Page 20 of Bound to the Tiger Scout
“I had to!” Came a voice from inside. “The ship is bursting with volunteers, and it’s Ghosha’s responsibility to deal with them. I wasn’t prepared to leap into phase two, so we need to go over what’s next.”
Ghosha encircled my neck from behind with one of his big hands. “Don’t worry, Logan, our mate bond is quite fixed in place at this point. I’m satisfied that Squire is mine, and I am his.”
That made me blush even as I grinned because we’d been fucking like bun— I stopped that thought since I was standing next to Layleen. I refocused on the conversation.
Logan’s gaze flicked back and forth between us. “Oh, well, okay. If you’re sure.”
“We’re sure,” I said and pressed back against Ghosha’s hold on me. He gave my neck a brief massage, and I peeked up at him to see he was smiling.
Stepping back, Logan made room for us to come in. Their quarters weren’t so different from Ghosha’s, though I immediately noticed they didn’t have a giant log leaning against a wall. Was that… Oh my god, could that actually be a scratching post? I giggled and tried to cover it by coughing into my fist. I was so going to have to ask Ghosha what he did with that log.
Like the first time we met, there was something altogether intimidating about looking up at the wolf prince again with his midnight fur and bright blue eyes. Helookedregal, and I wasn’t sure if I should bow, but it felt like the right thing to do. Before I could, though, he reached for my hand.
“Congratulations on your mating, Squire,” he said with a smile as he enveloped my hand between both of his. “May Ghosha endeavor to deserve you.”
I frowned a bit at that since it seemed like a dig at my mate. “He’s everything good and perfect in the whole world,” I said as I took my hand back.
Ghosha chuckled and curled his arm around me. “Careful, Alam, I think he bites.”
The prince rolled his eyes and turned away. “Come sit down, you bothersome beast. We have much to discuss.”
Oh, they werefriends. The kind of friends that gave each other shit, but still friends. Okay, that was cool. I walked over to a couch and sat down beside Ghosha. The prince sat in a chair and gestured for Layleen to take the other one, while Logan perched on the arm of the prince’s chair.
“I’m not upset exactly,” the prince said, “that we’ve had so many accepted volunteers or that they’re here on the ship now. What concerns me is moving the timeline up so quickly.”
“And that I haven’t briefed you on what’s next,” Ghosha said.
The prince frowned. “Yes, that.”
I felt a little responsible for messing things up. “Um, Mister Prince, sir, I’d?—”
“Oh goodness, you can call me Alam, Squire. I don’t mind.”
“Oh. Okay. Thanks.”
He smiled and nodded at me. “You were saying?”
“Right, um, just that I apologize if getting mated and all messed up the plans you had.”
Alam fidgeted in his seat as Logan snorted. After a glare at his mate, Alam smiled again at me. “There’s no need for apologies, Squire. I’m happy for my friend to have found his mate. Ghosha’s been quite the advocate for all of us to find human mates.”
I couldn’t help chuckling. “That’s something I’d wish on everyone.”
Ghosha took my hand and kissed the back of it, making me feel all swoony.
“So,” Alam said, “when do we call for the ship to come take everyone to Nor?”
Ghosha cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, his hand tightening on mine. It took me a minute, but then I realized he was uncomfortable. Maybe even worried. Why was he looking at me, though?
“What’s wrong?” I had to ask.
He reached over and curled his fingers around mine, enveloping my whole hand. “I will need to accompany the volunteers to Nor and oversee their placement in the brothels.”
That wasn’t exactly a surprise. He was in charge of the whole program, so it made sense that—Oh. Either he would go without me, or I’d be going with him. That was the bit that had him so concerned. Three days together, and we were up and moving.
“I’m going with you,” I said firmly. “I’m not staying behind.”
It looked like he was fighting back a smile as he nodded and said, “I apologize for not speaking to you privately about the possibility, but I’m very pleased with your stance.” He looked to Alam. “I’ll arrange for the ship. I imagine they’ll be able to arrive here before the end of the week.”
