He eyed me with a raised brow. “Well, someone certainly thinks highly of themselves.” When I slapped his chest, he only chuckled. “I’m only joking! I know you’re tough. So if you can’t take him on, that leaves a pretty short list of who possibly can.”
I nodded in agreement and we lapsed into silence, pondering that thought. Fenrir worked me and Bash over without breaking a sweat or wrinkling his shirt. It was as if he was merely swatting a fly, like we were nothing. It was disturbing.
Fenrir was coming to Scotland, and when he arrived, I was sure he would make a grand entrance to make himself known.
“I’m here whenever you need me, Pet. You know that, right?” Lucian said right as the song ended. He took my elbow gently and escorted me from the dance floor.
“I know. Thank you.” We made our way over to the table where Bash was sitting. “Will you be at my coronation this Sunday?”
Lucian grinned. “As if anyone could stop me.”
I laughed. “Good! I need all the support I can get.”
“You’ll be fine, Pet,” he whispered in my ear as we reached the table. Lucian pulled out the chair beside Bash and I took a seat. He bowed to me and dipped his head in a show of respect to Bash. “I must make the rounds. I’ll see you both later.” With that, Lucian disappeared through the crowd, leaving me alone with Bash.
“He looks good,” Bash noted as he watched Lucian go.
“Yeah,” I mumbled, “but I still need to figure out what I need to do to get him freed from Sheunta Village.”
Bash nodded. “Baby steps, Mackenzie. Everything in due time.”
I knew he was right, but it was still frustrating. I wanted to fix everything right now, but it just wasn’t possible.
Bash and I huddled together for the next hour at the table, talking about how we felt with the Blood Moon now out. We could feel the extra boost of strength coursing through our veins, which made it feel even more strange because we weren’t shifting and taking advantage of it.
“Princess …?”
A gruff voice interrupted our conversation and I peered over my shoulder to see Callum from the Council standing behind me. He was tall, with a broad frame and dark hair that matched his eyes. He was wearing a kilt just like Alexander, though the colors were slightly different. I still didn’t know what the different colors meant. When I asked Alexander about it, he said they represented different clans, but I didn’t ask him to explain further. I needed to add that to my ever-expanding list of things to learn about in the near future.
“Yes, Callum?” I twisted around in my seat and craned my neck to look up at him. I would stand, but my feet were already aching because of these damn heels.
“I thought we might talk … outside the council room,” he suggested, looking behind me to Bash as if implying in private.
“He stays.” I motioned to the seat beside me. “Have a seat.”
Callum straightened and cleared his throat, the picture of ruffled dignity. “I would rather stand.”
“Suit yourself.” I shrugged. “What do you want?”
Callum squinted his eyes and all feigned pleasantness disappeared from his face in a blink. “We are wasting resources on extra security because of yer so-called threat and it’s time we stop with the nonsense, lass. Everything has been fine – not even a whisper has been detected. If anyone is coming, they’re coming for ye, not for the King.” He pointed at me accusingly, his gnarled fingers trembling with rage.
Bash growled behind me and I held up a hand to stop him. We weren’t going to make a scene in the ballroom because of this buffoon. There were too many people around.
“Interesting,” I mused. “Is that all?”
His face turned beet red and he opened and closed his mouth repeatedly like a fish out of water, but no sound came out.
“I guess so,” I dismissed him with a shrug. “Okay, I’ll take what you said into consideration. Nice chat.” I smiled sweetly and started to turn away and continue my conversation with Bash when his meaty hand clamped down on my shoulder, his fingernails digging into my skin.
“I’m nae done with ye yet!” he snarled.
Bash kicked his chair back in his haste to stand, grabbing Callum’s wrist from my shoulder and twisting it at an odd angle.
“Hands off the Princess,” he growled. I felt his anger seeping from his pores.
Callum groaned in pain and Bash pushed him away, releasing his hold and standing beside me like a rabid bodyguard. Eyes started to turn our way and whispers made their way across the ballroom.
This was exactly what I wanted to avoid, but it was funny how it was Bash who lost his cool and not me.
One point for Kenzie!
“What is it that you want from me, Callum?” I asked, making my voice sound bored. In reality, I was itching to leave and get away from the prying eyes that stalked our every move.
Callum stepped forward menacingly, but Bash took an answering step toward him and the Council member backed away.
“I want ye to talk to yer father about lowering security. He obviously does nae listen to his council anymore, but he’ll listen to ye,” he snapped, disgust lacing his tone like he thought of me as nothing more than the dirt beneath his shoe.
I gave a dramatic sigh and stood, carefully adjusting my dress. “Only because your feelings are obviously hurt and I want to appease your fragile male ego, I will speak with Alexander. But,” I emphasized the word, “if anything happens because we did as you suggested, it’ll be on your head. Quite literally.” I ran a finger across my neck to drive the idea home.
He looked murderous, but instead of answering or even saying thank you, he stormed away, leaving me standing there with a bunch of onlookers and Alexander standing by his
