Page 449 of Flirting with Darkness

“Flirting with darkness is fine,” Fox said. “Just don’t try to add him to our group. We’re full.”

I nearly spit out my drink, instead swallowing it and coughing violently.

Deryn patted my back while laughing.

“Seriously, though, why aren’t you guys worried?” I asked once I was able to breathe normally again.

“Like Rhys said, we’ve all had our bouts with bloodlust during battles before,” Nico said. “We’ve all needed to be pulled back from that edge a time or two.”

“You think there was any truth to what he said about the alphas?” I asked. “Do you think he might have heard something about the elders?” The elders made a lot of rules and decisions for the clans. They didn’t spend time with us to form an emotional bond, so they could consider something heinous like killing Caleb.

“Ouch, that hurts to hear,” the Dragon Elder said as he and the Wolf Elder entered the restaurant.

We all stood and bowed.

Instead of apologizing, I straightened and asked, “Is there any truth in it?”

Wolf Elder smiled, his wrinkles around his eyes crinkling as he did. “You have no need to fear that from us, Princess. We would never harm a hair on that wonderful child’s head.”

“It is true that former elders would order clans to kill hybrids,” Dragon Elder answered. “We are not those elders and times have changed drastically since then.”

“Thank you for answering,” I replied and bowed my head again.

“Enjoy your brunch,” Wolf Elder said.

Once both had walked to the other side of the restaurant, I exhaled and closed my eyes. “I’m surprised I’m alive with how many times I’ve insulted powerful people.”

“Your magnetism helps keep people from smiting you,” Fox said.

He wasn’t wrong. As a siren, I had more magnetism than most people and it definitely help me survive over the years.

Dan, Emrys, and Katar walked in, pausing when they saw their sons, Nico, and me.

“What are you three doing here?” Deryn asked.

“We’re not allowed to eat here?” Dan challenged.

“We decided we needed a morning drink to deal with our grandson going to school,” Katar said as he came and sat on my right, forcing me and Deryn to scootch over on the booth seat to give him more room. “Oh, what is this?” he asked and took a sip of Fox’s drink. “Blueberry?”

The three kings pushed another table over and joined us.

Our waiter immediately brought over menus.

“I’ll have what he’s having,” Katar said, pointing at Fox’s drink.

“I’ll have what she’s having,” Dan said and pointed at my drink.

“Do you want small, medium, or—”

The waiter didn’t get to finish before Dan and Katar said, “That size.”

The waiter looked at Emrys who tapped his finger on the table a few times before finally ordering, “Same, but regular flavor.”

“So, did you cry?” Dan asked me.

“Almost,” I admitted.

“I cried,” he said. “I would have bawled like a baby if I’d watched him go inside.”

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