Page 43 of Purple Protector

“Not only because of that,” Killian said. “You deserve more time off. You and Aaron just got together. Don’t you want more time with him?”

“Of course I do, but being with Aaron leaves you with fewer bodyguards, and you’re a stubborn asshole. I don’t feel comfortable not keeping my eye on you.”

“I’m a perfect innocent angel,” Killian said with a pout.

Most people wouldn’t believe that this was what the king was really like. They only ever saw him in an official capacity, but Birch saw the real Killian. This was the Killian he loved and would die for. It was the Killian who was one of his best friends.

He loved the stubborn asshole.

Marlin snorted. “You’re neither perfect nor an angel.”

“You should ask Hedley. You’ll see,” Killian told him.

A knock on the door interrupted their bickering. Birch got up from his chair in front of Killian’s desk and went to open it, frowning at the expression on Tito’s face. “What? Has something happened?”

Tito turned his head and glanced toward his desk. Birch did the same, his eyes widening when he saw that Pearl was there, along with two guards, Aaron, and an orange dragon. He didn’t think it was the dragon who’d attacked Aaron in his room. The color was off.

Aaron had been staring at his feet, but he looked up. Birch growled when he saw the state Aaron’s face was in. He stepped forward, but Tito pressed his hand against Birch’s chest and pushed him back into the office. “No. You have to act as Killian’s bodyguard right now, not as Aaron’s boyfriend.”

“Have you seen him? He’s hurt.”

“I’ve already called Palmer. He’s coming.”

“What the fuck happened?” Aaron was supposed to be safe. Birch was supposed to protect him.”

“Aaron was in a fight with the orange dragon. I don’t have all the information, but Pearl has decided that Aaron’s dangerous. She wants to talk to Killian.”

Birch was going to strangle Pearl when he got his hands on her, and he would make sure it was slow and painful. He fucking hated her.

“Go stand behind Killian,” Marlin said from behind Birch. “I’ll stick with Aaron.”

“I want to do it.”

“I know, but you’ll probably punch either Pearl or the orange dickhead in the face once they’re close enough, and we can’t afford for that to happen. I’ll keep him safe. I promise.”

Marlin was right. Birch was too close to the situation and to Aaron. He might make the situation worse if he allowed his feelings to take over, so it would be best if he stayed by Killian instead.

He glanced at Aaron again, who nodded at him and tried to smile. He grimaced instead, probably in pain, and Birch had to resist the urge to stride over to him and pull him into his arms. Palmer was coming, and he’d make sure that Aaron was okay.

Birch went to take his place behind Killian. Killian’s expression was serious, but he huffed and spoke softly so that only Birch could hear him. “I’d say I can’t believe my sister is doing this, but knowing her, it’s not a surprise.”

“She’s going to try to use Aaron against you,” Birch murmured back.

“I know. I expected something like this would happen, and I’ve already talked things out with Hedley and Tito. Don’t worry.”

How was Birch supposed to not worry? Pearl was threatening two of the most important people in his life.

Pearl swooped into the room as if she owned it. She glanced around, appearing displeased by the way the office looked, then stopped in front of Killian’s desk. “I demand that his human get cast out of the clan. He attacked a dragon. He’s dangerous.”

Birch gritted his teeth. Whatever had happened, if Aaron really had attacked a dragon, he had to have a good reason to do it.

“Dangerous?” Killian looked at Aaron, who was still being held by one of the guards and stood next to the dragon he’d apparently attacked.

He wasn’t half the dragon’s size, but he was a close thing. His cheek was swelling, and there was a fine line of blood at the corner of his mouth. The orange dragon, on the other hand, looked like nothing had happened to them.

“He attacked a member of your clan,” Pearl insisted. “You have to take this seriously, Killian.”

“I would if it was anyone else, but there’s little damage Aaron can do to a dragon. Just look at him. Even if he did attack your friend, he clearly got the worst of it.”

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