“Wait for me! Nobody told me we had a reunion!” another male voice pipes in, and a second man strolls out of the woods. This one is also impressively tall and muscular, and I bet he’s an alpha, too. His hair is chestnut, and his eyes are shadowed by the longest lashes I’ve ever seen on a man. He smirks in my direction, and it’s so… charming. “I’m Darian. I’m sure you’ve heard about me.”
“I… haven’t.”
“Oh?” He frowns. “These idiots haven’t told you about me? What a deplorable lack of manners. Maybe I should kick Valen’s ass and teach him how to respect his elders.”
“By a year,” Valen mutters. “That’s it. You’re just a year older than me.”
“It counts.”
“I’m kicking his ass first,” Konstam says, “so get in line, Dar. All this time, he’s been hanging out with this pretty lady and didn’t tell us.”
“None of your fucking business,” Valen growls.
“Oh, oh, the cub bites, beware.” Konstam lifts his hands. “Down, little one. Everything is fine.”
“You’re also older than him?” I blurt out, fascinated by these men who act like children, oddly endearing, but also feeling dangerous, much more so than any other men I’ve ever met.
“By a month.” Valen rubs his eyes. “You were supposed to make an impressive entrance and be courteous and polite. Wasn’t that what we agreed?”
“Well, we didn’t expect this… amorous congress to take place in front of our very eyes,” Konstam protests. “You didn’t consider our sensitivities! Our innocence!”
Valen barks a hoarse laugh, large shoulders shaking. “Your innocence. You’ve fucked everything that moved since you discovered your dick.” He glances at me. “Beg your pardon, Princess. Konstam is a menace. No skirt or pair of pants is safe from him.”
“Are you dismissing me, just like that?” Darian demands, placing a hand on his hip. “Am I not a fucking menace, too? I’m offended.”
“Fine. You two are both a pain. One giant pain in the ass.”
“Why, thank you.” Darian winks at me. “Glad that’s settled. This lady needs to know who she’s getting in with.”
“In what?” I squawk.
“This band of merry thieves. Though, technically we aren’t thieves. Sometimes we borrow some food and drink. Or an animal to feast on.”
“And we aren’t always merry,” Konstam adds. “Only on your average day. Right, Valen? Say something, man. Vouch for us.”
“I brought her to meet you,” Valen says. “Isn’t that enough for you?”
“He’s always so fucking grumpy,” Konstam says on a sigh. “What can you do? He needs a woman’s touch.”
“You could save him,” Darian says, his gaze earnest. “My lady.”
“Enough,” Valen growls again. “I didn’t bring her here for you to tease.”
“But we’re so bored,” Konstam whines. “And she knows this is affectionate teasing, right, Lady Rosamund?”
“We don’t tease those we dislike,” Darian agrees. “We eat them.”
I find myself laughing at their antics, although that last comment… “Do you really eat people?”
“Nah.” Darian waves a hand. “Humans and fae are too bony and stringy. Kind of bitter, to be honest with you. We prefer sheep and goats, cattle, and other grass-grazing animals. In case you were interested.”
“Interested?”
“In knowing more about us werewolves.” He winks. “You do know Valen is a wolf, right?”
I nod.
“Good. He’s an honest man. He’s bearable most of the time, but if he becomes too full of himself, just kick his ass.”
