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“Of my kidnapping?” I repeated.
He gave me a nod. “Though you are not a child, obviously. So, a princenapping, I suppose. In the very least, an Enchantednapping.”
“Dex,” I groaned.
“There is apparently a coordinated effort going on tonight. Some wolves want you to attempt to change one of them next. Whit is out there now trying to put a stop to it. Rumor has it that a few people in this room might be involved. Regardless, they want to take you. Nap you.”
I rubbed a hand across my forehead.
“You may be assigned a new room. Or even switch with Emric for the night.”
“Whom they will also gladly kidnap?” I argued.
He put up a hand. “He knows. He said he wouldn’t be opposed to it. He wants to try it on his own now that he helped you turn Malachi.”
I let out a long sigh. “If he can’t do it, they could turn on him. And if enough of them get angry....”
“John said that also,” Dex explained. “We are working on it, Keir. Trust me. But it is likely you will not be able to stay more than about an hour longer.”
That part was at least agreeable. “Fine.”
Just as I moved to turn, I looked out one of the open balcony doors. My eyes caught on something pink.
Esta.
Esta in the arms of Zaire. While she looked perfect and peaceful in my arms, she looked entirely wrong in his and it had nothing to do with his tongue being down her throat and everything to do with who he was.
Dex, in soldier mode, tensed and turned to see what I was looking at, worried of a threat.
“Oh damn,” he muttered under his breath.
“Yeah.”
So this was what that felt like. Jorah had seen me with another of my prospective brides on numerous occasions. Was fate being a prick right now in allowing me to feel this back?
“Uhh. What can I do?” Dex asked.
I let out a sigh. Though it felt like jealousy and hurt were racing to the surface, my senses dulling to the sharpness within me, I also knew what it felt like to have a parent toss prospective partners at you. Encourage some. Discourage others.
As much as I wanted to let my jealousy loose and run rampant given that I was just with Esta, I knew all too well what that felt like. Searching for the approval of a parent who would never give it to you anyway. Knowing it, yet still desiring it anyway. Not wanting to let that parent down, as well as your people, your country.
“You do nothing,” I said to Dex with a smile. “I do nothing. You do nothing. Just keep me posted on my kidnapping.”
He gave me a nod and a pat on the shoulder before walking off.
Malachi was there when I returned, having seen or heard the seriousness of what happened. He gave me a look to explain.
Lying to him when he had been nothing but a friend to me seemed beyond wrong. I put up a sound barrier around the two of us. “I am going to have to bail on our afterparty plans, as I am evidently being taken by some shifters later. While Dex was filling me in on what they know, I saw Esta and Zaire on the balcony together.”
He didn’t hesitate. “How together?”
I considered that a moment. “Kissing is putting it mildly?”
He let out a sigh. “Ouch.” He paused. “I’ll handle the other issue though.”
As soon as he moved away, he hit the outer wall of my sound barrier, causing it to fall. He took off for the balcony and was flying in moments.
“Why did you scare him off?” Amory asked at my elbow.
