Page 116 of Fake Fae-Ancée

Kai frowned at being included in the godchildren-part, but when you married into the Kalinin family there were some things that went with it, and one part was having a witchy godmother with an attitude.

During Baba’s little speech, the housekeeper set the food on the table, and Yli-Pekkala rose, strode to the samovar and started pouring tea.

"You being a commoner now, Yuri Alexejevic, doesn't mean you can avoid your godmother like that. You're not insignificant enough for that kind of impunity."

"Apologies, Auntie," I said, accepting the delicate porcelain cup she handed me, saucer and silver spoon and all, filled with steaming black tea from the Eastern Realms. The sweet aroma of thick strawberry jam she had stirred into it tickled my nose.

"So you're back on the force?" asked Yli-Pekkala, sitting down and accepting the cup of tea her housekeeper handed her.

"Yup, back on duty and everything." Kai stirred the silver spoon in her own cup, jittering in her seat, eager to get going. We were running late as it was.

"And you, my sweet prince?" Baba sipped her tea. "What are you up to, now that you find yourself without a kingdom once more?"

It took me a while to answer, as I had stuffed my mouth with an eyewatering sweet teacake and was therefore busy chewing and holding back tears.

Things back home had kind of fallen into place after everything had calmed down. My brother Nicolai made an excellent king, had wiped away the dark years of Yegor's reign within a few weeks. The Bears loved him. The press, social media and international politics loved him. And the ladies loved him as well, speculation was already running hot as to when he might choose a wife. After all, as we all knew now, the king of Bears needed a queen.

"I'm just reorienting," I said after gulping down the cake.

"So no more monster hunting as a freelancer at P.A.S.H.?" Yli-Pekkala arched an eyebrow. "Taggart will be so disappointed."

I raised my hands in a the-fuck-do-I-know gesture. The chief had shrugged off my notice that our collaboration would end and had turned once more to his case files. He was probably all too glad this tiresome Nox business had come to an end. And one contractor less meant only less paperwork. And I wasn’t too sad about it, either.

Also, I had made a promise to Kai to stop being so damn overprotective all the time and stop interfering with her work.

She had a point — she’d proven time and again she didn’t need my protection, when it came to handling monsters, she was very well capable of looking after herself. It hadn’t been easy to overcome my urge to keep her safe. But this was our new start, and I was willing to do my part.

Yli-Pekkala kept her enigmatic smile. I was eyeing the remaining teacakes with some interest, but Kai shot me another pointed look, draining her cup as fast as she could without burning her mouth.

"We really have to be on our way, Auntie," I said. Kai placed her empty cup on the table beside me for emphasis.

"I know, I know, you have an important appointment, " Yli-Pekkala rose. Of course she knew where we were about to go. She always knew about everything. It was her job, in a way.

"Just promise you'll stop in again soon," she said as I pressed a kiss to her gloved hand in farewell.

"Of course, Auntie."

"I'm glad things turned out this way." Baba turned to my wife, and to my — and Kai's — utter surprise, she pulled her into a hug.

Kai, stiff as a twig, looked at me across the old woman's shoulders, aghast.

"Uh, thanks?" she brought out, not sure where she should put her arms. It looked positively adorable.

Baba held Kai at arm's length, smiling warmly. "You must take extra good care of yourself now, my dear," she said, winking at her.

"Uh, okay, I will," Kai said, confusion on her face, disengaging from Baba and giving me the nonverbal sign to get the fuck out of here. Baba waved after us as Kai pushed me out of the drawing room, grabbing our jackets.

"Whatever that was supposed to mean again," she hissed when we were out of earshot. "The hag is freaking me out with her cryptic hints."

Kai

"Oh my god,it's so fucking big..." I groaned out.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it!" I had to stifle a gasp and turned, staring at Yuri who was leaning against the doorframe — looking really hot in his leather jacket and button down shirt, and by now he had perfectly internalized leaning against a door frame casually and seductively — giving me one of his dimpled smiles.

The apartment was huge. I must be marching through at least the fifth giant room by now, mouth wide open, taking in the high ceilings and white stucco walls. The floor-to-ceiling windows let in the bright afternoon sun. The polished wooden floor creaked softly under my feet.

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