Page 103 of Puck & Her Blades

It’s too much.

I force myself to tap Cygnus’ hip, and his expression softens.

“Is it me that you need?” He asks.

I nod.

“That’s easy then.” He rests his head on my puck costume, coughing lightly into his hand.

He’s been coughing a lot today.

I stiffen with worry.

Have the last few days been too much for Cygnus as well?

He should be wrapped in more than his cashmere coat. I forgot to give him his scarf and gloves back, since he lent them to me, and I hate that his hands are cold.

I want to drape him in soft blankets and build a nest out of his Alphas’ jerseys for him, which can keep him warm, far away from these thousands of people who want to steal a part of him for themselves.

People who he has to perform for, no matter how unwell he feels.

But then, that’s always been his job as Roarke’s son. I guess that I also had to perform as part of the Monroe pack.

When you’re born into a famous family, then it’s just the way it is.

It still doesn’t mean that as soon as we’re home, I’m not going to insist that Cygnus’ Beta staff check his temperature, let him sleep in, then enjoy showing him tomorrow the ways that I can pleasure him without him moving a single muscle.

Well, perhaps one muscle…

The one good thing about this costume is that it hides sexy plotting.

Cygnus smiles at me innocently, and I flash a wicked grin back, except he doesn’t realize.

Satisfying.

I grasp his hands between mine, rubbing to warm them up. He sighs, gratefully.

Then I focus my full attention on the hockey.

Zev has the puck. He’s skating lightning fast, looking for an opportunity to pass to Asher. Jackson is supporting him on the other side with a laser focus.

They look like three gods.

“Can you believe that they’re ours?” Cygnus murmurs. Joy soars through me at the thought. “Jackson is everything that I ever dreamed of in an Alpha. With my…issues…I didn’t think that Dad would bond me to anyone. I was resigned to being alone. But Jackson was like a prince in some fairy tale. Only, he was an Ice King. You know, the way that he came into the high tower that Dad had made for me and just snatched me up and loved me, despite all the years that I thought nobody ever would. Then Zev joined the team and he was on this self-destructive path, but Jackson claimed him as his prince. Yet he didn’t try to change him. Now, Zev is my kinky prince.”

I cock my head, pointing at Asher.

Will Cygnus say that Asher is theirs just as much as the men, to whom he’s bonded?

Please…

Asher wasn’t in the VIP room.

Asher wasn’t in the study.

I know that it was because he’s a Companion. But I’m prepared to fight for Asher to be my Beta and this pack’s bonded Beta.

I need us both to be equals.

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