She held it as she straightened her spine, threw her shoulders back, and lifted her chin.She looked so brave as she made her decision.Then, without a word, she slid her hand around his arm, wrapping her arm around his bicep.
Looking at the men around them, he met each of their eyes one at a time before he growled, “Felangi minn.”
As one, the men bowed their heads and replied in unison, “Ja minn konungur.”
“KO-noon-gur, what does that mean?”she asked softly.
“I’ll explain later,” Fenrir said as Beck and Liam stepped around them and opened the double doors.
“Okay,” his sweet mate said, sounding more than a little befuddled.“Haven’t I seen you and your friends at The Gin Room the last couple of nights?”
Fenrir decided telling her the truth would be for the best.After all, this was his mate and he would not want any deceptions between them now or in the future.
“Yes, we’ve been coming in lately.Liam is a fan of your mead.”
“I’m not the only one,” Liam muttered, sounding like he was only half-kidding.
Before Fenrir could respond, a woman approached, dropping to her knees before him.
She wore what young women these days considered a dress, though Fenrir thought it looked more like a piece of underwear that barely covered anything important.Bowing her head, the woman held her hands up to him, palms up as if in supplication.
“My king, I wish to offer myself for your pleasure again during this year’s hibernation.”
Fenrir frowned at the woman for a moment, trying to remember her name.It had something to do with flowers, but he couldn’t remember what it was.They’d only spent a few nights together and she was a flighty, shallow woman only interested in bank accounts and who knew whom.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’ve chosen my woman for the hibernation,” Fenrir responded as gently as he could while fighting the urge to rip off her head for making such an offer with his mate standing beside him.
Liam easily lifted her to her feet before guiding her away.After he whispered a few words to her, she hurried away, quickly disappearing into the crowd.
Once the woman was gone, Fenrir turned his attention to the woman by his side.She was standing still as a statue and looking around with a stunned expression.
He wanted to assure her that, no matter how many women might approach him, he would never again be with another.Only he couldn’t share that until they had a much different conversation first.One about his true nature, her role in his life, and their future together.Which was not something he wanted to discuss in the lobby with dozens of people, both humans and supernaturals, within listening distance.
After another moment, his mate took a deep breath and seemed to relax.Then she looked up at him, her face pale and eyes wide with what could only be taken for fear.
“Did that woman, who was wearing practically nothing, really offer herself to you?”Though she barely whispered, he could hear her as if she was talking at a normal level.“And what is the hibernation she spoke of?”
Being a hybrid, his enhanced powers were twice what they would be if he was either a full-blood wolf or vampire.His hybrid status was also why he was theKonungr, the king, of the combined tribe of vampires and werewolves.
“Yes, she did.I’ve been with a lot of women during hibernation over the years,” Fenrir explained gently.“But from now on, you’re the only woman I’ll be with, during summer hibernation or any other time of year.”
Summer’s eyes grew even wider as she stared up at him.Before she could ask anything further, a howling and multiple rapid clicking sounds drew their attention.A black wolf raced into view, followed by two larger gray wolves.It was clear there would be trouble and bloodshed if he didn’t step in.The crowd split, moving to the edges of the lobby with gasps and cries of fear.
Releasing Summer, he moved around in front of her to stand directly in the path of the three canines.
“Stop,” he ordered, pushing power into his tone.
The wolves immediately dropped to the floor before rolling over and showing their bellies.At the same time, every other supernatural being within the sound of his voice dropped to a knee and bowed their heads.The humans remained on their feet, as they looked around, confused.
Fenrir focused on the three wolves at his feet before shaking his head at them.“Get back to your rooms, shift, and get dressed.Then report to Chef in the kitchen.You’re all assigned to kitchen duty until you can get along.Any broken dishes or damage to the kitchen will be taken out of your bank accounts ...and your hides, if I know Chef.”
The three wolves rolled to their feet and bowed before racing out of sight again.
Only then did Fenrir turn back to Summer.Only she wasn’t standing behind him any longer.
“Shit,” he muttered as he crossed the lobby.
He trailed her scent to the front doors.Pushing through them, he stopped when he saw the bouncers standing in front of his mate, keeping her from leaving without touching her.
