“Again, sounds like your issue.”
“Just be a dear and spill all. Enquiring minds want—no,need—to know.”
“Once more, this seems to be ayouissue.”
Huffing, she crossed her arms. “I just want to note that you are the worst best friend ever.”
“How do you know? We’re not best friends.”
“Wesoare,” she insisted.
“Nakoa’s yours. You said so yourself.”
Her lips thinned. “Are you just going to keep throwing that in my face to make me feel bad?”
“Doesit make you feel bad?”
“Not a whole lot, no. I’m torn between you and Nakoa. It hurts.Hurts.But I’d feel so much better if you just told me—”
“No.”
Her arms flopped to her lap. “Like I said, worst bestie ever.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Crouched on the tack room floor the next morning, I twirled my finger sideways at the little pup in front of me. Riot obediently did a smooth roll along the floor. Grinning, I praised, “Good boy.”
He predictably leaped at me, his tongue lolling out, his tail wagging.
I stroked him, spouting more words of praise. The pup, who’d been named Riot by Ajax, routinely visited me now. He’d not only woken me this morning by enthusiastically licking at my face, he’d danced around me while I dressed—attacking my clothes like he was competing with them for my focus.
I’d trained him to perform a number of tricks—first using edible treats. Now he responded to hand commands alone. Laelaps were exceptionally smart.
“One more trick. Then I have to go eat.” I gave him a different hand command, and Riot correctly responded by spinning in a circle. Smiling brightly, I petted him. “You’re such a clever boy. Yes, you are. And so damn cute, I could just eat you.” Feeling a muzzle nudge my shoulder, I stroked Valor’s head. “Don’t be jealous, I love you as well.”
The sound of footfalls made me tense. I knew the rhythm of that stride. Knew who was coming. Knew that he would likely walk right in here.
“I gotta go now,” I whispered to Riot. “We’ll play again tomorrow.” I gave him a brief stroke, rose to my feet, and stepped away from the pup.
Moments later, the bane of my existence strode right into the room, bold as you please. Yes, he still checked to make sure that I tidied any mess I made. Such faith in me.
“Good morning,” I greeted as Valor padded over to him. “I’m running late, but I’ll put the room to rights in just a second.”
When Riot playfully bounded over to him for some attention, I snatched my pillow and blanket from the hay bales. I whistled as I tidied the room—stuffing things out of sight or putting other things back into their original position.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Valor herding Riot out of the room and presumably back to their den. I also noticed that Talon had yet to move. It was probably another attempt to grate on my nerves. And it wasn’t going to work.
Once the room was in order, I stepped into my boots without so much as looking his way. I was tying the laces when I heard more footfalls approaching.
A head stuck around the corner of the doorway.Jelani.His brow dented as his gaze flicked from me to Talon, who didn’t deign to turn and acknowledge him. “Oh, hi,” he said before clearing his throat.
I smiled. “Hey.”
Talon didn’t budge to let him advance into the room. In fact, he acted like Jelani wasn’t even there.Rude.
Jelani plucked at his earlobe. “Khalida sent me to find you,” he told me. “Said you’re taking too long.”
I inwardly frowned, since it wasn’t something that she had ever done before. I had to wonder if, knowing Talon would be at the stables, she’d sent Jelani here in the hope that another male seeking me out might somehow spur the Cardinal into making some sort of move. If so, she was wasting her time.
