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“By my accounting,given the numbers I’ve fought, you’re well into a second Gxthian Hunting Party.That’s money and desperation right there.”
“Yes. But Ithought we’d determined that declaring you Consort was the reason for the mostrecent incident. That last attack they were definitely targeting you.”
“What’s aConsort?” Tore was back in his seat, ale in hand, an intense look upon hisface.
“Oh, you know,Darling.” Christina volunteered. “It’s like a prostitute, but they just gussyup the word to make it sound a little more fancy.”
“Is the pay good?”Tore glanced over at his daughter. “Remember to declare it come tax time if youhave a second income stream.”
“No…” Kalebsputtered as two sets of judgmental eyes pinned him to the spot. “Not aprostitute.”
“Definitely not aprostitute.” Shaw joined in. “He’s not paying me.”
“So, he’s justusing you for sex, and not paying you?” Christina frowned.
Oh, bloody hell.“There’s no sex. It’s just a ruse so that Shaw could remain close to me at theConflict Palace in order to act as my bodyguard, and help pinpoint the traitorin my inner circle.”
Tore looked likehe was thinking about ripping Kaleb’s throat out… just because.
Christina lookedslightly less bloodthirsty, but only fractionally. Thankfully a buzzer sounded,breaking the moment. “Okay, why don’t we move to the table? Tore, you grab themeat. Shaw, get the salads from the kitchen.”
A few minuteslater, seated at the candlelit outdoor table by the railing, plates laden withan assortment of salads and a rare steak each, courtesy of Tore’s grillingskills, Kaleb was finally beginning to relax. As with most times when Valkyriesate, silence reigned whilst they concentrated first and foremost on their food.Of course Kaleb was forgetting about Tore.
“This deal youmade with Shaw for protection for ten days is to buy time to transfer power toyour mother and seat her on the throne? It hardly seems like a fair agreementif all Shaw gets in return is your signature on two bits of paper.”
Shaw’s focus wason her plate, no help there. Kaleb leaned into what he had always consideredone of his greatest strengths. He started talking. “I’m also helping her tickoff the items on Stephanie’s to-do list. The first one involved tracking downGalen’s sisters. Seven delightful but sometimes surly individuals…”
About twenty minutes later, four platesmostly empty, Kaleb was finally winding down. “… and according to the latestupdates from my party planner, the baby shower decorations she has sourced arejust to die for. I mean they are literally sharp and pointy. It’s going to bean awesome day. Invitations went out yesterday. Christina, you’ll be coming?No, no. No need for that face, trust me, it’ll be fun. One of the first gameswill be a blind tasting of twenty craft ales just to get everyone in the partymood.”
“It’s not one ofthose couples’ baby showers, is it?” Grumbled Tore, looking a little horrifiedby the thought.
“Absolutely not.”Kaleb had considered it, but now looking at Tore’s expression, he was thankinghis lucky stars the party planner had talked him out of it. “Whew… so thatbrings us up to date. I didn’t forget anything, did I?”
Shaw swallowed onelast forkful of salad before giving Kaleb her full attention. She could tell bythe depth of the dimple he was thinking he’d baffled her parents with all hischatty verbose bullshit. Glossing over several more troublesome points in hisre-telling of events. Whilst shining a bright spotlight on his contributionsthat helped to get them through or out of some tricky spots. She could totallyagree with him. Let it go… but. “I think you’re leaving out how you keeptelling all and sundry that we had sex in a linen closet.”
A thunderousexpression settled on Tore’s handsome face, whilst Christina quickly glancedher daughter’s way. “Good sex?”
“Imaginary sex.”
“Yes, exactly.”Kaleb jumped on that. “Nothing happened between us.”
“But you’re goingaround boasting that it did? Real or imaginary, I fail to see how I can allowthat to stand.” Tore gritted out.
Kaleb was fairly certainhe was about to find out the depth of the river at the base of the ravine. “Um…it was for the injured ex-Berserker troops mostly, a morale booster. Keep theirspirits up kind of thing.”
“Then you toldyour political advisors, all the Palace guards… oh, and the entire Court thenext day.”
Three hundred andninety-four hell turns passed before Kaleb’s eyes. This was it.
Shaw pushed backher chair abruptly, standing up. “We have to go. Thanks for dinner.”
“You sure youdon’t want me to…?” Tore left the sentence open ended, which Kaleb found evenmore terrifying than if the God of the Hunt had named a punishment.
Leaningover, Shaw kissed her father on the cheek, patting his shoulder affectionately.“When have I ever needed anyone to fight my battles for me?”
“Never, my fierceangel. Stay safe.” Tore’s gaze silently tracking Kaleb as he hurriedly got tohis feet. Tore looking like a big cat watching its next meal drink at thewatering hole.
Shaw kissed hermother on the cheek next, muttering thanks, before hooking her arm throughKaleb’s and escorting him back inside the house to fetch the car keys and hissword.
