Page 88 of Night's Fall
“Thanks,”Ireplied shyly.
“The vids are already flooding the social tapes,” she informed me. “Youlooked quite stunning in that satin gown astride my son’s beast.”
Aleksei cleared his throat.
I kicked his ankle.
He broke out in a broad smile.
“Mind out of the gutter, son.Mygoodness.Males,”QueenCalisagriped.Itwas her turn to look beyond her display and she called, “Excellent,Germaine.You’rehere.”
“I wish to speak to her,”Alekseirequested, though no one was under any impression it was anything other than a demand.
“Always needing control,”QueenCalisamumbled irritably.Thevisual showed her lovely, beaded dress as she said off display, “Commfrom the prince.Goodnews, the female is his mate.”
“No kidding?That’sexceptional,” a female replied, then she appeared, platinum and honey hair pulled back in a bun, her lavender fae eyes staring at me through the display. “Andyou’re fabulous.Evenbetter.”Herattention shifted toAleksei. “Hello, your royal highness.’
“Release a statement,” he ordered. “Alongwith agents of theRoyalService,HisRoyalHighness,PrinceAleksei, thwarted an assassination attempt this evening at the art gallery,Tempera.Onesuspect is in custody.Theother lost his life during the attack.”
She dropped all pretense and exposed the relationship she really had with my mate by retorting, “Thisis not going to fly,Lex, and you know it.Yes, there was drama and danger, but no one, not even you, is allowed to lose control of their creature, no matter what the circumstances.”Shetook a dramatic pause and made her point by slanting her gaze to me then back toAleksei. “Exceptone.”
“This is not true, and you know it,Maine,”Alekseishot back. “Ifa beast is defending his being’s life, it is absolutely considered lawful.”
“You had twelveRSagents defending your life,”Germainepointed out.BeforeAlekseicould retort, she said quietly, “Iget you.YouknowIdo.Butyou’re going to have to let her out, my prince.”
Aleksei made a ferocious noise in his throat.
“The socials are eating this up.There’svid from every direction,” she told us. “Andyes, you are definitely getting positive commentary for saving the life of some beautiful, random female who stepped in the way of danger to defend ourTrueHeir.Butyou are also getting a lot of very negative commentary about privilege and acting as judge and executioner by immolating a suspect holding aPR60, which is not known to do much but stun a beast unconscious.Andyourbeast?Itwould only daze you.”
“However, on the setting he had it, it would have burned a hole throughLaura’sbody,”Alexeigritted. “Oranyone he might have mistakenly hit.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “Andthe courts would have decided his punishment for that.”Shehurried on again beforeAlekseicould. “Thereis not a single being, be they shifter, fae, demon, vampire, witch, conjurer or human who would even begin to question a shifter changing to his beast to defend, protect and even annihilate a threat to his mate.Thereis no question this is what you did.It’son vid from at least two dozen directions.Youdid what any species would do, and in doing it, it is not only lawful, it’s championed.Youknow that,Lex.Wehave to use her.Shehas to be outed.”
“Hername isLauraMakepeace,”QueenCalisachimed in from off display.
“Fuck,”Alekseiclipped right beside me and looked down at me.
I understood his unspoken question and shrugged, because unfortunately, thisGermainechick was right.
“Do it,” he grunted to the display.
Germaine excelled at not openly appearing victorious, but her eyes did light with excitement.
“I need her brief,” she said.
“Get it fromAllain,”Alekseireplied.
“Any skeletons?” she asked me.
Aleksei answered, “Herparents are pieces of shit.”
Sucky.
But accurate.
Her brows shot up. “Arethey going to be a problem?”
I got a few words in. “Ihaven’t seen them in thirteen years, but ifIhad to guess…yes.”
