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She looks nearly panicked as she turns to Laura, whose eyes have gone wide. “Shit,” she murmurs, darting forward with Anastasia on Laura’s heels as best as she can manage. I’m not sure what is happening, but we scurry after them, Giroth pressing into my side and wrapping an arm around me.
Laura throws the door open to reveal Volikan snarling Rej’thorek’s face. Giroth rips me back, pressing me hard against his fronts as he takes in their aggressive stances. I’m not blind to how dangerous these guys actually are, so I let him.
Especially as I take in the viciousness of Volikan’s face, painted by the bright lightning scattering across the sky. His scars are bright with each flash, his teeth shocking sharp and bared. I’m not blind that he clearly once was a fierce warrior, but I guess we all had forgotten just how far that could go until now.
Laura looks furious, and I’m not sure at which demon that is targeted at, but Anastasia gasps quietly next to her, drawing their attention. Volikan’s eyes flick to his mate, and, though his posture doesn’t relax, he does take a step back from the Prince and shuts his mouth.
Rej’thorek turns slowly at the same time, and his eyes widen when he sees us all crowded there. I watch as anger, embarrassment, and – fear? – dance across his face and he pivots away from Volikan.
The look he is wearing is one I know well. It is the war of demon nature, to apologize to his mate or snarl at intruders. I almost want to laugh, the air is so tense.
Anastasia cuts through it first. “Uh, Giroth and Cora are here.”
Two eyes sweep toward us and I squeak out a soft, “Hi.”
Giroth only grunts, still keeping me pinned against him. Volikan and Rej’thorek are staring at him so intensely, I almost want to turn around to see what kind of glare he’s giving them.
But before I do, he announces, “Well, you might as well catch us all up on whatever this little scuffle is if you’re going to be so loud about it.”
My face flames at his brash behavior, and I elbow him again, which causes him to tuck my arm tight against his side. “It’s true,” he hisses quietly.
I fight a groan as Laura breaks away, going to Rej’thorek’s side and whispering to him.
Gods, what has my sister gotten into this time?
129
GIROTH
Well, this certainly got interesting.
When Cora told us we had to come her for the baby bath – or whatever the fuck they’re doing to an unborn child – I was less than enthused. And that tremor did not help. I’ve been reluctant to leave my pups, and even more so to let Cora out in the city.
I don’t entirely hate that I’ve been dragged here now, though I don’t trust the tension between those two. A Prince and a skilled warrior? A fight between those two could level this house, and I am caught between wanting to watch them tear each other apart and getting Cora out of here.
When Volikan takes the first step forward, I’m surprised. I expected the diplomatic answer of a Prince to try and brush away the situation. I still pull Cora back half a step, just in case. The anger flashing in Volikan’s eyes is not something I couldn’t take, but it certainly isn’t something I want her caught in.
“I was merely asking our Prince,” he snarls the word with a glare toward Rej’thorek. “To explain why the island is suddenly racked with tremors that no one is addressing.” My lips purse. This is not the answer I expected, though I am even more interested.
I have been wondering the same. My pups have been growing more and more fearful with each passing day. Their natural predator behavior has been coming out, causing fights and injuries, and I have to go to the kennels almost hourly now to ensure they are all safe.
Some of them even fight me to come back inside. They have always been so well behaved and obedient, but the tremors have shaken them to their core.
I hold Volikan’s gaze, nodding slowly, and Cora stiffens against me when a slight grin pulls at his lips. I rub small circles along her stomach to soothe her. That smile isn’t dangerous – well, it might be. But not for us.
Volikan whirls on Rej’thorek. “The King has yet to address the tremors. Why? What is it that your family knows?” He stalks forward one step and Rej’thorek pulls Laura behind him. “What are you hiding?”
Anastasia waddles in between the three of us. “Volikan,” she hisses. Does she not see the danger she is putting herself in? An angry demon is dangerous, but one whose child and mate are threatened? He’s unpredictable, and that’s worse.
Volikan drags her to his side, tucked between his body and the flimsy railing around the patio. His eyes are still trained on the Prince, despite his mate’s protests, as if daring him not to answer.
I snort out a laugh, and Cora doesn’t even reprimand me this time.
“I don’t know what’s going,” Rej’thorek snaps. “I’m not often privy to my father’s whims. None of us are.”
He might believe that his performance was convincing, but there is a tension lining his face and shoulders that share he’s holding back. There is more to it than that.
“Spit it out,” I growl, losing my patience for this dance. The tremors have reached a point where we deserve to know what’s going on. I have a mate to protect, and I will not sit idly by until the King deems us worthy of knowledge.
