Page 40 of Caldar
“Very well. My brother is head of security for the ship. I can gain access to the brig, but I cannot guarantee more than that.” Lorran glanced down at her feet. “You will need proper footwear.”
“I’m fine like this. Let’s go.”
“The floor is textured. It will shred your current slippers.”
Sonia sighed in relief. It wasn’t perfect, but it would do. “I’ll borrow a pair of Wyn’s sneakers.”
CALDAR
Impossible.
His mate entered the cell.
“You cannot be here,” he said, lurching to his feet. Pain flared down his injured leg.
Sonia rolled her eyes. “Everyone keeps saying that when it’s perfectly obvious that Icanbecause Iam. Apparently, I am a bully and not above blackmail.”
A male with a friendly face stood outside the cell. “She put the screws to me,” he reported cheerfully. Then he frowned, as if remembering he meant to be unhappy about the situation. “I mean, she put the screws to me,” he repeated in a grumpy tone.
“Very convincing,” Sonia said, her tone dry. “Now get. I want a word with Caldar in private.” She waved a hand at the male, who now wore a serious frown.
“I cannot leave you unsupervised with a prisoner,” he said.
“Sonia—” Caldar’s leg buckled, causing him to stumble.
“Oh, for crying out loud, you two are making this difficult. Caldar, sit down before you fall over. Lorran, leave.” Her tone left no room for argument. Lorran retreated out of sight, though Caldar was confident that the male remained close by.
Caldar eased down onto the padded platform. “You are a bully.”
“I’m a boss. The word you’re looking for is boss.” She stood before him, a smile on his lips. Her hand cradled the side of his face, like he was precious.
He blinked and turned away. No one had ever looked at him in such a manner.
Gently, she turned his face back to her. “Hey,” she said.
“Greetings,” he replied.
She kissed him, soft at the start, then growing heated. His tattoos burned with desire. He pulled her down onto his lap. His thigh twinged, but the pain was worth holding his mate.
“I love you,” she said, when she pulled away.
Delight ran through him. She loved him.Him.
“You should not,” he said, positive that he smiled like a fool, and he did not care.
“Don’t feel the need to say it back.” She playfully hit his arm.
“Sonia, my mate, I have been telling you of my love some time now.” She settled onto the platform next to him, leaning against him. “From the moment you hurled vile epitaphs at me from the other side of a screen, I have been smitten.”
“You make me sound so delightful.”
“Your spirit, your curiosity, and your expansive vocabulary enchanted me,” he said. She laughed softly. “I would gladly spend the rest of my days shadowing your steps to keep you safe. I would gladly purge the sector of anyone who would dare harm you.”
She made a humming noise. “Your love is very stabby.”
“I love you, Sonia. I do not deserve you. I could never deserve you. I apologize for that.”
“Oh, that’s bullshit. You don’t deserve me?” She sat up straight, turning to face him. “I like you the way you are. I like the whole Goblin King vibe you got going on.”
