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Denith blinked. “So, you were serious.”

“I don’t fuck giant chained-up dragons often, so yes.” She murmured it softly.

Denith spoke softly, “How did you get past the guards?”

Rex cleared her throat. “I volunteered as tribute.”

He looked at her, started to grin, and then burst into giggles. “Both of them?”

“Both of them.” Rex was grim.

Denith looked around. “Where are they?”

Regis sighed. “No idea. Don’t know what they are calling themselves now either.”

He looked at her seriously. “He’s around. He will be here.”

She looked at him and sighed as Myrtle held Ira, chatting about inviting her for lunch to Denith’s restaurant.

Regis grinned. “If Myrtle keeps going, you are going to have a restaurant full of elf omegas.”

He grinned. “It will freak out my staff, but I am not complaining.”

She laughed. “Being the omega hotspot isn’t a bad thing, I suppose.”

“It definitely is not.” His eyes flickered, and he smiled softly.

“What was that?”

“Oh, nothing. Just a private note.”

Regis spoke softly. “Ira, you have to do your homework.”

Elaheh appeared and said, “And I am summoned. Come on, squirt. Let’s slam through those equations so you can watch all the prancing with a clear conscience.”

Ira squirmed to get down and took her tutor’s hand. They walked to the back of the stage, where a desk and chair were waiting for her.

Denith blinked. “You make her do homework on nights like this?”

“She’s the first of her kind, and she’s a princess; plus, she loves Ela, and they get along.”

“And she likes homework?”

“Surprisingly, yes. When Ela is there to fire questions at, she has so much fun.”

Pandora asked, “Has anyone seen Kay?”

Regis looked around and saw Kay walking off with two tall men, taking animatedly. She didn’t think anything of it until Vemel looked over, and his eyes widened. “What the hell are they doing here?”

“Who?”

“Those two men are djinn, and they are talking to that beta like they know her.”

Regis looked at the three talking and occasionally gesturing to the nearby woods. Kay slapped a hand over her face. “I can’t fucking go until he’s here!”

The shout carried, and Kay looked toward them, where a sea of black and white faces were staring at her. She stalked back and said, “Fine. It’s now then. Teyval, Myrtle, come with me. I need to tell a story.”

Myrtle blinked and took Teyval’s hand. “I love a good story.”