’t feel the pull of instinct and fate the way I did.
“It doesn’t matter. It appears as though you are, and that hasLadyVenna all in a lather.”
Masu emphasized Venna’s title with a heavy dose of disdain. Considering I’d heard Venna insist that my housekeeper address her asmiladymore than once, I wasn’t surprised by Masu’s tone.
Leda turned to me, her expression worried. “Is this going to cause you problems? Me, I mean?”
I shook my head and sat back down at the kitchen table. Our breakfast dishes had been cleared, but Masu was already back at the stove, making sweetened porridge with apples and spices. It was a dish usually made for children or the sick. I understood her enough to know she was making comfort food for our human guest.
