Page 23

Tiber stepped into his home to pure chaos. Or maybe not chaos, but noise, laughter, and an overwhelming amount of food.

Four of his warriors, Mia, and Octavia—as well as Ilmari and Neptune, who was sitting in Mia’s lap—were sitting around a table someone had set up right next to his fireplace and playing a board game.

“I think you are scamming us,” Angel muttered good-naturedly. “There’s no way this is your first time playing.”

“Why can’t it be my first time playing?” Mia asked tartly, looking at Angel.

“Because…”

“Yeah, keeping your mouth shut is the best idea you ever had,” Octavia said with a laugh when Angel couldn’t respond.

“There’s a similar game back home I’ve played before,” she said as she rolled the dice. “And I always dominate!”

“Savage,” Angel murmured, with Baisas groaning.

“You just captured my castle,” Baisas said.

“ Four of your castles,” Mia corrected, then grinned when she saw Tiber. “Hey, when did you get back?”

The others had definitely been aware of him, but his human didn’t have the same sensory abilities and he’d been enjoying just watching her. “Just walked in. I see you’re destroying my people.”

“You better believe it.” She stretched and stood as Octavia took her turn.

“Your friends swore you wouldn’t mind them throwing a get together here,” she whispered as they reached the kitchen.

“Also, they brought fresh bread and so much food.” She smiled as she said it, her gaze straying to what was left of the loaf of seeded bread.

“They’re always welcome here. I hope tonight wasn’t too overwhelming.”

“No, I love stuff like this. At the artist’s enclave we have game nights or book nights or whatever at least three times a week. I just don’t like big crowds.” She started making a plate for herself, then looked up. “Are you hungry?”

He was a little surprised by her good mood considering the message he’d received from Octavia but nodded. “I could eat.”

She snickered and grabbed another plate, started piling it high with meat and cheese.

It was foreign to have another person making him a plate, but… he liked it as much as he liked cooking for her. But then he frowned when he saw her bags in the corner by one of the windows. “Why is all your stuff packed?”

“That’s what I was going to tell you. Octavia and I had a run-in with Charles,” she said as she slid him the full plate. “I’m tired of worrying about him and it’s not fair that you have to keep housing me so I’m going to take a break and head into the mountains for the next month.”

He was very aware of the others in the room quieting down and listening to them while not appearing to try to eavesdrop. And they were no doubt aware that he wanted to keep her here. “Housing” her wasn’t an issue.

He would give her his place if she asked. Preferably with her sharing a bed with him. His people knew it, but she, clearly did not. “Why the mountains?”

“A friend of mine is staying up there because she wanted a new setting to work and said I have a standing invitation. I’ve been thinking of going and figured that now is the time.

Though I do appreciate all you’ve done. I hope…

that you think of me as a friend now. Even if I’m just a silly human,” she added, her grin mischievous.

“I’m sorry for what I said. Officially,” he added.

“And you’re going to listen to my apology.

” And, apparently, all his warriors were getting to overhear as well.

“Because I mean it. You are not a silly human, and I don’t want you to feel like you have to leave.

I will handle the issue with Charles tonight.

I’m going to head to the castle and talk to the queen directly.

She’ll make an excuse for kicking out his whole party and make it sound like it was their idea. ”

But Mia shook her head and moved around the island, gently touching his forearm.

“No. I mean, I appreciate it but no. I don’t want any issues with his coven.

And thank you for the apology. I accept it and I meant what I said, I hope we can be friends…

what’s wrong with you two?” She stared as Octavia and Angel basically stumbled into the kitchen, both clutching their chests.

“The great Tiber has apologized,” Octavia bemoaned, clutching her chest theatrically.

Angel fell to the floor, spreading out on his back as Neptune jumped on his chest, staring down at Angel curiously. “The world must be ending. It is the only explanation for this apology.”

Tiber looked at Mia. “This is why I don’t invite these assholes over very often.”

But she giggled and threw a cheese cube at Angel. “You’re ridiculous.”

Octavia snatched a hand out and caught the cheese. “I don’t think you understand what a big deal it is for Tiber to…” she lowered her voice, whispering, “apologize.”

“Assholes. Every single one of you.” But he found himself grinning, especially when Neptune turned around and tried to put his butt on Angel’s face. Tiber really did like that cat.

“Hey! I thought we were cool, Neptune,” he sputtered, jumping to his feet.

Tiber crouched down and fed Neptune a bit of turkey. “Good boy.”

“He really likes you,” Mia murmured as he scooped Neptune up in his arms, the little guy purring.

That was when Tiber realized that she was watching him with an expression he wasn’t sure he could read.

He wasn’t sure what to make of it, but what he did know was that she wasn’t going into the mountains by herself tomorrow. He’d be escorting her and then he’d be making her his mate.

He’d never thought to fall for a human—or anyone, if he was being honest with himself—but she was part of the fabric of his life now. That was it. He wasn’t letting her go.