Page 83 of Live Love Lasso

Lemon beams up at me, slipping her hands up my shirt to rest on my pecs. “I haven’t done karaoke yet today. Any desire to sing a song with me, mate?”

“Hells yeah,” I croon. “What’re we gonna sing, city girl?”

She curls one dark blonde brow upward. “I was thinking ‘I Feel a Sin Comin’ On.’ Do you know that one?”

Joy and adoration flood our bond as I burst into laughter. I spin her in my arms and plant a kiss on her exposed shoulder as I push us toward the karaoke stage.

“Gods, you’re beautiful,” I breathe into her skin.

She looks up over her shoulder at me. “I know.” Crimson eyes glitter with mischief.

I bite my way down her shoulder, pulling her sleeve partway off to get better access. “You know it too, don’tcha?”

She lifts her chin. “I do.”

Pressing my mouth to her ear, I growl softly. “I’m gonna fuck you in those pretty pink boots tonight, mate. You’re my little blood slut, and I need to beast out on top of you.”

She shudders against me, hand tightening over mine. “Not to mention my chickens are probably starved to death and missing me.”

That pulls a laugh from me, my city girl worrying over the chickens.

“Don’t forget Roger and the pit hells,” I say with a laugh. “Bebop’ll have a heart failure if he thinks you’ve forgotten him.”

Not to mention I’ve got a little surprise I’ve been workin’ on out back of my house. I cannot wait for her to see it.

Lemon

Nerves clang in my belly as I look around the opulent entryway to House Nerazar. The Nerazar castle is more like a compound at the top of their high rise in the city. Not to mention, I didn’t tell Father or Hunter I was coming to the city today.

Varitius Nerazar appears in the entryway, having been summoned by his servant. He narrows deep red eyes at me. “Miss Denton. What in the actual fuck are you doing in my home?”

At my side, Furyon slides his hand up between my shoulder blades while he pushes support through our bond. It warms me from the inside out.

“Zayle,” he says smoothly. “Her last name is Zayle now.”

Varitius narrows his eyes at us, cocking his head to the side as he examines Furyon. “Zayle as in House Zayle?”

“The very one,” Furyon confirms with a big, toothy grin. “We’re here to see Serafina.”

“Oh, you’ve done enough,” Varitius snaps. “She still⁠—”

“It’s okay, Father.” Serafina Nerazar gracefully descends the red-carpeted staircase to her father’s right.

He blanches when she emerges from the darkness. Gods, her entire face, neck and chest are covered in welted hives. They look as angry and red as ever. Embarrassment and sorrow for her fill me.

She pauses at the bottom of the stairs. Despite the hives, she’s timelessly elegant and beautiful. “I spoke with Lemon earlier, Father. She asked to come. I heard her out and agreed.”

Varitius takes his daughter’s hand and clutches it to his chest. Something in mine cracks open at seeing how he stares adoringly at her. I wish I’d had that with my father, but I’m glad for her that she has it with him.

“I think I’ve got a cure,” I say, willing confidence into my tone.

“Absolutely not,” Varitius snaps.

“Hear her out, please,” Serafina says softly, hand still clutched in her father’s.

For the next half hour, I explain what happened with her potion, careful not to name Hunter and seem like I’m pointing fingers. House Denton is still in high standing, and I need to take responsibility for my part in what happened to her. I share everything about the Giant Arakna and what happened in Pine Gulch. And then I share my theory with Varitius and Serafina.

When I’m done talking, he scoffs. “So you think the Arakna venom will basically kill Serafina’s hives?”