Page 17 of Guarded By the Krampus

“Such a good question!” she said, before raiding the fridge. “We flew to Bejing, in an effort to make the men after me waste their resources—but now we’re landing in Morocco. Want anything?”

I had helped myself to some of the food in the fridge the prior night, in between bouts of pacing—it was a good thing Satin couldn’t see all the little cloven dents my hooves had left in her jet’s carpeting.

“I’m good.”

“You sure?” she said…prettily.

The was the only word for it, as she slouched into a seat and smiled winningly, seemingly without artifice, and it broke me.

“Yeah. But—you know—just because last night was good—I’m not just some switch you can flip.” My truth tumbled out before I could stop it. “You may not know this, I’m not really sure how much time you spend online,” I went on, ruffling the fur at the back of my head with a hand. “But—I get fetishized. Like, a lot. People make assumptions about me—and my dick—all the time.”

Her demeanor became chilly again. “And you think I’m doing that to you?”

“To be honest, I don’t know what you’re doing. But I think we’d probably better keep this clinical, from here on out.”

She set the box of pastries she’d pulled out aside. “I see.”

“I don’t want to upset you,” I said, diving my head sideways, trying not to take out a nearby seat with a horn.

“Trust me. You haven’t,” she said primly. “Now…shall we discuss the mission?”

I grunted, and she pulled out her phone.

It took her a moment to find what she was looking for—how did she know?—but eventually she managed, and handed it over to me.

“That’s the blueprint for the Marjazan Resort Casino. I’ve got an invitation for the high stakes lounge. We’ll go in, and when we’re there, we’ll spend this,” she said, pulling a red and black casino chip out of her cleavage. “My people will be waiting for it, and then Euronews’s report of people who accepted bribes will be ready to go.”

I frowned at her. “Won’t people find it odd that a blind woman wants to play?”

Her expression instantly became even icier. “That’s where you come in. This time you’ll be my recent bodyguard-turned-boyfriend, and I’ll merely be candy for your arm.”

I opened my mouth, and then closed it, before anything could come out.

“Wheels down in thirty,” she said, quickly readjusting the blindfold’s bow beneath her hair. “If you need to brush your teeth or comb your fur, you should hurry.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

The Marjazan Resort Casino was a palace-like structure, located right against the Atlantic, and I felt like we were in Casablanca.

Hopefully, if anyone ever made a movie of our lives, it would have a happier ending.

Our driver dropped us off, and a bellboy came up, as did a concierge—and a wave of strangers, taking photos.

“Satin!” the suited concierge exclaimed—while she jumped at the sound of the first photo’s shot.

I leaned over her and snarled at them—then they took pictures of me.

“I’m so sorry,” the man apologized, offering his suit out to protect her, while I rushed her into the casino. I forgot to warn her about the steps though in my hurry, and she would’ve tripped, if I hadn’t simply picked her up and then planted her again, behind the casino’s thick glass doors.

Satin glared at me, but then turned in the other man’s direction. “Charles—who told them I was coming?”

“No one, they’re just opportunistic vultures—the Princess of Rhöndal is flying in today, and they’ve been camped out here, ever since her affair was announced. Or denied. I lose track with that woman,” he said, apologetically.

She settled herself quickly. “It’s unbecoming.”

“I know—I have my men chase them off—but paparazzi are like flies—you swat one and three more show up.” And then he gave me a strong look—like, I, as a satyr, might’ve brought some flies in with me as well.

I lowered my head and stared at him ominously, while giving a snort—and Satin placed a calming hand on my chest, like she might do with any man who was her boyfriend.

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