Page 24 of Knotted By the Triad

The guard's sneer slowly disappeared. Apparently, he'd expected his little insult to make us fall apart, burst into tears, or turn around and run away. When neither of us gave him the reaction he wanted, discomfort flashed across his face.

“P-Princess,” he stuttered. “If you’re here to see the princes, you’ll have to wait until they’re done eating breakfast with my princess. If you disturb them now, you’ll only anger them. Please go back. I’ll let them know you’re looking for them.”

Oh, he was really asking for it.

I kept walking. His warning wouldn't stop me. I needed to get closer to him if I wanted to blow the powder in his face. Allie and I were immune to this particular poison, mainly because we'd repeatedly tested it on ourselves back when I was creating it.

Being immune didn't mean we planned on getting it on us, though. The guard took another step backward as we approached. His eyes darted between Allie and me. My maid and I were both smiling. He continued retreating until his back touched the gate.

With nowhere else to go, his hand moved toward his sword’s hilt. But I was faster. I lifted the packet, opened it, and blew the powder directly into his face. Allie and I immediately covered our mouths and noses and took two steps back.

The guard coughed. He stopped reaching for the sword at his waist and clasped his throat as another violent cough tore through him. He stumbled to the side, choking on the powder he'd inhaled. I quickly closed the packet and passed it to Allie.

She slipped it into her sleeve. The guard kept coughing as he scratched at his throat. His face reddened, and his eyes bulged. Dropping to his knees, he tried to speak, but no words left his mouth.

In about ten minutes, the symptoms would clear, and he'd be perfectly fine. His inner dragon would burn away the remaining toxin long before it could do him any lasting harm. His life had never been in danger.

His pride, however, would be bruised. Maybe the next time he saw me approaching, he'd remember that I was also a princess of this manor. My courtyard might not be favored, but that didn't mean we'd allow others to disrespect us.

The guard collapsed onto his side. Unfortunately, he’d managed to fall directly in our path. Allie looked down at him and shook her head. She grabbed him by the back of his uniform and dragged him away from the gate, ignoring his weak attempt to push her hand away.

Allie was strong for such a little thing. Once he was no longer blocking our path, she opened the gate and stepped aside.

“You may enter, my princess.”

I chuckled. “Thank you, Allie.”

I walked through the gate with Allie following behind me, leaving the guard coughing on the ground behind us. There was a flurry of activity inside Mei Lin’s courtyard. Servants hurried back and forth, carrying trays, linens, and other things as they went about their morning duties.

Which made me think: other than Allie, did I have any servants? I hadn’t seen any in my courtyard. It didn't take long for Mei Lin’s servants to notice me. Heads started turning. Some stared at me with pity in their eyes, perhaps thinking I was unlucky for marrying into a pack that already had an omega they loved.

Others looked at me with an air of superiority. Those were probably the ones who thought I was beneath them because their mistress was the favored wife. I ignored both groups. The old Zuri hadn't.

She'd hated these servants. At one point in CiCi's book, she'd gotten so angry over the way they'd treated her that she'd poisoned their well water and left them suffering from diarrhea for days.

I wouldn't be doing that. They weren't worthy of my time. Besides, I had bigger problems than a bunch of servants who thought serving the favored wife somehow made them important.

I already knew the way to the center of Mei Lin’s courtyard thanks to CiCi’s book, so I didn't need to ask anyone for directions. Allie walked beside me, glaring at every maid who stared at us for too long.

The deeper we walked into Mei Lin’s courtyard, the quieter it became. We stepped through an archway and entered a flower oasis. This was Mei Lin’s garden area. It didn't take long before I spotted the people I'd come looking for.

The three alphas were seated with Mei Lin around a large table covered with enough food to feed a small army. Several platters of meat, steamed buns, fresh fruit, pastries, bowls of rice, and other dishes were spread across the table.

A pot of tea sat among them, along with smaller plates filled with sauces. Meanwhile, they'd sent cold porridge to my courtyard. My petty side perked up again. Kai and Mei Lin were the only two actually eating.

Daemin sat staring down at the food on his plate, as though he was debating whether to eat it or kill it. Though Zian occasionally lifted his cup and sipped his tea, he didn’t appear particularly interested in breakfast.

Mei Lin didn't seem to notice that neither of them was eating. She was too busy talking animatedly to Kai, telling him about things she wanted added to her courtyard and what she wanted to change.

Every few seconds, she'd gesture toward one area or another as she explained what she wanted done. Kai listened while eating, occasionally responding to something she said. Zian looked bored and on the verge of leaving.

Daemin actually scooted his chair back, preparing to leave. But then he looked up, and his gaze landed on me. His eyes widened slightly, and something that looked suspiciously like interest flared in them as his gaze moved over me. I swallowed, my throat suddenly feeling dry.

Get it together, body. Do not grow slick for him again. We are not savages. We don’t get wet for just anyone.

I stood there, frozen, gaze locked with Daemin’s, and all I could think was: I wonder how it would feel to grip his long hair as he knelt in front of me, eating my pussy while I ground on his tongue.

Damn it, slick. Not now!