Page 55 of Courting the Tiger King

“No,” she said, loudly. “I don’t think we will.” She meant it as a fact rather than a taunt, but her dad’s face flushed all the same. He never did like to discuss family, preferring to brush off her thoughts and concerns as the flights of fancy of a young girl who missed her mother and sister. But tonight wasn’t about airing family drama, so Neah attempted to smooth things over. “Shall we eat?”

They took their places around the table and Neah smiled at her mother when she caught her watching Neah and Wren. They’d been sat opposite each other, with Zennon to Neah’s left, her dad to her right, and her mum at the head of the table to Zennon’s left.

“It looks lovely, Father.” Zennon smiled as Jamison set down the plates in the middle of the table for them to take their fill of roast beef, fresh baked rolls, vegetables, and potatoes. In another life, Neah had always thought her father would have done well as a cook.

“So,” Jamison began as their cutlery clattered against the plates and Neah did her best not to inspect the room like she hadn’t been there before. Though, it had been several years since she’d been in the formal dining room last. It contained little more than a large table, a plush rug beneath, a pianoforte in the corner of the room, and an armoire that she knew to be a drinks cabinet. “You’re going to do the bonding ceremony?”

Winny tutted. “Don’t you have other questions to ask your future son-in-law first?”

Son-in-law.Neah threw a startled look at Wren and found only soft amusement on his face in return.

“I’m an open book, sir.”

“I understand what you get from this arrangement,” Jamison said and Neah’s head jerked up and her gaze narrowed on her father. “But how does this benefit Neah? How will she continue her work if she’s queen?”

“I won’t,” Neah cut in. “In truth, I am tired of the life of a spy. I miss my family, and peace?—”

“And you thinkpeaceis what you’ll get as queen?” Jamison snorted and Neah blew out a breath instead of launching her fork at him.

“Ithinkthat I will be too notable, too recognisable, after this to make an adequate spy. The benefit being that my sister will not be locked away alone in a house in a forest, nor would my mother have to resort to hiding in the shadows. They would have the utmost protection, and, at the very least, some damn company.” She hadn’t meant to raise her voice, but when Zennon touched a gentle hand to Neah’s she realised she’d crumpled her fork into so much scrap metal.

There was a moment of silence before Jamison cleared his throat and said, “I didn’t know you felt that way.”

“You never asked.”

She held his gaze for a second before turning back to her food, accepting a new fork when her mother passed her one.

“So you no longer want to work for me.” Jamison nodded, like it was hard to get his head around. “What will you do with your time, then? Host tea parties? Take up knitting?” he scoffed.

Neah had expected some degree of difficulty from her father on the subject, knew what he thought about Wren’s motivations for finding a mate. And yet, the sting in his words hurt nonetheless.

“She’ll do whatever she pleases,” Wren said, and Neah had never heard the low, dangerous tone before. “Whether that’s knitting or hunting or popping out cubs, it will be her business.Her decision.” Wren turned back to his food as if the whole table hadn’t fallen silent while Jamison turned red.

Her mate took his time swallowing his food, taking a sip of wine, before he set down his cutlery and looked directly into Jamison’s eyes.

“You asked me how the bond, being my queen, will benefit your daughter. I think that question is better left for her to decide. That’s what I offer her: choice.”

Neah’s heart pounded and a shiver ran across her skin as Wren stared her father down. After a declaration like that, vouching for her independence once again, speaking up for her but notoverher… How could she not love him for that?

The thought startled her and she froze with a piece of meat half-way to her mouth, lowering her fork in a daze as she stared at Wren from across the table.

“Well,” her mother said. “Whatever you choose, darling, we’ll support you.”

Wren raised his cup in a silent toast and Zennon chuckled as she echoed the movement.

For the most part, Neah’s parents seemed to like Wren and when the food was cleared away and her mother brought out dessert, Wren’s eyes lit up. He won her over fully in that moment, Neah was sure.

“Is that crumble? Goddess, it’s my absolute favourite.” He then proceeded to tuck away three bowls of it with enough gusto that even Jamison had laughed.

She hugged each of her parents tightly before she’d left, pleased that the tension had dissipated. All she really wanted was for her family to be safe and happy, no more secrets, and it felt like maybe that could really happen.

Zennon had opted to stay behind, wanting to spend some more time with Jamison and Winny, so Neah walked the corridors with only Wren at her side.

“Will you stay with me again tonight?”

Neah hesitated and then nodded. Surprisingly, she liked waking up with Wren. The normalcy of it had charmed her.

“I like having you in my bed,” he said quietly and, to her horror, she felt a blush heating her face. He laughed in response to it, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek that startled her. “Get your mind out of the gutter. Or, wait. Keep it there, I don’t mind.” His smirk was far too cocky and that… Neah just couldn’t take.

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