I shrugged. “Whatever his reasons, I’d rather he didn’t make any moves. Try to talk him out of it. Tell him I’d want an arrangement. That would be enough.”
Her brows lifted slightly. “I could do that. It should work. And if it doesn’t, we’ll know he’d want more. Would that change things for you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
“I don’t get why it means so much to you, Anara,” Nakoa cut in. “Exclusivity isn’t necessary.”
At those words, Soule’s head swerved toward her. “Exclusivity what?”
“Isn’t necessary,” Nakoa repeated. “It’s better to have the freedom to share a bed with whoever we like.”
Soule scraped his lower lip with his teeth. “And yet, when she”—he slid a look at a nearby female Lykaon—“came onto me a few months ago, you didn’t react too well.”
“I told you, you can sleep with anyone but her,” Nakoa said, all reasonable.
“Except for Khalida. And Layna. And—”
“So there are some exceptions to the rule. So what?”
Sighing, Soule looked at me and mouthed, “We’re exclusive.”
Feeling something brush my leg, I glanced under the table to see Zinc licking up crumbs. No foods bothered their digestion, so Laelaps could—and did—eat anything.
The canines were fed four times a day—which wasn’t even particularly necessary, since they could go days without eating—but they’d still lap up any crumb they could find.
I snatched a chunk of bread from the tray, tore off a piece, and fed it to Zinc beneath the table. Only once his chomping sounds faded did I pass him another piece.
Right then, Jelani appeared and took the spot across from me. “I had a word with Bevan.”
“Thanks, but you didn’t have to.” Having fed the last of the bread to Zinc, I raised my tankard. “I’m used to him being a dick.”
“You shouldn’t have to be used to it.” Jelani lifted the heavy pewter jug and splashed beer into a tankard. “And he needs to understand that it isn’t going to happen anymore. Not merely because I’ll punch him if it continues, but because things don’t work that way in the Order. We look out for each other.”
I smiled. “Well, aren’t you cute.”
His lips kicked up. “I am. Don’t forget it.”
“Don’t forget what?” asked Layna, plopping her butt on the bench beside his.
“That I’m cute,” he told her.
She gave him a once-over. “You’re all right, I guess.”
I bit back a smile and drank a swig of mead. Khalida, Nakoa, and I suspected that the two Delphiae were resisting acting on their attraction because they didn’t want to ruin what a close friendship they had. Watching the pair bicker, I strongly suspected that they’d end up in bed together atsomepoint.
Laughter sliced through the air, drawing my gaze. It was coming from Keyes, who sat with Talon, Ajax, and a few others. They always sat at the corner table nearest the door, and no one else ever claimed it just in case they showed up. It was pretty much reserved for them at all times, no matter how crowded the place became.
A curvy Phoenixian officiate leaned back against the wall near the table, her gaze locked on Talon. Skye commonly orbited around him, desperate for his acknowledgement and attention. Which spoke of alotof optimism, since he’d shown no interest in the nine years she had been here. But I felt it was also her way of discouraging other females from coming close.
Much as she hovered near him, she was always very careful not to touch him. I’d heard that he was not casual about touch. Much like the Laelaps and Arions.
Likely because he was more beast than man, there was something so very untamed about Talon. He possessed an animalistic intensity. Like someone who had been raised by a pack of wolves or something.
I’d heard stories of what he was like in bed. It was said that he liked to fuck. No kisses, no cuddles, no sensual finesse—he kept it basic and primal. Most likely reserving everything else for Eva, I thought. He was, in a sense, emotionally committed to her.
My insides seized as his eyes flew to mine. I saw no point in quickly averting my gaze—he’d caught me staring. So as his eyes narrowed and hardened, I mouthed, “Oh, Bitsy.”
With a short shake of his head, he turned his attention back to his friends.
