Page 3 of Sidone

“That’s right.”

“Fuck my life,” I squeak out.

She gives me a side-eye, a small quirk of her lip but she recovers and turns it into a frown fast. “Drive around. I want to familiarize myself with the streets. The shooter will go into hiding now. The perimeter is secured, there’s no place to run.” Her eyes positively glow.

I’d rather not have to take the responsibility of the king’s sister, aunt to the Prince of Regha who rules us all. “About the guide thing,” I say and start the truck.

“What about it?”

“Terror expects me at the mansion. In fact, I just went shopping for cake supplies.”

“Cancel the plans. You’re staying with me.”

“But I’m the chef for—”

“Find us a place to lie low and wait, and do what I tell you to do when I tell you to do it. Clear?”

I scrub my jaw. “I would, gladly, but I also need the job, and I would hate to hang off a pole and starve. That would make me a very bad chef. A starving chef is generally never hired again.”

She nods. “Then don’t disappoint me.”

“All right. I’ll call in as soon as the tech comes back.”

“Negative. I don’t report to Terror, your prince, or my king for that matter. Where are you going?”

“Driving around like you said.”

“Thank you. Head for the tallest building in the area.”

“That would be the Frontline Hotel. It’s a large private property, fenced-in beach area. Real nice.” And definitely not in my budget.

She nods.

I purse my lips, thinking how in the world I can get away from “helping” the king’s sister find a shooter who could kill her when her armor is down and make the rest of my very short life miserable hell. Cooking nice things for Hordesmen makes them happy. Guiding their aunt around a dangerous mission I’m fairly certain wouldn’t make any of them happy. They’re overly protective of women. Or just Omegas. I have no fucking clue. I laugh, a bit hysterical.

Sidone smiles.

Well, would you look at that. At the corners, her eyes lift.

“Your laugh is funny,” she says. “You sound like a hungrynesserbaby.” And then she makes this horrible noise that I hope isn’t what my laugh sounds like.

“I aim to please,” I deadpan.

“Mm-hm.”

I don’t know whatmm-hmmeans but I’m certain I’ll find out soon.

Chapter 2

Sidone

The human male who smells suspiciously like something I’d lick drives by the hotel’s entrance and enters the dark parking garage under the structure. He turns off the engine and opens his mouth.

I interrupt the incoming speech. “This is not the front door.”

“Are we undercover?”

Under cover. He wants a blanket? I frown. My old translator doesn’t work as well as some of the newer ones. “Explain this term.”

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