Page 26 of Sanctuary

I forced myself to unclench my jaw and answer, for Mirri's sake. It couldn't be pleasant to be put in this situation, to have his awful parents embarrassing him in front of his new mate, and his bonded partner snapping at his parents in return. Knowing Mirri, he would only blame himself for any hard feelings that arose.

"Yes," I said, pausing to drink deeply from my wineglass. "There is good hunting here, if you're interested in that. Though we ask that you check in with the keeper of game and grounds before any hunt, as he keeps careful watch over the wellbeing of our local flora and fauna."

I didn't comment on the natural resources he mentioned. We had a bit of sustainable forestry and mines that supplied construction materials for Elfhaven, but nothing on a grand scale, since resources were so carefully managed in our kingdom to prevent overuse or stripping the land. Which made me think the Woodspurs had done their research and heard all about the mage dust and star crystals that were so recently discovered in Larkwood and had rushed here to be closer to all that incoming wealth, rather than because of any sentiment toward their son.

After my warning regarding Mirri, his mother and father left off any personal remarks. Instead, they fawned over their perfect child and my own good graces, and the beauty of the estate, and anything else they could compliment. They were all smiles and eagerness, and they seemed intent upon staying with us for at least a week, possibly more. I tried to tamp down the instinct that said I should find some reason to get rid of them immediately.

That was Mirri's decision, not mine.

When we finally retired to our rooms for the night, I had a headache. This wasn't my first time putting up with visitors who were only here to talk in circles and make insinuations while they tried to figure out how to make the most of whatever connection they had with the steward of Larkwood. But this was worse, somehow. I could stand it when those things were aimed at me. But not when it hurt someone I cared about. Especially not someone as kind and wonderful as Mirri.

"Mirri," I said, reaching out to grab his arm as he passed by my room on the way to his own. "Say the word and I'll throw them out on their asses."

Mirri turned to me, and a wry smirk tilted up one corner of his lips. "I know you would," he murmured, reaching out to toy with a curl that had come down from the loose bun I wore at some point during the evening to lie along my cheek. "But I would never ask it of you, Kat."

He sighed and looked away before meeting my eyes again. "They are obnoxious and odious, but they are essentially harmless right now. I don't want you to cause an incident over me. They would only find some way to twist everything around and make you and I look like we were at fault. As if we were being rude or cruel to them. It's really not worth the trouble, especially when someone else is already doing their level best to make you look like an incompetent steward." Then he chuffed a humorless laugh. "Besides, I refuse to give my parents any more attention than we already have. And throwing them out would certainly draw attention to them as they bemoaned the cruelty of their ungrateful offspring. They love playing the victim."

"Fine," I said, crossing my arms over my chest and giving him a petulant look. "But I swear, Mirri, if it gets to be too much, I will send them packing."

He nodded in acknowledgement. "Thank you, my lady." Then he kissed the back of my hand and continued on his way to his room.

"He's right," Bach said as he came up behind me, clearly having overheard our conversation. "The Woodspurs will only make a grand scandal out of anything you try to do to disgrace them. I’ve seen it happen numerous times over the years. And I think…as much as I'd like to be rid of them once and for all, I think it still hurts Mirri every time they make a scene. So maybe it's best to humor them, at least for a time."

I huffed. "I don't like it. I wish they'd fall in a hole somewhere, never to be seen again."

He put a big hand on my shoulder and squeezed. "On that, we fully agree, my lady steward."

Adder joined us and he and Bach continued on toward their rooms at the end of the hall as they chatted about something to do with our charity budget and how they could design a program for orphaned youths. I watched them depart, feeling a bit misty-eyed. Lady Woodspur's jabs at dinner must have really gotten to Adder, for him to be so focused on this all of the sudden. The cold, stoic male had a surprisingly tender heart hidden away inside that icy shell.

"What are you looking all doe-eyed about?" Fife's sultry voice spoke from right beside my ear as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. We had all been busy, and we were still getting to know each other again. Fife and I hadn't been intimate since that earth-shaking kiss in the garden at the ball, but the beautiful male had been more openly affectionate with me since then. I was growing used to his casual touches. I let myself relax into his embrace as we watched the others disappear from sight.

"I was just thinking how lucky I am to have all of you in my life," I mumbled. "And how stupid people can be sometimes."

He chuckled softly, his warm breath tickling the sensitive skin of my neck. "Mmm…all true."

I spun to give him a glare for his unapologetically arrogant statement, and we both laughed. "But we are lucky to have you in our lives as well," he relented, grasping one of my hands and bringing it up to his lips. His light green eyes glinted as he looked up from under his long lashes. "Let the Woodspurs play their petty little games for now," he advised, a slow, wicked smirk overtaking his face. "But don't hesitate to put them in their place when the time comes." He straightened and winked at me, all jaunty mischief. "I understand the need to play nice sometimes, but I also believe in using your power when needed. And I think our Mirri needs to know how much he is loved."

And with those words of wisdom, the dangerous charmer pressed a quick kiss to my lips and sauntered off to his own room.

I retreated to my suite and leaned my back against the door, imagining I could still taste Fife's lips on my own. He was right. Bach's advice to be diplomatic was probably wise. But if they pushed too far, I would step in and show Mirri's parents that they weren't just dealing with some inexperienced lowborn youth in the rustic backwoods of Elfhaven. They were dealing with a steward who was more than willing to throw her power around to defend her mate.

Chapter 15

Unfortunately, Mirri's family continued their extended visit. I chafed every time I had to interact with the slimy, obsequious toads, but they had yet to give me a good enough reason to throw them out on their heads. They were clearly here to ingratiate themselves into our lives and our social circles, and though that was annoying, it wasn't exactly reason for rudeness on my part. I represented the king and queen, after all.

But I may have filled Lady Hawthorn in on the general gist of the situation and sent her out into the world to gossip and show her disdain as she saw fit. I might not be able to do anything about them at the moment, but there was no reason the other nobles of Larkwood couldn't shun the Woodspurs for me….

As annoying as Mirri's parents were, their little drama really was the least of my concerns at the moment. There was still the matter of some unknown entity trying to cause trouble in my territory, not to mention the handling of the mines and the completion of the mountain pass. And all of that was on top of just the day-to-day responsibilities of managing the territory. I may have enlisted Lady Hawthorn to keep her ears tuned to any murmurs of discontent that might tell us who had tried to sabotage my success as well. Then I firmly turned my attention to other matters and let her work her magic.

There would be a harvest festival in a couple of months, which was always a big deal for the citizens of Larkwood, and which I wanted to go extra smoothly this year in particular, what with all the stress and attention being placed on us. Preparations had already been underway for months now. Some things had been put in motion even before the prior year’s festival ended. But there were a few final items that needed to be seen to, particularly since we were expecting the mountain pass to be done by then, which would mean hosting more visitors for the celebration than ever before.

Given everything that had been going on, I felt guilty for ignoring Mirri's family issues for so long. His parents had been with us for two weeks now, and they showed no signs of leaving. I could tell it was weighing on the sweet male. I could see it in the tension in his shoulders and the faint dark circles under his eyes. My mate was silently suffering, and I didn't even have a good handle on why. All I had been told was that Raven team had entered the tournament for my hand in order to keep Mirri away from some marriage scheme of his parents.

During the tournament, Bach had revealed that the Woodspurs intended to barter Mirri off to be bonded to a stranger. He had seemed to imply that the Woodspurs held some leverage against Mirri to make him comply, but Bach hadn't felt that it was his right to share the details with me. Mirri had never come to talk to me directly about the issue, so I thought I shouldn't pry. But at this point, I felt like it was appropriate to ask for more information.

Mirri didn't just seem annoyed by his family's presence. When I glimpsed him in unguarded moments, when he thought no one was watching him, he looked downright haunted. And if these people had traumatized my mate that badly, then I needed to know more.

So, when we went to speak to the stable master in Mistvale about the need for additional accommodations for the upcoming festival, I arranged for Mirri to accompany me. I said it was because Mirri had a way with animals, and a way of phrasing any requests or criticisms that would be well received by the prideful city stable master. The city stable master wasn't nearly as easy-going as the one who tended the mounts at the Northbower estate.

---