Page 14 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

He looked down at the last biscuit in his hand, which was half-eaten. “You didn’t have any?”

“Yeah, I did. They were good, but I’m full. You have it.”

He started shaking his head. “Nooooooooo. It’s not okay.” He held out the half biscuit in his hand. “Here.”

Rosie laughed. “I’m not taking your half-eaten breakfast, Charming.”

He looked down at it, then back up to her. “There’s nothing wrong with it. Take it.” He held it out again. “I don’t have plague or anything.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah. Don’t I look healthy?”

“Yes,” she smiled, “you do. I was kidding. I’m really full.”

Charming looked relieved. “Really?”

“Eat the biscuit,” she commanded.

He stuffed it into his mouth with a big smile. “Okay.”

Rosie retrieved her shawl from the bedroom, and walked to the Commons with Charming.

There was no one in the room other than a young female behind the bar.

“Present for you, Dandy,” Charming said. “You know the help you’ve been whining about for so long? Here she is. This is Rosie.”

While Charming talked, he reached over and petted the gray cat sitting on the bar. The animal’s eyes closed to little more than slits. It looked like it was in nirvana and rubbed its ears against his hand as if to say, “Pet more. Harder. Now.”

Dandy was tall with tawny hair and yellow-gold eyes like many of the Exiled Rosie had seen. She wore a black shirt, lime green and tan skirt with swirls in the print, and black boots. Rosie thought that she was probably very close to the same age Rosie appeared to be. Monq thought that was in the neighborhood of twenty-three.

She looked Rosie up and down and said, “Human,” in a noncommittal tone.

“She’s the Extant’s honored guest. Please let everybody know that an affront to her is an affront to him and a bad mark on the reputation of all of Exiled.”

“Wow,” said Dandy.

Charming gave Dandy a warning look. “You’ve been wanting help. Here she is. Whether or not you get to keep her depends on how you treat her.”

She angled her head to the side as if studying Charming for the truth of that, then said, “Okay.”

“Okay,” he repeated in confirmation.

To Rosie he said, “She’s practically family. She’ll show you around and get you situated.”

“Okay,” Rosie said, following suit like it was the word of the day.

Charming stopped at the door to toss one last smile her way. Then he was gone.

Rosie reached over to pet the gray cat, as Charming had, only instead of welcoming the attention, the cat hissed and slashed at Rosie with claws extended. Rosie pulled back in time, but was aghast that the cat meant to draw blood. When she recovered from the shock enough to focus on the cat, she could have sworn the thing smiled.

“Why you…” She was just about to send it into the Netherworld when she remembered Kellareal’s lecture. Taking control of her impulses, she reined in her temper.

Dandy glanced over. “Problem?”

“This cat tried to scratch me.”

Dandy looked at the cat. “I guess she doesn’t like humans.”

---