AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not your military commander? You’re too macho to admit you secretly long to obey my every order?”
—Yes, thank you for noticing.—
The dry response extracted an unexpected laugh from her, and ushered in the most delightful waves of affection. She tried to make light of it, saying, “Rathbone made a funny.” Adorable male.
A weary sigh drifted through her head. —I don’t know what to think or feel. So much has happened. Astra surprised me in my own home. I dreamed a memory that’s made me question what I thought I knew, and learned I might have allowed a cold, calculating queen to raise a child I should have protected. Now I’m traversing the childhood home I despise with a female I crave far too much.—
Neeka drew to a halt. What memory had he dreamed? What did he question?This was his childhood home? An amalgamation of fictional fantasy lands? Skipping over his “female I crave” confession was a herculean endeavor. For peace of mind, she did it and said, “I’d love to hear more about your childhood.”
—Hera wished me to become her personal guard, devoted to her protection. Loyal without reservation. But the trainers she entrusted with my care were too afraid of her to correct my mistakes, and servants catered to my every desire, unwilling to tell me no. Anytime she deigned to visit, I acted out, and she explained how thoroughly I disappointed her.—
His matter-of-fact delivery broke Neeka’s heart, but his trust in her helped weld it back together. He felt close enough to her—safe enough—to share painful glimpses of his past. The events that had shaped him into the steadfast male he was today.
Without thought, she reached up to stroke the ruby choker. “My sweet Red.”
Rathbone’s groan filled her head, and her blood heated. Perhaps they should focus on his craving, after all. Then a thought hit, bringing a boatload of fear, and she chilled in a hurry. He’d faced betrayal from his mother. Betrayal from his wife, not that he fully accepted it yet. Soon, he would face betrayal from Neeka. She’d told herself he would forgive her. But what if he didn’t?
“There’s nothing we can do with our past but learn from it, let it go, and grab hold of a better future,” she offered, wrapping her fingers around the gemstones, as if they fought to get away. “We can’t move forward if we’re always looking back.” Advice she should apply to her own life.
—Are you trying to tell me something, carrot?—
The beloved nickname, uttered so intimately, unleashed a hurricane of delicious sensation. Her knees quaked.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, starting forward. She drew up short when she cleared another arch and spied her new surroundings. Okay. Wow. Cages. They were scattered throughout a rose garden, dangling around a royal dais where a teenage boy reclined on a cushioned lounge, eating potato chips fed to him by a female dressed as a (topless) cat.
Though on the puny side, the boy possessed red skin and mátia. Not Rathbone’s kid? Ha!
—So I’m a father.—Amazement, resignation, and regret dripped from each word.
“Oh, yeah. You’re a father.” But how had Maximus remained a teenager so long, without maturing mentally or emotionally? Because he absolutely had not matured. That was evident as he slapped a woman’s butt cheek, snickered, and made a lewd hand gesture. “Do you see the mother?”
—No. But I doubt she lives. Hera would’ve viewed her as a liability.—
So they had no idea what kind of power and abilities the kid wielded outside of what he’d inherited from Rathbone. Well, no matter. “I’ll be gentle with him,” Neeka vowed.
The choker vibrated, making her feel as if she were being hugged.
Determined, she glided forward, stopping just in front of the dais. She caught Maximus’s notice along the way, and he jolted upright with a scowl.
“You’re wearing a top. Why are you wearing a top?” he grouched, brushing aside the next chip offering. “That’s an offense worthy of death!”
“He’s worse than a tool,” she muttered.
—But is he wrong?—
She snorted. Another funny from Rathbone. Her lips curled in a smile.
“You find my wrath amusing, wench?” the kid sputtered.
Focus!Right. “Where’s your Gam Gam, sport? Or a guardian? Whatever. Who’s in charge here?”
“I am.” Each of his dark eyes narrowed. “I’m Maximus the Dread, god of incredible power and might, with abilities your paltry mind cannot yet fathom, and you dare to question me?”
Neeka snickered with delight. Dude. Now a funny from the kid! The apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree. “Lookit, boy-o. You own a special bone, and I want it.” Good. Blunt and to the point. “Give it to me, and we can have a tea together before I abduct you to another realm.”
“I’ll give you a special bone. It’s right here.” He grabbed his crotch. “So why don’t you come take it like a good little girl?”
—I don’t know what to say except, meet young Rathbone.—
