Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
No sense in alarming them. Not yet. Cecil had never given me cause for concern before. I would hate to have him hung up by his toes for . . . whatever his secretive urgency with Aurelia was.
Shit. Was this a bad idea?
“No, is okay, we no need him,” Cecil said. Leala hurried to catch up to them, clearly intuiting my concern. Her hand dropped to her whip.
“Yes, you do need me,” I shouted, jogging after them.
After quickly stashing the painting at the bottom of the stairs, I climbed them and caught up with the small group. Cecil hadn’t stopped, determined to hurry.
“What’s up?” Aurelia asked, looking back at me.
I put on a cheery disposition. “Not a thing, my darling. Was that your first time declaring your love? I am gushing.”
Her cheeks turned crimson, and a soft smile covered her face as she turned to continue up the stairs.
Leala put her hand to her heart. “I teared up just then.” She paused. “No claim, though, huh?”
Aurelia shrugged. “He said we had to wait.”
“Oh. Hmm,” Leala said thoughtfully, indicating she didn’t know why. “He probably wants to wait until the patrol is a little more settled with their new routines so he can take a couple days off to, well . . .”
Aurelia shrugged again as we reached the second-floor landing and headed toward the next set of stairs. Staff bustled by in a line carrying the new chairs for the banquet room. I grabbed Leala’s arm to hold her back, allowing them to pass and putting a bit of distance between us and Aurelia so I could have a quick chat without losing sight of Cecil.
“What’s going on?” Leala asked quietly.
“What’s the deal with Cecil? Since when is he in such a rush?”
She dragged me forward through a break in the line. “I don’t know. Seemed odd, so I thought I’d better come along. I can’t imagine Granny got to him, though.”
“Why not? She’s got deep pockets. She’ll probably pay better than the royals, and he’ll be able to get out of here.”
“He can already get out of here if he wants.” She hurried us along, closing the gap between us and Aurelia. “He went through the curse. He witnessed the demon battle. He’s seen the king, the dragons, and Weston’s people all in action. Do you honestly think he’d stick out his neck and risk receiving their wrath? Finley alone would strip off his skin if he betrayed this kingdom. He’s not that foolish.”
“Well, someone sure is. How the hell else are Granny’s people operating in the shadows? We have a loyal fucking kingdom, Leala. How are Granny’s people functioning here?”
She didn’t answer, her brow pinched in concern.
“Fuck this stress,” I said as we reached the third floor—just in time to see Cecil’s door shut. “Fuck!”
Leala reached it first, grabbing the handle and wrenching, clearly thinking it would be locked. It turned easily, though, dumping her forward.
“Keep calm,” I whisper-yelled at her, taking a step up. “Don’t alarm Aurelia until we know for sure something is going on. There’s no telling what that mind-fuck magic will turn into.”
Or what she would do. Or, hell, if she got scared, what the beta would do.
I missed the days when watching Aurelia felt easy.
The room was the same mess of color and fabric as usual. Cecil stood in the corner, bent over a table with a pile of clothes on it. Aurelia stood in the middle of the room, her hands on her hips, looking out the window dreamily. That woman’s head was currently so far in the clouds she could easily be blindsided.
“How do you feel, love?” I asked as I edged into the room, commanding everyone’s focus so Leala could poke around. The windows were all closed and latched, the room as stuffy as ever. We were the only four in the room; no one waited in hiding. “Are you desperately in love, or are you mating him for his gold? I get it. I’d mate that man for far less.”
Leala slipped behind me, latching the door. Good thinking, just in case Cecil was the distraction.
“Why doesn’t that make me insanely jealous when you say it?” she asked as silver glinted in Cecil’s hand, catching my eye. He tossed it on the floor.
“Because you know I’d never be dumb enough to touch an alpha wolf, let alone your alpha wolf. Besides, he’s much too headstrong—almost like a dragon, but more sane. My darling, talk to me. Tell me everything.”
I meandered toward her, checking out the corner and not-so-absently kicking a pile of fabric. It gave way; it was a mess, not a hiding place.
“He said it”—she paused, clearly thinking back—“a week ago now, I think it was? He wouldn’t let me say it back, and he doesn’t want us to claim each other for some reason. Do you really think he’s waiting because he wants a few days together for it?”