Page 103 of Ascendant King

Shaking my head, I got dressed quietly, leaving Cade in the sea of soft blankets on the bed. Outside, Samuel had a completely stoic expression, only offering me a slight smirk when I said good morning.

He started to follow me, but I gestured him back. “Stay until he wakes up.”

This time, the smirk went more sympathetic, quickly schooled into neutrality. “Sure thing, boss. Do you want me to tell him anything?”

The tone was just on the edge of teasing, and I could hear the implication underneath.

“No. Just tell him I went for breakfast.” I tried to keep the words severe, but Samuel’s eyes crinkled in the corners, and I knew that if I was anyone less than his alpha, I would have been mocked within an inch of my life.

As it was, Samuel said, “I would ask how far you went for the betting pool, but dang, boss. No asking necessary.”

He sniffed significantly, and I wished we had taken a third shower last night. Too late now. Glaring at him, even when he started laughing hysterically, I headed down the hall.

At the head of the stairs, I could smell breakfast, and as soon as I got into the dining room, I saw more wolves than usual collected around the table.

Most stood immediately, and Evelyn rushed to make me a plate. When she put it in front of me at the head of the table, I thanked her. Everyone sat, and conversation resumed but quieter.

“Boss, this new mage, I don’t care if she turns out to be evil or something, she makes the most amazing food.” Evelyn shoveled potatoes into her mouth, starting to speak around them until I glared at her.

“Finish your bite first.” As if me saying that wasn’t a sign of the apocalypse. My mother had said those exact words a thousand times when I was growing up.

Nia chuckled, slicing into a pancake with the side of her fork. Then she froze, blinking. She was up and out of her seat before I could ask what was wrong. As she sprinted out of the room, everyone else tensed. I didn’t even wait, running behind her. I heard the pounding of feet as the rest of the pack joined us. The front door was open, Nia already outside, grappling with someone.

How had they gotten past our defenses? Was it a mage? Someone from Leon? Or one of the House Bartlett mages angry that Cade had disbanded their house?

“All right, all right. I’m sorry. My god, sweetheart, what did you do to your hair?”

I relaxed, realizing that Nia wasn’t grappling; she was holding Rhys so tightly that they could barely speak, even though they were still managing it.

“Did you try and give yourselfbangs? What have Itoldyou about that?Honey.” Rhys’s hands were gripping Nia just as tightly as she held on to them. She made a growling sound, and I turned, seeing the rest of the pack that had been with us at the breakfast table staring awkwardly.

“Okay. Back to your breakfast. Someone go tell Siobhan that Rhys is back.” I glanced at Evelyn and Gabe significantly, and they rounded everyone up, ushering them inside.

For a second, I hesitated. I wanted to give Nia privacy, but Rhys had been gone for so long, and we desperately needed the information they had. Then I remembered Cade’s sleepy expression the night before, when he traced my cheekbone with his fingertip, his eyes crinkling in the corners.

Turning, I headed back inside. Crossing my arms, I positioned myself in the entryway, glaring at anyone who tried to leave through the front door. After a few minutes, Cade came down, and the expression on his face was decidedly grumpy.

“You left me.” He was wearing formal mage clothing, the high-necked collar guarding his secrets and the hickeys I was sure I’d left.

“I didn’t want to wake you.” I tried to make it sound neutral, but a smile snuck into my voice as I remembered the relaxed peace of his expression. After all the tension, all the anger, I hadn’t been able to pull him from that.

“Well, it’s on you that you missed round four, then.” Cade’s gaze was sly. “It appears the early bird doesn’t get the worm after all.”

I gaped at him, and his smirk grew. Then his eyes went slightly distant, and he glanced up.

“What?” I followed his gaze, but the ceiling looked normal.

“It appears that Petrona has been busy. We have a third floor.” Cade frowned.

“Is it safe?” I asked.

“The only danger would be to them if the magic collapses suddenly. We should be fine.” Cade looked at me, the corners of his eyes relaxing. He sniffed, brows rising in excitement. “Siobhan?”

“Siobhan,” I confirmed. I jerked my thumb back toward the front door I was still guarding. “And Rhys is back.”

Cade started to ask, but then I saw his expression soften, as though he, too, was remembering how much-needed our reacquaintance in the bedroom had been. At least Rhys and Nia were managing theirs with clothes on.

Cade’s eyes went wide and fixed on my throat. He brushed a finger over the skin, and I couldn’t tell if he was more entranced by the hickey or the tattoo. They had looked like leaves when I had seen them this morning. Not the razor-sharp thorns or weapons I was used to, but something that couldn’t be used for war.