Page 177 of Sire

“Don’t tease me, Daddy,” Zar drawls.

“That’s my line,” Vale coos.

“And that’smycue,” Nash mumbles, aroused.

“Sweet Jesus,” Ruby huffs. “We can’t go anywhere without you kings getting hotter than blue blazes.”

Jace chuckles. “As long as it ain’t blue balls.”

“Speaking of blue balls…” Vale turns to Jace. “Where’s Vivian?”

Delphine taunts Loch, “And where is Alena?”

“Leave my daughter out of this,” Nash warns.

“She’s one of us,” Vale debates. “Alena’s a queen and?—”

“No,” Nadine snaps her fingers, “I’mThe Queen telling y’all to cork your pistols.” She points to the tender sight before us. “Whatever we must do, we fight to keep thisdeal. I expect to keep our family together. You understand me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” We answer in unison.

She arches a brow. “Excuse me?”

We try again. “Yes, Queen.”

Looping her arm around my pregnant waist, she gives me a warm squeeze. “Andthat’show you do it.”

CHAPTER FIFTY

WREN

“Dear God,make them stop praising you,” I mutter, grabbing my back. “These wooden pews are killing me.”

Sitting beside me, Delphine whispers her laugh, “I am sorry you suffer, but this is proof God is a woman, no? Only she can make us sit on hard wood and praise the Lord.”

I giggle. Grant chuckles. Then, I roll my lips, hoping we’re not busted.

The church is full. Everyone is here for Sire’s return sermon. The kings and queens hide amongst the crowd, not making it obvious they’re our family, but I can’t help it.

I steal a glance over my right shoulder and spot Ruby and Axel, sitting across the aisle and one row back.

Sweet little Lev. He’s asleep on his father’s shoulder. Proudly, Axel wears his son’s drool on his suit.

Nick and Zar sit beside them. Many eyes are on Nick, our famous NFL king, who proudly came out as one of the first top-tier gay players in the league.

But Nick’s too focused on smoothing his sleeping nephew’s dark, sweaty curls. After Ruby and I, Nick and Zar are ready. They’re trying to have a baby with a surrogate.

For now? My fellow queen feels me. Ruby winks, then rolls her eyes, suffering the hard wood pain in her pregnant ass, too.

Yep, I’m giggling again.

Vale, sitting with Nash behind me, leans forward, whispering, “What’s so funny?”

We’re supposed to be listening to the other clergy droll on about how amazing Sire is,and he is, but I don’t need a sermon to praise my husband.

I do it almost every night.

“We’re thanking God; she’s making us sit on hard wood for an hour,” I whisper back, and Vale snorts.