Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
I’d trained him to perform a number of tricks—first using edible treats. Now he responded to hand commands alone. Laelaps were exceptionally smart.
“One more trick. Then I have to go eat.” I gave him a different hand command, and Riot correctly responded by spinning in a circle. Smiling brightly, I petted him. “You’re such a clever boy. Yes, you are. And so damn cute, I could just eat you.” Feeling a muzzle nudge my shoulder, I stroked Valor’s head. “Don’t be jealous, I love you as well.”
The sound of footfalls made me tense. I knew the rhythm of that stride. Knew who was coming. Knew that he would likely walk right in here.
“I gotta go now,” I whispered to Riot. “We’ll play again tomorrow.” I gave him a brief stroke, rose to my feet, and stepped away from the pup.
Moments later, the bane of my existence strode right into the room, bold as you please. Yes, he still checked to make sure that I tidied any mess I made. Such faith in me.
“Good morning,” I greeted as Valor padded over to him. “I’m running late, but I’ll put the room to rights in just a second.”
When Riot playfully bounded over to him for some attention, I snatched my pillow and blanket from the hay bales. I whistled as I tidied the room—stuffing things out of sight or putting other things back into their original position.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Valor herding Riot out of the room and presumably back to their den. I also noticed that Talon had yet to move. It was probably another attempt to grate on my nerves. And it wasn’t going to work.
Once the room was in order, I stepped into my boots without so much as looking his way. I was tying the laces when I heard more footfalls approaching.
A head stuck around the corner of the doorway. Jelani. His brow dented as his gaze flicked from me to Talon, who didn’t deign to turn and acknowledge him. “Oh, hi,” he said before clearing his throat.
I smiled. “Hey.”
Talon didn’t budge to let him advance into the room. In fact, he acted like Jelani wasn’t even there. Rude.
Jelani plucked at his earlobe. “Khalida sent me to find you,” he told me. “Said you’re taking too long.”
I inwardly frowned, since it wasn’t something that she had ever done before. I had to wonder if, knowing Talon would be at the stables, she’d sent Jelani here in the hope that another male seeking me out might somehow spur the Cardinal into making some sort of move. If so, she was wasting her time.
Done with my laces, I stood upright. “I’m ready.” I crossed to the doorway—or tried to. Talon’s broad body blocked my path, much as it had last night. And he didn’t move an inch, much as he hadn’t last night.
Staring at his throat, I inwardly spat all manner of curses at him.
Jelani frowned uncertainly. “Is everything okay?”
“Talon just finds it hard to have me out of his sight,” I quipped. “He misses me when I’m not around. It’s taking everything he has not to hold me right now.”
Jelani’s lips kicked up. “Hmm.” Turning, he made his way to the exit, clearly expecting me to follow. Which I would have done, except Talon still didn’t step aside.
A strong hand curved around my jaw and lifted my chin … and then Talon’s eyes were boring into mine, as intent and dark and enthralling as always. He pinned me with a Can we be done with this shit now? look.
Well of course he’d want such a thing. He didn’t need distance. He fought our attraction just fine—at least until we were in a confined space when emotions were running high. In not sharing my struggle, he failed to understand my motivations for pulling back; he couldn’t see that it was better for me this way.
Wanting this little scene over with, I offered him a ‘Sure thing’ look, but I supposed that my impersonal smile told a different story.
Giving his head an impatient shake, Talon dropped his hand. His lips tight, he pivoted on his heel and stalked away.
Subtly blowing out a breath, I left the room and strode down the aisle, carefully skirting around where he stood near Xanthos’s stall.
Outside the stables, Jelani stood waiting for me. He glanced at the building. “Seriously, is everything okay between you and Talon?”
Not willing to share the truth of the situation with anyone other than Khalida, I gave him a different truth as we made our way to the food hall. “As you can imagine, it wears on me a little to know that I’m being constantly watched and that my every activity is reported to the Sovereigns. Likewise, it seems to be wearing on Talon that he’s been ordered to oblige them this way when he has far better and bigger things to do.”