Page 26 of Puck & Her Blades

Millie pulls away from her dad’s hand and kicks at a chocolate. “They bad?”

“Ehm…?” I have literally no idea how to talk to kids.

I look at Lark, desperately hoping that he’ll save me, but his eyes are merely twinkling with amusement.

Jerk.

Millie assesses me wisely. “Or you bad? Bad, bad tantrum?” Then she gasps, rushing to grasp her dad’s hand again and staring up at him with sad eyes. “She’s sorry. No time out.”

Wait, what’s happening here?

Cygnus is being no help at all but is smothering his laugh behind his palm.

Millie points at me. “Say sorry.”

Lark’s lip curls up. “Well?”

I put my hands on my hips. “I didn’t do anything.”

Cygnus glances between us, before crouching down to Millie’s level. “She didn’t. It was all your Uncle Cygnus’ fault. You’d better come and give me a punishment tickle, before your daddy decides to put me in time out.”

“No!” Millie’s eyes widen in alarm. “No punish Uncle Cygnus.”

She launches herself at Cygnus, and he catches her in his arms, as she tickles him.

He laughs and tries to squirm away. “Help!”

“Wish I could, but it’s your punishment, remember?” Lark looks over Cygnus’ head at me, while the other two Omegas are rolling around with laughter and a bright joy that I’ve never been around before.

Is this what it’s like between Omegas in some packs?

My dad was never allowed to act like this with me.

Then Lark taps his foot, and I know what he wants to know while his daughter is distracted: The real culprit.

I can respect him for looking out for Cygnus.

“Wolfie,” I whisper. Lark’s eyes widen with panic. “Don’t worry. We’re okay.”

Lark clears his throat. “That’s enough, Millie. Your uncle is very sorry now, right?”

“Yeah,” Cygnus gasps out between chuckles. Millie is sitting on his stomach like he’s her conquered prey and looking delighted with herself as she wiggles her fingers in tickling warning. “I surrender. Sorry chocolates and roses for ruining you.”

My gaze meets Cygnus’, and I smile.

He’s a good man. An amazing uncle.

He’d make an incredible dad.

I’m lucky to have him as a friend now, but it hurts that I’m only an unbonded dependent, even if these other Omegas are kind enough not to treat me as lesser because of it.

Millie nods, satisfied.

Lark holds out his hand to her. “Good job, honey.”

Cygnus huffs, sitting up and picking rose petals off his expensive coat. “Good job kicking poor Uncle Cygnus’…bottom.”

“Bottom,” Millie repeats with a giggle.

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