Page 39 of Bearing Secrets
“Listen to me, Natalia. You must do as I say for now, okay? Klebra isnotthe first person you are going to meet.”
“Kirell! I know you’re in there! Open up before I break it down!”
Natalia looked nervously between him and the door. The anger in Klebra’s voice was giving her second thoughts, he could see that now.
“Please?” he was pleading with her now, but time was running short. If Klebra saw her there, he would have all sorts of questions for her, and would attempt to scare her into admitting she wasn’t actually his mate, and Kirell couldn’t risk that. Neither of them could.
“You owe me,” she hissed angrily and slid under the bed.
Waiting until the bed skirt had stopped moving, he looked at the door once more. Once he was satisfied, Kirell walked over to open it, intending to have words with Klebra about manners. This wasnothow members of House Ursa acted toward one another, no matter what they thought of the other.
“Fine, have it your way!” Klebra snarled.
Kirell had a moment to throw himself to the side and then the thick oaken door burst inward, flying through the spot Kirell had just occupied before slamming into the wall with a loudcrash—thankfully covering up the squeak Kirell was sure he heard from under the bed.
Then all thoughts of Natalia were pushed aside as a furious Klebra stormed into the room.
17
“What are you doing over there?” Klebra all but howled.
Getting to his feet, Kirell dusted himself off, taking his time, ignoring the outburst. Klebra had no right to be in his room or to break down his door the way he did, and so Kirell was going to make him wait.
“I asked you a question.”
Kirell just adjusted his pants, picking a rogue piece of lint from his chest that he’d picked up while on the floor. “You’re going to fix my door.”
“Like hell, I am.” Klebra walked up to him, shaking with fury. “You’re the one that’s going to do as I say.”
Snorting in Klebra’s face would probably provoke an immediate fight. Kirell contemplated going down that route but pushed it aside. With Natalia in the room, he needed to avoid a fight if at all possible. Not only would the two of them going at it risk injury to her, but it would also bring a parade of others, increasing the chances of Natalia getting detected.
And I really don’t feel like messing up my room.
“Now why would I do that?” Kirell mused, stepping around the irate shifter and walking aimlessly around his room. “Last I checked, you weren’t the boss of me in any manner. Has something changed?”
“You’re damn right it’s changed. I’m taking charge now. You’re going to go to the Queen and tell her you’re not taking the position of Captain.”
“I am?” he asked innocently.
Klebra shook his head in frustration, thick black hair bouncing wildly before settling just below his ears once more. “Yes, you are.”
Pretending to think about it, Kirell tapped his jaw.
“Go!” Klebra commanded.
“Why?” He started bobbing his index finger around like some sort of pseudo-intellectual trying to solve a problem.
“What?” Klebra tugged at his thick goatee.
“No, why?”
“What why?” asked Klebra.
“Why what?”
Klebra growled. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying:why?” It was taking everything he had to keep a straight face. This was just too much fun!
