AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Thedoggen’s voice came from a lower point now, as if Fritz was on his knees.
“There is nothing to forgive.” Wrath shook his head. “Not a damned thing.”
“It is all… my fault.”
The scent of the elderlydoggen’s tears filled Wrath’s nose, as he breathed in the sorrow and regret of a male of worth.
And felt an anger he knew could destroy him.
Releasing his hold on George’s harness grip, he extended his daggerhand and moved forward until he made contact with a thin shoulder. The weight of the King’s ring, the one that had been worn by his father, and his father’s father, and all the Wraths who had come before—back to the first one whose skull was on that altar in the Tomb—was innate, the kind of thing he usually didn’t notice because he’d worn it for so long.
Except he felt the heaviness now, especially as Fritz grabbed on to what had been laid upon him. Thedoggenkissed the black diamond and then pressed the ring and the back of his ruler and master’s hand to his forehead.
While he wept.
Wrath lowered his own head and closed his eyes, even though that didn’t change his vision. As he felt the moment wrap around the two of them, he was reminded of the way paths crossed, of how two strangers could become family, and how differences in station could dissolve when devotion to a job, and loyalty to an employee, transcended the work and became… love on both sides.
“It was my fault, sire,” Fritz mumbled. “I defied your orders. I went out when I should have stayed in—”
“I know why you left. My Beth told me. You were helping Karolyn and her young. He needed his blanket, and you went to get it for him.”
“I killed you—”
“You didnot.” He placed his palm on thedoggen’s head. “You have to release that burden.”
“But I robbed your son of his sire, yourshellanof her mate, you from the both of them. I took from the species its rightful leader—”
“Stop. Right now.”
In the quiet that followed, the butler sniffled and attempted to compose himself—and Wrath swallowed a growl. As the Creator was his witness, thirty-three years of pain was going to be taken out of Lash’s fucking hide for so many reasons.
“I need you, Fritz,” he said in a commanding voice. “Your King requires your service.”
A shuddering breath rippled through the torrent of tears. “Y-y-you do?”
He wanted to hug the male and do the love-you thing. He wanted to share an awkward laugh after a dark-humor joke. He wanted to leave the past in the history books and never fucking think about that night Fritz had gone to help a subordinate—and they had all lost so much collectively.
But he had to communicate the layers in a way the butler would accept.
Hugs were out. Expressions of love were out.
“I’ve always needed you, and I always will. Who else could take care of my family and my home better than you? Rise, and resume your duties, secure in the knowledge that your services are required now…” Wrath cleared his throat. “… and forever more, Fritzgelder Perlmutter.”
Good thing there was no better love language for adoggenthan to tell them their job was secure, and they were so valuable they were required at their station to serve their King.
There was a sharp sniffle, and then Fritz gathered himself up off the tile in a shuffle that was as surprisingly sprightful as always. Wrath could just picture him tugging his sleeves down with a sharp snap, and then double-checking that his jacket was buttoned properly—no, he probably had on an apron as he polished the silver.
So he’d be making sure its tie was in place.
“It is my honor to serve you, my Lord,” the butler stated with dignity.
Screw it.
“I love you, too, Fritz.” Wrath held up his dagger hand. “And you’re just going to have to suck that statement up, my man. I’m the King, and I can say whatever thefuckI want.”
There was a soft chuckle, and then a shifting as the butler bowed once again. “As you wish, my Lord… as you wish—”
“Holy. Fucking.Shit.”
