Page 31 of Killian
“We ain’t fightin’ no more! We got a problem, an’ Killy will fix it!” Naven yelled. “Don’t test the King. He don’t hafta git furry to eatcha!”
Zee touched his forehead to mine as I breathed to calm down.Where’s Jules?
Sophie has him,I thought, and Zee walked me back to the porch. Someone else was dealing with Barnham, and I listened to the thoughts around me. Most were thankful I’d again stopped someone from dying. They thought Barnham was being stubborn over Maisy, too.
You did good,Zee thought.Sit here on the steps, and Sophie will bring Jules out. We’ll eat, and you can calm down.
Okay,I thought.
Sophie sat down beside me, and Jules climbed into my lap. He kissed my cheek, and I hugged him.
I wanted order within the Pride. Fire Ridge didn’t behave like this, dammit.
“My lord,” Cully approached from the side, calling me to make sure I didn’t snap at him. My anger was a palpable thing. Cully greeted Jules and then spoke to Sophie. I wasn’t listening. Yael tracked Zee, who was talking to everyone and getting four platesof food together. So much for having a nice time and meeting my Pride.
Sophie patted my shoulder.It’s all right. You’ve shown more care for them, and you have a backbone. Cassandra didn’t. Xeno treated them like a bank and didn’t make deposits. Axl never got to be King. You’re the first one they’ve seen since your father.
Maisy walked behind Zee, bringing what he couldn’t carry, keeping her gaze on the ground. Sophie took the plates, and Maisy hurried back to the pavilion again.
Jules waited for me to taste everything. Naven provided less spicy meat. The man waited for my approval, and I looked up, smiling as Jules ate his pork with his fingers.
Sophie,I thought.Can we find out who the Pride Archives librarian is supposed to be? I need to know who is supposed to be doing what.
Will do,she replied, and when she finished her supper, she headed over to the pavilion to speak with everyone.
I stayed on the porch steps with Jules.
Nirah approached with a three-year-old girl who had glossy black ringlets instead of MacLaden Blonde. The boy peered at me around Nirah’s legs, identical to his sister. “My lord, this is Syvyn and Sadie. They were wondering if Jules would like to play.” Syvyn dropped a soccer ball then, and Jules patted Zee’s cheek.
“They are nice,” Zee said.
Jules climbed out of my lap and greeted the twins in English. Nirah smiled at us; her thoughts were more about her children being accepted. She noted that Zee and I were together, and she was happy about that, too.
Several other smaller ones joined in the children’s game, and several older, single males formed a line for a boundary. Thesingle females formed a line opposite the males, and they all cheered the little ones on.
I’d never seen that.
It’s courting,Zee thought.Barnham was the only stupid one out of the bunch. MacLaden Pride has never been to a Summit because they didn’t have the money for the required attire.
We have to change that. I sighed and leaned into him after he moved to sit behind me.
I watched Jules play, and his laugh was the best sound.
I have something for you,Zee thought.It’s all set up in our room.
I tilted my head up, and he kissed me, not caring who was watching.
Chapter twenty-two
Zander
The rest of the Pride knew not to test Killy when the man summoned them right from their beds and plopped them down in the dirt in their pajamas the other night. Barnham, however, was more stubborn than a wall that had to be knocked down to move.
I’d just walked out of the house when Killy grabbed the gun. Naven was easing his way towards Barnham’s tuck. He knew as well as I did that Killy could and would rip Barnham to pieces.
Based on his thoughts, Naven was happy with Killy. His lord had provided a nice pavilion and last night, Naven slept under a roof with walls and a bathroom. The man had brought a tent to pitch and expected to be sleeping on the ground. I decided to put a little shed behind the pavilion, then, with a bed, a bathroom, and a wood stove for the winter. This wouldn’t be the first Pride meeting.
Killy listened to me and stayed on the porch. People came to him, and he was cordial. Nirah had expected him to refuse herchildren playing with Jules. Her mate had died a year ago when Xeno came through one night and tried to take the cubs. Gilly had been a Demi-deuil, several generations removed from Ozzi. Syvyn and Sadie were Shifters but didn’t look like MacLadens. I’d kept her in her house after that. Xeno was after her farm, too. I’d paid the taxes and gave him a direct order to forget Nirah existed.
