Page 3 of Purple Protector

“I have eyes, Birch. I know how you look at people you want to sleep with. Don’t sleep with the human journalist.”

“Why not? He’s cute.”

“And he’s here to do his job, not to sleep with you.”

“One doesn’t exclude the other.”

Marlin sighed and bumped their shoulders together. “I’m not going to be able to change your mind, am I?”

“You don’t have to. I’m not planning on sleeping with him.”

Marlin stared at Birch as if he couldn’t quite believe him. Birch didn’t blame him. Outside of his job, he wasn’t the kind of person who denied himself things or people he wanted. Aaron was cute and would be staying with them for a while. He’d be close to Killian and his family. It would make sense for Birch to keep an eye on him, wouldn’t it?

“Killian’s going to have a field day with this,” Marlin said.

He wasn’t wrong. Killian wasn’t the kind of king who would forbid Birch from sleeping with a human journalist, but that didn’t mean he would be happy about it. Aaron was here to do his job. Even though Birch didn’t fully understand why it was so important, he knew that Killian needed the interview to be a hit. That probably meant he shouldn’t distract the cute human journalist who was supposed to write it.

He and Marlin reached Killian’s office. Marlin knocked on the door, just in case Killian was in there with his consort, but Killian told them to come in instantly.

“He wouldn’t mind, you know,” Marlin said.

Birch shook his head. “I’m aware. I just don’t have time for that kind of thing.” He wasn’t kidding. Between his job, his friendship with Killian and Marlin, and his family, he had plenty of things to do. Adding a relationship to it was out of the question, no matter how cute the man was, and Aaron didn’t seem like the kind of person who’d be fine with a casual thing.

When they walked into the room, Killian was alone, sitting at his desk. He looked relieved to see them and quickly dropped his phone.

“This email can wait,” he said, sounding slightly desperate.

“Who are you supposed to email?” Birch asked as he took his spot next to the door.

“King Robard.”

Birch grimaced. It was necessary for the good of the clan to keep solid relationships with other clans, but some of their leaders were idiots. Unfortunately, they were useful idiots, which was one more reason Killian needed to keep them on his side, including Robard.

“Enough about me,” Killian said. “What don’t you have time for? If you need time off, you know you just have to ask.”

Killian was Birch’s King, but first and foremost, he was one of his best friends. They’d grown up together, as was tradition in the Eiloren clan, where people thought that if the king was raised with his bodyguards, the bodyguards would have even more incentive to keep their king safe. In Birch and Marlin’s case, it had proved right. They didn’t protect Killian because he was their king. They protected him because he was their friend and was precious to them.

“You don’t have to worry your pretty little head about this,” Birch teased.

“We just met the human journalist,” Marlin interjected.

Birch glared at him. “Why do you betray me so?”

“You weren’t going to tell him.”

“Because there’s nothing to tell.” Birch turned to Killian. “We bumped into Aaron, and yes, he’s cute, but that’s all there is to it. I’m not planning on anything.”

Killian arched a brow. “Are you sure? It wouldn’t be like you to let this go if you find him cute.”

Did Birch really have that kind of reputation? “I’m sure. Aaron’s here to work, and as I said when I came in, I’m busy.”

“I could give you time off,” Killian offered.

“The only way for you to give me time off is to fire me. Are you going to do that?”

“Of course not. Protecting me doesn’t mean you can’t have a personal life, though. Hedley would have my head if he found out that I was stopping you from having a relationship.”

Birch groaned. “You’re not stopping me from anything. I don’t want a relationship with Aaron.”

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