“Of course, I’ll come,” I say, licking my lips. “Someone has to watch your back and make sure you don’t go over any more waterfalls.”
“Thank you,” he whispers.
I nod my head, already fantasizing about what I’m going to do to that cousin of his when I get my hands on him.
“Queen Calista,” he says, savouring every syllable. “I like the sound of that.”
I grin as reality sinks in.
“So do I.”
Chapter Eight
Kieran
“Who’s next?” Valther shouts, pacing around the deck with his flexed arms in the air. “There’s no one in all nine kingdoms who can beat me.”
I’m grinning as I walk over. If he thinks he can beat any shifters in the wolf kingdom at arm wrestling, he’s gravely mistaken. I know pups that are strong enough to rip his arm from his socket.
He just beat Drakor, even though he’s larger, and Petr is still rubbing his wrist from his match.
“I’ll take you on,” I say with a smile.
The confident look on his face fades when he turns and sees me approaching. “Nah, not you.”
“He’s afraid,” Edrik says.
Valther lunges for him, but Edrik is quick on his feet and runs away.
“I ain’t afraid,” Valther says, spitting on the deck at such a vile sentiment. “I just don’t want to break him. Calista would be pissed that I broke her little wolf toy.”
“Wolf toy?” I say, staring him down as I sit at the crate. I place my elbow on it with my hand splayed out, waiting for him. “Have a seat.”
“Yeah,” Petr says, still rubbing his wrist from when Valther smacked it into the crate. “Have a seat, mate.”
Valther is clearly uncomfortable with the way he keeps glancing at my open hand. The confidence and bluster have gone from his deflated shoulders.
“He’s da next Wolf King,” Valther says with a hint of panic in his tone. “I don’t want an army of dogs after me.”
The boys have seen how strong I am over the past three days. Pulling full nets up by myself and lugging three times the amount of crates that they lift. Valther just doesn’t want to lose his bragging rights.
“You’ll have full amnesty,” I promise.
“No way,” he says, shaking his head. “The Captain will string me upside down from the mast when I hurt you.”
“It’s okay, Valther,” Calista says, walking over with a grin on her face. “I give you permission. Do your worst.”
Valther looks around and sees the whole crew watching him. He’s fidgeting nervously with his shirt as he shrugs and finally submits. “Fine. Just don’t blame me when I break all his fingers.”
He sits on the small crate and reluctantly grabs my hand.
Petr counts down and we start arm wrestling. Valther is stronger than I thought he’d be, but it’s nothing compared to a shifter’s strength. I can slam his hand down, breaking his bones and the crate at the same time, but I don’t want to break his pride.
I go easy on him. I let him think he’s got the better of me, letting my hand go backward.
The fire reignites in his eyes.
“Ha ha,” he says through grunts. “I got ya, wolf. I told you I was the strongest!”
