“You’re both children,” Krolic growls, his gaze going to Ailsa. “Come with me, my queen. I’ll escort you to the Tavern.”
She looks ready to protest.
But all Krolic does is lift a single silver brow, his gaze burning into hers, and her head bows slightly in submission.
I suppress a sigh. This is the side of her I’ve known for two very long years. I want the fiery female beneath. The one who expressed dissent just moments ago.
Reaching forward, I catch her chin in a fashion similar to Krolic’s previous hold and gently guide her eyes back up. “You submit to no one, Miss Marvel,” I tell her softly. “You’re a queen—ourqueen.”
She blinks. “But… but you all keep telling me toobeyyou.”
My lips curl. “There’s a difference between willing obedience and outright submission, sweet one. The former earns rewards. The latter… the latter will never apply to you.”
“He’s right,” Krolic says, his hand still outstretched for hers. “I’ve asked you to be a good girl and do what we say because we want to keep you safe, not control you. There’s a difference.”
“But how can I even trust you?” she sputters out. “You… you’re…Beast.”
“I’m Krolic,” he corrects her. “And also your Beast, yes.”
“So you… youliedto me,” she accuses him. “I thought you were a wolf!”
“I am a wolf, Ailsa. A shifter, to be precise. And I’m also the rightful Silver King.”
She gapes at him. “You…” She swallows. “Oh, Gods, you want tobreedme.” She takes a step back from the portal I created.
I share a look with Craze. “I told you it was too much.”
“And I told you that I don’t understand this reaction.” He folds his arms. “That elixir is supposed to make her insatiable and begging for our knots, not afraid of them.”
“Kn-knots?” she repeats. “What… what’s a knot?”
“Neither of you are helping,” Krolic informs us.
“I’m not sure there’s much that can be helped,” Craze tosses back. “She’s terrified of us.”
“Terrifiedis a strong word,” she snaps at him. “Confusedandoverwhelmedwould be better. Now what’s a knot? And why did you lie about being a wolf?”
“Two very different questions,” Craze drawls unhelpfully. “Give us your favorite color first.”
I stare at him, baffled by his comments. But that’s nothing new. Craze frequently loses me with his chaotic statements and word choices.
He uses his hand to create a “hand it over” gesture as he stares her down.
“Oh my Gods, you’re impossible,” she says to him. “Purple, okay? I love purple. Now tell me what a knot is!”
“I would much rather show you,” he says softly.
“Craze,” Krolic warns.
“I’m just being honest,” he replies.
Perhaps a little too honest,I think.
“I didn’t lie about being a wolf,” Krolic says, ignoring Craze and focusing on our intended. “Iama wolf. A shifter. There’s no lie. And I didn’t try to trick you, either. I just wanted to get to know you, and it was safest for me to do so in my animal form.”
“Just like I took over as the master of your district so I could also be close to you,” I insert. “As to what a knot is, it’s something you’ll learn more about later. Something sexual.” I reach for her chin again, dragging her focus to me. “And no one will bebreedingyou without your permission. Okay?”
She blinks at me. “I… But that voice said the king wants tobreedme.”
