Page 103 of Bite The Power That Feeds

“Should we wait for your father?”

“I don’t think that’s important to any of us anymore.”

Her eyes dimmed. “When do you think he’ll be here?”

“Tomorrow. After his army rests, we’ll leave at dusk.”

“About that…” Her arms crossed over her chest. “I know this conversation is coming, so I’ve chosen to get ahead of it. I’m coming with you. I’m not going to sit on my ass and wait for you to return.”

“Larisa, you’ve seen those werewolves firsthand—”

“Yes, I couldn’t hold my own when it was three versus one, but I can handle one on my own. You don’t have to put me on the front line with the rest of you, but I can help in some way. Give me something, Kingsnake. The queen of Grayson shouldn’t remain in her palace while her people risk their lives.”

“Take your pride out of it for a moment, sweetheart. You are not skilled in the blade like my brothers and I. And if you die and I live…I die too.”

Instead of rising in anger, her eyes softened.

“You aren’t just risking yourself, butus. And it’s not worth it.”

“I understand that, but I can’t stay behind. There must be something I can do. What about all the humans who need to be evacuated while this battle is commencing? I could do that.”

I inhaled a deep breath, still displeased with that.

“You can have a set of guards with me—and Fang.”

“If I could have my way, you would stay right here, sit on your ass, and wait for me.”

She stared.

“But I know how egregious that is for you.”

She gave a subtle nod.

“I won’t be able to protect you, sweetheart. I need you to understand that. I’ll be far away, in a different part of the city, as will Cobra and Viper. You can scream my name, and I won’t hear it. Fang can call for me, but I would never be able to get to you in time.”

“I’ll be careful. I’ll just get people to safety outside the wall. And if danger comes…I’ll run.”

“Promise me.”

“Yes.”

“Promise me you’ll abandon your men and the people and save yourself?”

“Yes.”

I still didn’t like it, but it was the only compromise we would find. “Then I accept.”

My mighty fangsss and bone-crushing ssstrengh will keep her sssafe, Kingsssnake.

I know you will.

Her hands planted against my chest then slid down, moving to my trousers so she could slide her fingers up my bare chest. “Looks like we have time to kill before the wedding…”

I was hot and sweaty from working all day, organizing the Ethereal in the fields and then working in my study when the sun was highest in the sky, devising a plan for invasion. “I haven’t showered.”

“Fine by me.” Her fingers pushed my shirt upward, moving it up my chest and then over my head. “You’re just going to get dirty anyway.”

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