Page 156 of The Forsaken Heir
“He’s a good boy,” Delphine said when he was out of earshot. “I’m glad he’s not a spoiled little shit like Bastien.”
“Yeah, it’s almost like money, power, and never being told ‘no’ really went to Bastien’s head.Shocking,” I added dryly, rolling my eyes.
“Thankfully the same can’t be said for Aurelius.”
“He does seem to have come out more like Freddy than Bastien, that’s for sure,” I said.
Delphine let out an irritated sigh. “I wastryingto get you to talk about him, not to compare him to your brothers. You haven’t really talked about how you feel about him.”
“Oh,” I muttered as I plopped down on the grass. “I guess it hasn’t really come up much.”
Delphine flopped down beside me. “Hasn’t come up? You’ve spent more nights in his room than yours, young lady. Sounds likesomethingis coming up.”
“Gross!”I shoved her playfully. “When did you start talking about sex?”
“When the woman I’ve been tasked with watching over has been spending time with a gorgeous prince. That’s when.” She took my hands in hers. “Are things getting serious?”
I looked away. I was in love with Aurelius, but I alsoknewnothing more than what we had now could ever come of it. He’d need to marry another dragon shifter, a noble lady, and havekids. That was the whole deal with royalty. Youhadto have kids to continue the line.
“I like him a lot,” I finally admitted. “He’s great.”
Delphine eyed me speculatively. “That isn’t exactly a glowing description. Are you happy?”
“What? Like right now?” I asked.
“No silly. I mean in general.” She waved a hand around like she was swatting a fly. “No more talk about guys. Are youhappy?”
I thought back to my day-to-day life before all this drama started. Working, shopping, hanging out with Delphine. It had all been pleasant, if a little boring. Now that I’d come here, to this place, my life had changed. Was there fear and terror? Sure, thanks to my jackass family. But I’d made new friends. I’d found a new life that waswaydifferent from what I’d had before. I felt at home here.
“I think I am,” I said, speaking slowly. “I’m happy. Stressed out, freaked out, and worried, sure, but I’ve never felt sogood.” Shaking my head, I let out a little laugh. “I know that sounds crazy, with how close we’ve come to dying, but there it is. I’m happy here.”
“Good. That’s all I ever wanted for you.” She leaned even closer and nudged me in the ribs. “You know what I’m most angry about, though?”
“What?” I said, my brows knitting together.
“You and I never got to go on that damn beach vacation. I could use a beach, a pina colada, and some sand between my toes. I really want to punch your brother in the face for that one.”
I let out a laugh. My mother’s offer for an all-expenses paid vacation to the family’s villa in the Caribbean so I wouldn’t attend Freddy’s wedding seemed like it had happened a lifetime ago. “That does sound nice.”
“That reminds me of something I haven’t shown you yet,” she said as she stood.
“What? You’ve already shown me, like, a dozen things,” I said, standing to join her.
“I’ve shown you how to counteract a wolf or werewolf, but I forgot about the third thing. Thehumanform.”
“Wouldn’t a swift kick in the nuts work for that?” I asked, only partially kidding. As I knew all too well, the human body wasmucheasier to damage than the other forms shifters could take.
“It could,” she admitted, “but I was thinking of something more, uh, permanent.”
“Castration?”
Delphine let out the loudest bray of laughter I’d ever heard come out of her mouth. In all the years we’d been together, I couldn’t recall her losing it like that.
“Come here,” she said, “I’ll show you what I mean.”
Obeying her request, I stepped forward, but gasped when she latched her hand on my wrist, and spun me around, clamping her free arm around my neck and squeezing tight.
“I can’t breathe,” I hissed.
