I had trouble making my mouth work for a few moments. “As long as he’s good to you, I would never object. He’s a good person, I think, and there’s no reason it should ever be him or the coven, so I have no problem at all. I would never ruin your chance to be with him.” I frowned. “Did you explain feeding? I mean, I don’t normally, but if there’s a problem or—”
“I did,” he cut in. “And also my tie to you had certain side effects. He’s fine with both, getting he doesn’t fully get it yet, but anything past that or the chaste kiss you give us, he was clear he wouldn’t be able to handle.”
“Well damn, I should have seduced you before you were off the market,” I said with a dramatic sigh, giving him a wink. “I’ll miss our snuggles, but maybe once he knows it’s a cat thing and not what most humans would assume it won’t be off the table. It’s worth it though, I can see how much you love him.”
“You’re dying to ask something you don’t think you should,” Hope muttered. “If we mate with a human, we share our immortality, so Chris wouldn’t die on Tyson.”
“Oh thank fuck,” I sighed, rubbing my hand over my chest. “I was so worried you’d have to suffer through that if you got together for real.”
“You are so damn kind,” Tyson chuckled. “We can share it, but we give up some of our strength, like when you splice cables, you weaken the strength or power. Some don’t approve when babies are involved, but that won’t be a thing with us.”
“Well, you’re super strong and badass, so now you might just be like regular shifters,” I defended, smiling when he blushed slightly. Well, that was my good deed for the day.
I finished my bagel and tea, saying I was going to use the bathroom as I stood. I went over to Tyson and hugged him, kissing his hair.
“I’m happy for you. I want all my knights loved and happy, but if he so much as steps a toe out of line, I’m shooting him. Maybe with an airsoft gun, only since he’s human.”
“I’ll let him know and that you gave your blessing,” he chuckled, squeezing my hand before letting me go.
I felt a bit lighter as I walked off, glad there was some good among so much crazy. We needed those moments and maybe more often. It made me wonder how many others might have a person still alive they thought dead. Maybe there was a way we could get lists from settlements and trade them? No, watch, someone would find a person hiding from them and more bad would happen.
That would be just my luck.
As if to prove that point, someone I didn’t want to talk to was waiting for me after I finished in the bathroom. I had a snotty comment on the tip of my tongue about waiting outside of the women’s restroom for a person, especially when it was down the hallway from the ballroom so it was good for a breather too.
“I’m finally starting to understand what my son sees in you,” Henry greeted, eyeing me over in a way that made me feel dirty. He reached out and ran his fingers over my naked shoulder and down my arm, clearly testing me to see how I reacted. I was pretty sure no matter what I did, he would chastise me, so I didn’t react at all. “A taste would push me over the edge, I would think.”
Okay, that I would react to. I chuckled darkly, smiling in a way I knew didn’t reach my eyes. “Gross. Not in this lifetime.”
Rage filled his gaze instantly. “I would be less full of yourself, young princess. You’ll learn fast that while the princesses are the bosses, their nobles have a good deal of power and sway. Do not burn bridges you cannot repair later, and learn quickly how to use what you have to make the right alliances. A few words from me and you will lose my princess’s support that you need.”
“I doubt that as I have yet to see her listen to you about much,” I purred. “She does seem to get rather annoyed at what comes out of your mouth often.” I leaned in, smirking at him. “And she needs me, so don’t pee on me and tell me it’s raining. I do however see where Olivia gets her idiot idea she’s always the smartest person in any situation. You’re as wrong as she is on that.”
He grabbed my chin roughly between his finger and thumb, using his strength and age on me in a way he shouldn’t, knowing it would hurt. “You are the fool today, not me. You just made an enemy when I could have been a friend.”
“Only if I whored myself out to you,” I seethed. “I’m not for sale.”
He smirked at me. “All women are, especially princesses. Here you think you’re so smart and yet you don’t even know that.” He pressed his fingers together harder. “You will learn it now, and one day soon, you will come begging for my friendship, offering whatever I wish, and then I will show you what a whore you are.”
I winked at him. “At least I pay attention to who is around me before issuing threats, and boy are you in trouble.”
He instantly let me go and flinched, realizing who was there. He’d been so focused on humiliating me or getting his “taste” that he’d completely missed others had joined us.
Including his princess.
“Leave this instant and I will deal with you when I return to the coven,” Matilda hissed
