Page 168 of The Queen’s Shadow

I didn’t go near her, instead I ripped open her wardrobe, pulled out a lambskin bag and started throwing clothes into it.

“I said I’m not going!” She snapped, “Pack my shit all you want but I’m not going anywhere with you!”

I rolled my eyes and continued stuffing her things into the bag. Grabbing a handful of blue lace panties I paused, a smirk quirking on the side of my lips.

“What do we have here?” I purred out loud, holding them up to my face and inhaling. They were clean, but they still smelled like her. My mouth watered and I felt my dick twitch beneath my restructium. What I wouldn’t give to bury my face in the panties she was wearing right now.

“You’re fucking disgusting!” She screeched, storming off the bed and barrelling into me. “Don’t touch my shit!”

I laughed and stuffed the underwear into the bag with the rest of her things.

“Should have thought of that before you made me come over here. Next time do what you’re told.”

The chances of Kasha taking orders from me were about as likely as me shifting into a hippopotamus instead of a panther. But that wasn’t the point. The point was to piss her off, and she did not disappoint.

“Fuck you!” She snarled and I grinned at her.

“Is that an offer?” I smirked, and she suddenly backed away, looking appalled.

“What is wrong with you?”

“How much time do you have?” I asked dryly, making my way to the bathroom.

I assumed she would need girly shit like hair ties or whatever to do those cute little braids she always wore. I hunted through the vanity and started dumping things I thought she might want into the bag.

“Raven said Dossidian magicked a new restructium suit in here for you. Put it on.”

“No.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her chin out. I dropped her bag and turned on her, the amusement draining from my face.

“Put it on, Kasha, or I will do it for you.” We glared at each other for several long moments, and I let her see that I was dead serious. I would force her to wear it if I had to, and she wouldn’t like it if I did. But I didn’t really give a flying fuck. She wasn’t going anywhere without armor on.

Finally, she stomped out of the bathroom, and I heard her tear open the box.

Good girl.

When it sounded like she was done changing, I walked back into the bedroom with her packed bag slung over my shoulder. She stood there, coated in restructium, looking angry and still much too thin. I pursed my lips. She was going to need to eat when we got to Olkuyrbe. I would make sure Rhyalla stocked our tree house with snacks.

“Great, let’s go.”

“No. I told you I’m not going.” She snapped and I bit back a laugh.

“Then why did you put on the restructium?” I asked and her face turned red.

“Because you threatened me, asshole.”

“Well, I’m threatening you again. You can either walk on your own or I can carry you. You pick.”

“Rycon, I swear to The Origin…”

“You swear what? What are you going to do, Kasha?” I challenged. Her eyes were blazing with fury, and I was loving every second of it.

This was my Kasha. This was who I had been looking for. Not the broken, sad little creature that I had pulled out of that brothel. I didn’t care if her anger was directed at me, I would take her fire over those sad eyes any day.

She didn’t answer, she just clenched her fists at her sides and tried to melt me with her glare. Fuck… She looked good enough to eat.

“What’s it going to be? I would love an excuse to toss you over my shoulder.” I smirked, thinking about how close that would bring her ass to my face. She seemed to suddenly be able to read my mind and made an ‘ew’ face, before storming away, leaving me standing in her room with her bag.

I followed her out, shamelessly watching her hips sway as she stalked down the hall in front of me.