Page 27 of Courting the Tiger King

“Oh?” Brows scrunched together, it was clear that Zennon couldn’t imagine how that could be the case.

“Allies,” he said, matter of fact. “Take Melinda Bashwather, for example. An odious woman, but a rich one. Where she spends her coin, others tend to follow.”

“You’re the king, what use could you have for coin?”

He shrugged. “Sometimes it’s less about what I do or do not lack, and more about what that support could do for our enemies.”

They paused by a row of bushes decorated with tiny lilac flowers, droplets of rain caught on their petals.

“You know, I have quite a lot of money.”

Wren bit his lip to hide his laugh. “Humble, too.”

Zennon laughed and it rang high and pure, like the wind chimes at his father’s hunting cabin. “I only mean that I am a less odious woman than that of Melinda Bashwather. And yet, until now, you have made no requests of me.”

This was true, but largely because money didn’t always equal influence and, for the most part, Lady Zennon was an unknown. She kept to herself on her estate and lived a quiet life—or, that’s what he’d believed until he’d seen her with Neah the night prior.

“What about your family?” He hoped the transition was smooth and breathed easier when she seemed unalarmed. “Must you split your many coin with them?”

She laughed but the sound faded quickly. “No. I am the last of my mother’s line and my parents have been gone for quite some time now.”

Given that Jamison and his wife were very much alive, Wren could only assume she referred to the parents from whom she claimed her name. Wren sniffed delicately but couldn’t detect even a faint trace of shifter or magic on her. Either she was being cloaked by someone, or somethingpowerful, or Zennon truly was human.

“You and Lady Neah are very close,” he said carefully, keeping his tone light and smile unconcerned. “How did you cross paths?”

To his surprise, she grinned. “You know, I can’t remember the exact moment we met. Sometimes it feels as if I’ve known her forever.”

He understood the feeling. “I’m the same way with Gabriel and Skye.”

“Not Sonnet?”

They turned away from the flower bush and continued walking, doing a loop of the stone fountain up ahead and coming back the way they came. “No, Sonnet is a more recent and temporary addition to our group.”

Zennon hummed, the sound amused. “She may become more permanent than you realise.”

“Oh?” Wren frowned and followed the direction of Zennon’s gaze when she nodded to the shrubbery to their left whereSonnet and Skye stood beneath a leafy canopy, arguing by the looks of things. Although…

“It’s strange, isn’t it? How attraction can blur the lines between hatred and desire.”

Desire.Skye didn’t desire Sonnet, did he? And Sonnet… Well, there was clearly no love-lost between the two of them. But the way they stood, their eyes wholly focused on the other, Skye’s large form bent over Sonnet’s, her hands curled into fists that occasionally sparked silver… It was enough to make a king doubt himself.

Wren looked away, unsure what to make of the tense altercation, and Zennon chuckled quietly.

“Do you believe in honesty, my king?”

The question startled him and Wren looked up at Zennon in surprise, taking in the warmth in her brown eyes and the gentle kindness of her face. “Yes. In fact, I prefer it. As king, I’m too often capitulated to—it’s infuriating.”

She nodded, her dark hair falling into her face. “I believe in honesty too. But please know that it brings me no pleasure to say this to you.” She took a deep breath and Wren’s mouth ran dry as she took his hands in hers and pulled them to a stop, facing one another. “Your spell is inaccurate. I would be glad to consider you a friend, but I feel nothing more for you than that—and I never will.”

Wren recoiled, his hands slipping out of her soft grip. “But?—”

“You can’t tell me that you truly believeweare fated.” She laughed and patted his shoulder. “We have about as much chemistry as a wet log in the mud.”

He knew she was right, had said almost the same thing to Skye himself, but to have it confirmed… to know for certain that he was back at square one… It was more than he could take. His face crumpled and he dragged a palm over it, not wanting Zennon to think his despair was caused by her.

“Oh,” she said softly. “I–Um, I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I had thought you felt similarly to me. Perhaps I was mistaken?—”

“No,” he said, the words guttural, and he cleared his throat before trying again. “No, I believe you are right, Zennon. And please, for the last time, call me Wren.” She still looked worried, eyes crinkling at the corners as her brow pinched with concern. “Sonnet assured me the spell worked—and so did Skye, there’s no way he would lie to me.”

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