AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He didn’t know what he’d expected, but a bright smile and sparkling eyes wasn’t it.
“No shit? That’s cool!” His button nose scrunched, and he tilted his head from one side to the other. “I thought you’d have more heads.”
The way he said it, so casually, as if they were discussing the weather over afternoon tea, caught Erus off guard, and he snorted out a laugh. “Sorry to disappoint. I don’t turn into a dog, either.”
Wren just shrugged. “Bummer, dude.”
Shaking his head, he chuckled under his breath again. Wren was unlike anyone he had ever met before—human, Otherling, dead, or alive—and he decided he liked the little menace.
“So, when did you guys meet?”
“Ten minutes ago,” Orrin said.
Wren blinked. “Then, what the hell are you doing here in the lobby?”
Good point. Erus would like the answer to that as well.
“There were—” Orrin glanced at his Guard with an apologetic smile. “—complications.”
Cottoning on, Wren smirked and shuffled back a few steps toward the group. “Since you’re like a god—”
“I’m not a god.”
“That means you can protect Orrin, right?” he continued as if Erus hadn’t spoken.
“No one will touch him.” He would eviscerate anyone who tried.
“Awesome.” Wren jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “In that case, I’m going to take these guys to find something to eat.”
Three of the Guardians nodded, but Tyr didn’t move as he continued to glare daggers at Erus.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Of course, it is.” Sashaying up to him, Wren hooked his arm through the shifter’s and rocked up on his toes. “I mean, unless you want a watch. Not my kink, but you do you.”
Sindri laughed. Try growled. And Orrin turned about a dozen different shades of pink, which he tried to hide by ducking his head. It was kind of fucking adorable.
“Okay, great!” Tugging at Tyr’s arm, Wren began dragging him toward the wide hallway behind the curving staircase. “Have fun!”
As the group passed, Rune paused and leaned closer to whisper to the prince, “Don’t worry. We’ll keep an eye on him.”
“Wren or Tyr?” Orrin asked as the color in his cheeks crept up to the tips of his pointed ears.
Rune snorted. “Both.”
Once they were alone, Erus held his hand out, smiling when Orrin took it without hesitation. “Shall we?”
Chapter Four
The interruption had settled the initial spark of desire, and now, a storm of conflicting emotions raged inside Orrin as he led Erus to his fourth-floor suite.
Happiness at finding his mate. Safety and peace every time the male touched him. Shock and overwhelming confusion at Erus’ identity. Concern over the guy’s anger issues. Need and yearning at his protectiveness…which made it easier to overlook his homicidal inclinations.
Erus was arrogant and cavalier. The way he had commandeered the seating area in the lobby had wreaked of entitlement. Yet, the fact that he had done it for Orrin’s comfort had been sweet in a weird way. Orrin still couldn’t bring himself to ask where his mate had “relocated” the guests, though.
Little tendrils of guilt also snaked through the other emotions. Guilt at purposely turning a blind eye to Erus’ audacious behavior. Guilt for thinking poorly of his mate in the first place. Guilt for feeling guilty when he hadn’t done anything wrong.
But then Erus would look at him with such affection and adoration that all his misgivings and hesitations would dissipate as if they had never existed.
