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The commander sighs and steps aside with a gesture for us to enter. Olivia leads, followed by Mak, and then me. She comes to such an abrupt halt, I almost crash into her back, but move quickly off to the side.

Mak bounds forward and almost knocks Olivia’s mate off his feet. Not surprising since she’s technically his…companion, according to Liv. Despite the attention the phinnek seeks, Janik hasn’t taken his eyes off his heart’s fire. His copper-hued skin deepens by at least another shade and his eyes darken to near-black but with the spark of a flame lit deep within their depths. It happened to Horek during his and Quinn’s mating ceremony and it’s as freaky now as it was then.

While I can’t be certain, Janik appears about the same age as Horek and slightly older than Alik, but that’s where any similarities end between the three. The commander is stern-looking, leaning toward severe even. Janik, on the other hand, possesses a certain sort of charm and swagger. Add in that darkening skin tone and it’s clear there hasn’t been a mistake: Olivia is definitely his heart’s fire. Alik radiates so much intense anger I’m scared he’s about to unleash whatever beast I’ve heard about that lives within the Bohnari males and is kept under control by the powder they inhale.

“Well, shit.” I curse my stupid mouth, because finally, the rebel leader shifts his gaze from Olivia to me.

I fight not to squirm under his scrutiny. Not that it’s gross or inappropriate. In fact, the only vibe I catch is a general curiosity. When Olivia snaps her fingers in front of Janik’s face, drawing his attention back to her, I have to bite back a chuckle.

“She’s not available,” my friend practically growls.

“She’s not available for what?” Poor Janik. The guy looks rightfully confused.

Olivia’s cheeks flame red and it must click for her mate, because he almost grins, but smothers it, given her glare.

“Are you jealous?” he asks.

Liv scoffs, but she won’t meet his eyes. “Hardly.”

“You are.”

“You’re such an asshole.”

“If the two of you are done?” Alik breaks up their weird courting ritual.

Janik’s gaze on Olivia only intensifies. “Olivia and I aren’t nearly done.”

She groans and whirls away before coming to stand next to me.

“Now that the reunion is over, perhaps you can tell us why you’re here, Olivia.” While Alik’s tone is pleasant, there’s an underlying note of steel that makes it more a command than request.

“I’m here because he is, and as much as I love having Mak with me, she needs to be with her…companion. The city isn’t a good place for her. She needs to be able to roam freely so she can hunt and exercise.” She pauses. “Plus, she misses him.”

“I don’t think she’s the only one who misses me.” Janik smirks.

“You’re infuriating,” Olivia grinds out between clenched teeth.

“You adore me.”

She sputters.

My god, this must seriously be foreplay to them. I feel like I’m intruding on a private moment.

“Enough,” Alik commands. “You have returned the rebel’s companion so your task is complete, which means you’re free to go.”

Olivia hesitates.

“I wish for her to stay,” Janik says.

Alik and Horek both glare at him. It’s the prince who replies. “I don’t particularly care for what you wish.”

Janik’s fangs and claws extrude and a growl rumbles out of his throat. He takes a step forward, but before I can stop her, Olivia is in front of him with her hand on his chest. The rage that poured from him fizzles as he stares down at her.

“No one is going to make me leave.” She darts a swift glance over at Alik. “Not even the prince.”

“I agree.”

We all turn at the queen’s voice.