Page 7 of Princess For All

“Not your clan,” I promised. “Or maybe they can go to another outpost—we can decide later.” I frowned when everyone else did.

“I think we’re missing where your head is, my love.”

“Shit, I’m tired,” Ceawlin muttered. “I missed it. Snake shifters are who Keres will take out next. If she went through all of this trouble to make it so we can’t sense corrupted anymore and we just found a way around that—snake shifters are in serious danger.”

“Yes,” I confirmed, feeling better when people groaned. Okay, so they were all late to that party.

“I will get their group here and safe in guest rooms of the castle after you’re secure and protected in your tower,” Petre told me, explaining to Travis that he was on my guard detail.

“We’ll figure this out and Kaci was right,” I told Travis. I reached over and took his hand. “I know what you’re feeling and I’m sorry you’ve been through so much. You should be proud of yourself for being strong enough to make it this far. We all work hard, but it’s easier than being on your own.”

“We’re just so gross and we never get real sleep,” he rasped.

“I know. I remember that feeling well. We sleep amazing here. Showers are great. The stress is still—it’s high and we bust our asses but yeah, having real life back makes it worth it.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

I smiled and went to my tower, more than ready for bed. What I didn’t expect was Petre moving his hand to my lower back in the elevator. He smiled at me when I looked up at him.

And then he followed me into my bathroom where I was going to have a quick shower.

“Let me?” he whispered.

I nodded and was in heaven as he gave me the perfect shower, massaging every inch of me and even my scalp.

He carefully brushed out my hair when it was done. “May I join you in bed after I finish my task? I would like a night of rest and to hold you.”

“Yes,” I agreed, angling my neck so he could give me a kiss.

He stopped just short of my lips. “May I have a sip of you?”

I was shocked but nodded.

What I didn’t expect was that he wanted the sip from my inner thigh after eating me out. I muttered something about it being too fucking good and then passed out.

I woke with the sun snuggled against Petre but frowning that Kristof wasn’t there.

“He went to check in with every coven that took groups from the other covens,” Petre explained. “He thought he should show them the respect as your eldest Night. He sent word that it was the right move. Also, that the princesses were all so willing because they believed your sincerity after you sent live animals.”

“Good,” I sighed. “Yeah, that’s good.”

An hour later, we were in Albuquerque to see how this worked and how we could use it to our advantage. Travis was the most adorable little snake and Eddie offered to help and hold him since, well… Eddie wasn’t scary.

Travis clearly had a traumatic past and issues and Eddie was a good guy who understood that.

“So we’re just going to start at the center and—” Cerdic explained but was interrupted.

By Eddie yelling.

Loudly.

“He bit me!” Eddie bitched. “What are you biting me, asshole? I was nice to you!”

“Did you guys work out a signal?” I drawled, sighing when everyone around me froze. “Okay, so first, we have a fucking problem if he’s sensing corrupted and then we have to come up with a new signal.” I moved closer and studied Travis. “Can you wiggle in a direction or—”

“Tell us where Timmy is, Lassie,” someone mocked from behind us.

“Stuff it,” I snapped. “He senses corruptedhere!That’s a serious fucking problem, and I can’t even think of where… There… Could…” My mind sort of just trailed off and went to static as I realized I was standing on a manhole cover. “Travis, are there corrupted below us in the storm or sewer—whatever I’m standing on?”

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