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“I see father is handing out favors again,” he mutters. My hackles raise on instinct. If he comes after her, I’ll kill him– prince or not. Before I can verbalize my threat, however, Rej’thorek turns on his heel and stalks away.
“What was that about?” Cora murmurs beside me, her small hand twining around my bicep as if to hold me back from chasing the male down. I shake my head, watching as Rej’thorek makes his way toward the arena.
“The Prince is… fickle,” I say, turning back to Cora. She blinks at me expectantly, clearly waiting for more information, and I sigh.
“Prince Rej’thorek is a great warrior,” I begin, choosing my words carefully, “And an even better hunter. He’s one of the most brutal of us all, but lately, he’s been… looking for a new challenge.”
“A new challenge?” Cora echoes dubiously, watching as Rej’thorek disappears into the arena. I hate the worry creasing her face, and have to fight the urge to smooth the line between her brows with my thumb. Instead, I sling my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as I gently guide her toward the kennel.
“I think if the prince is looking for a real challenge,” I whisper, leaning down to nip at the shell of her ear, “He should try living with a human.”
Cora laughs, elbowing me in the stomach, and her laughter lingers with us all the way to the kennel.
134
BONUS CHAPTER 2
LAURA
Peals of laughter bounce off of the dark, gleaming stone of the manor, echoed by distant rings of thunder. I lift my head from where I’ve been arranging bowls of fruit just in time to watch Rej’thorek leap after a shrieking Akos.
His arms outstretched, Rej’thorek’s massive body flies through the air before colliding with Akos, sending them both sprawling onto the lawn.
“Hey! No fair!” Akos yells, his fists pounding on Rej’thorek’s back. Despite the obvious fervor he’s throwing into his attempts, however, Rej’thorek doesn’t even wince. A teenage demon stands no chance against my mate– for that matter, I don’t know think anyone truly stands a chance against him.
I can’t help the grin that stretches over my face as I watch the two of them play together. Sometimes, I still can’t believe that this is my life– that after everything that’s happened, I get to have a family, get to be this happy.
“Play nice, you two!” I shout across the lawn. Rej’thorek’s eyes find mine as if by instinct, and he winks at me. Akos takes advantage of his distraction, squirming his way out from under my mate and taking off across the lawn again.
“Hey! Now who’s not playing fair?!” Rej’thorek shouts after him, but the smile on his face betrays him as Akos disappears around a hedge corner. He pulls himself up off of the lawn and makes his way toward me, the predatory grace in his movements making my breath catch in my throat.
A glint of glass over Rej’thorek’s shoulder distracts me, however, and Cora and Giroth appear on the back porch. I grin widely, waving them over.
“They have terrible timing,” Rej’thorek mutters as he reaches me, winding his arms around my waist and bending down to press a kiss to my temple.
“They’re here exactly when they said they would be,” I remind him, quirking an eyebrow at him as I smile.
“Well, they could have been a little late. We would’ve found ways to entertain ourselves,” he murmurs, gliding his hand suggestively across my hip and toying with the waistband of my trousers.
I swat at him, laughing as Cora and Giroth pick their way down the path to the blanket I’ve stretched out on the lawn. Cora beams as she proudly presents the steaming dish in her hands.
“I think I’ve finally perfected that dripir dish I was telling you about!” She says excitedly as I kiss her cheek in greeting.
“I can’t wait to try it,” I respond, accepting the dish from her as Rej’thorek and Giroth clasp each other’s arms.
In truth, Cora’s mere presence is more than enough. I wasn’t sure, after everything that had transpired between us, that she’d find it in herself to forgive me. Had our situations been reversed, I don’t know that I would’ve forgiven her– but my sister has always been the better of the two of us.
My wildest dreams couldn’t have come anywhere close to how happy I am now, though. Cora has forgiven all of my mistakes, and we’re now closer– and happier– than ever. Her kennel master has even begun to warm to me, although with Giroth, perhaps “warm” is putting things a bit strongly.
A sudden screech pulls me from my thoughts, loud and nearby enough that I nearly drop the dish I’m still holding. My head whips toward the source of the sound, familiar fear gripping me, until my eyes settle on my mate.
“Gotcha!” Akos proclaims triumphantly, clinging to Rej’thorek’s back with the tip of his wooden sword pressed to my mate’s throat. Giroth laughs heartily as Rej’thorek maneuvers Akos back to the ground, ruffling his hair.
“Good thing that sword was wooden, or you would’ve been responsible for ruining Laura’s picnic,” Rej’thorek laughs down at him. Akos’ chest puffs with pride at the attention and praise of the two males, his yellow eyes turning to me.
“Did you see? I’m going to be a warrior just like Rej’thorek!”
I laugh, pulling him into me and giving him a one-armed hug.
