Page 92 of Bonds of Hate

“What exactly is going on here?” Logan’s voice comes out deadly quiet.

“Breakfast, obviously.” Tipping me off his lap with a bounce of his leg, Ares turns me toward the coffee service bar with a pat on my hip. “Go make a cup for our fearless leader. Lots of cream, but no sugar.”

I follow his direction without complaint, if just because the coffee bar is on the opposite side of the dining room and that puts the long table in between Logan and me.

The prince’s gaze follows me, but he thankfully makes no move to close the distance between us.

My hands shake slightly as I prepare Logan’s coffee, measuring out more cream than I intend to due to the shaking in my hand. The weight of his stare burns into me, but I manage not to spill anything.

“What the fuck is she wearing?” Logan demands.

“One of my workout shirts,” Ares answers drolly, because the answer should be obvious. I smell like I spent the last few hours playing in his sock drawer. “I figured you didn’t want her doing any more damage to your mother’s dress.”

Logan huffs in annoyance, but some of the anger eases from his expression. “Sure, you thought I gave a fuck.”

“Your will and desires are ever at the forefront of my mind, my prince.” Ares cracks his neck as he rises to his feetand pulls out the chair at the head of the table. “Now sit the fuck down and eat some breakfast before you get hangry enough to kill us all.”

The words, though not entirely free of sarcasm, hold enough sincerity to finally break the tension.

Logan slumps into his seat with an annoyed sound, but the rage-filled energy has receded. He even manages a grunt of acknowledgement when I set his cup of coffee down, close enough without getting in actual reach of him.

When Ares’s reaching arm grabs for me, I dance back to the coffee bar on the pretense of making another one.

Cillian comes to stand at the end of the table, but doesn’t take a seat. He only addresses the prince, though I don’t miss when his gaze briefly flicks in my direction. “The king expects your presence at the small council meeting tomorrow. He wants your Omega at your side. Apparently, she made an impression.”

“So?” Logan grouses.

“She can’t go wearing that,” Cillian replies patiently.

Logan’s gaze casts around as if a new wardrobe will appear out of thin air. “Then find something for her to wear.”

Cillian’s smile is thin in his pinched face. “You never ordered a wardrobe prepared for your Omega. The harem closet was cleared out of anything appropriate long before now. She can’t wear anything that might be left in public.”

“I’ll take her shopping,” Ares cuts in, smile rakish. “I’ve always wanted an excuse to go to that Omega department store downtown.”

Logan points a long finger at him. “Absolutely not. Ilet you off the palace grounds with her and we’ll never see either of you again.”

Poe drains his coffee mug, pointedly not looking at me. “I’ve done my duty where court fashion is concerned.”

I shouldn’t be hurt by the brush off, but I can’t help that I am.

Logan releases an aggrieved sigh. The moment he comes to the decision is obvious on his face. I both anticipate and dread his inevitable next words.

“I’ll take her,” Cillian announces suddenly, surprising me and everyone else in the room. He addresses Logan, pointedly ignoring anyone else. “The next appointment on your agenda is in twenty minutes and you’re unavailable for the rest of the day. I’ll make sure she has something appropriate for the small council meeting.”

“Fine,” Logan replies, voice clipped. “I expect you back as quickly as possible.”

A meaningful look passes between them, too quickly to decipher its meaning.

Cillian’s voice is measured, but I don’t miss the strain of tension. “Don’t worry, your highness. I’ll make absolutely sure your Omega is everything you need her to be.”

The words are proper, but I can’t fight the sudden impression they’re actually meant to be a threat.

Chapter Twenty

MAYA

The elevator doors have barely slid shut when Cillian tosses a wrapped package at me, scoffing when I almost drop it.

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