Page 48 of Clash of Kings

Bas turned her loose long enough to give Anthony his credit card. Once Tony was gone, Dakota said, “Lydia’s clothes didn’t fit, so she offered to take me shopping in the morning.”

“Sweetheart, that isn’t necessary.”

“Please? I’m not a vain person, but this one time, my first time being seen by the Clan, I want to look decent.”

“I can see how much this means to you. If that’s what you wish, then by all means, go shopping.”

Bas pulled her down on the sofa and held her while they waited on Anthony to return. After they’d eaten their sandwiches, Sebastian stripped her down and made her forget about everything except them.

The next morning, the four of them were once again the only ones in the hotel’s dining room. Dakota picked at her breakfast, and when Lydia finished eating, it was time to find some clothes suitable for being seen for the first time as Queen. Carlton didn’t have any boutiques, and after searching on the internet, Lydia found one in White’s Bluff, the next town over. If they didn’t have what she was looking for, Lydia assured her they could drive to the mall in Barboursville.

Anthony excused himself to his room to call his boss, and Sebastian stood, removing the keys to the Jeep from his pocket. “You sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

Dakota reached up and brushed Bas’s hair back. “You’re more than welcome to join us, but do you really want to go shopping?”

“No, but I want you to promise to be safe. And I don’t mean driving. I mean keeping your senses open to any potential threats.”

“I promise. I doubt King would try anything in public, but if he somehow finds us, Lydia or I will call you.”

Sebastian pressed their lips together. “Then I’ll see you soon.”

Dakota took the keys and tossed them in the air, catching them easily. She and Lydia made their way to the parking lot, and Dakota unlocked the doors using the fob. Once in the driver’s seat, she placed her phone in the cupholder, set her purse on the back seat so it wouldn’t get in the way of her feet as she worked the pedals, then adjusted the seat and mirrors since she was so much shorter than Bas. When she started the engine, Lydia input the address for the boutique into the GPS system, and they were off. White’s Bluff was only twenty minutes away.

“I thought for sure Bas was going to insist on coming with us,” Lydia said. “Gargoyle males are protective to the extreme, and you aren’t just any female.”

“Neither are you. You stabbed an alpha wolf. I’d loved to have seen that.”

“It was pretty badass,” Lydia joked. “I meant to tell you, Luna has an extra set of bangles her mother made, and she’s sending them with my brother.”

“That’s Locke, right?” There were so many names to remember, but she was pretty sure she had that one correct.

“Right. He and my dad will insist on going with us to confront King. Locke’s only seventeen, but he got our Uncle Frey’s built-like-a-tank genes. He’s already six-four, and I doubt he’s stopped growing.”

“And your mom’s okay with him fighting if he has to?”

Lydia laughed. “If my mom wasn’t pregnant, she’d be right there with them.”

The digital voice told Dakota to turn at the next intersection. She flipped on the blinker just as red and blue lights flashed behind her. “What the hell?” Since there were cars lined next to the sidewalk, Dakota continued making the right turn and pulled into the first lot she came to. She put the Jeep in neutral and pulled the parking brake.

Lydia unbuckled and turned in the seat as a police officer got out of his patrol car. Dakota watched him in the sideview mirror. The man had his hand on his weapon.

“I wasn’t speeding, was I?” she asked as she rolled the window down.

“I don’t think so,” Lydia muttered as she began typing on her phone.

The man approached the window, and Dakota placed both hands on the steering wheel. He didn’t speak. Instead, he looked first at Dakota, then around her at Lydia.

“Good morning, officer,” Dakota said.

“I’m Deputy Brown with the White’s Bluff sheriff’s department. Where are you two headed?”

“To the Maple Boutique on Main Street.”

“Is this your Jeep?”

“No, sir. It’s my husband’s.” Dakota couldn’t very well say mate, and for all intents and purposes, they were married.

“License and registration please.” When Dakota turned toward the back seat, he pulled his weapon. “Easy, young lady.”

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