Literally.

20

Laughing at Maris’s joke, Zarya felt a chill go down her spine. She sobered as the skin on the back of her neck crawled like a living creature.

When she turned her head to see Darling’s furious glower while he stalked toward them, she understood the uneasy knot in her stomach. This wasn’t the levelheaded politician who’d met with the gerents.

This was the feral soldier, Kere. And he was out for blood.

Maris rose at Darling’s approach. “What’s going on?”

Darling broke out into a furious rant in Phrixian… one day, she was going to have to learn that language. It was aggravating to have no clue what they were saying around her.

Maris attempted to calm him, but Darling was having none of it.

Ignoring Maris, he turned toward her. “Come, Z. We’re leaving.”

She hesitated before she stood up. “Aren’t you supposed to be with the gerents?”

“Yes,” Maris hissed, “he is. If he fails to attend dinner, it’ll be viewed as an affront to them.”

“And what is this,” Darling gestured angrily toward them and their table, “if not an affront to me?”

Maris scoffed. “It has nothing to do with you. This is a slap at me and you know it.”

“I totally disagree. But let’s say you’re right. It’s still a slap at both of us, and I won’t tolerate them treating the two of you like this. I won’t.”

Maris folded his arms over his chest. “Baby, you’re overreacting.”

Darling started to protest, but Zarya cupped his face in her hand and stood up on her tiptoes to nibble his jaw. Yeah, that made his thoughts scatter to the point he could barely remember his own name. His knees went weak and he lost all resistance to her.

Then she whispered in his ear. “You were magnificent tonight. Don’t ruin what you’ve achieved with something that’s as trivial as their pettiness. Besides, I like it here with Mari. He’s highly entertaining.”

At the moment, the only thing he wanted was to find a bed.

Or a closet.

But she wasn’t some crass prostitute selling her body for drugs. She was a high-born lady who was going to be his consort. He wouldn’t treat her that way. And by the gods, he wouldn’t let anyone else either. “They’ve insulted two of the people I value and love most in this universe. Would you really have me forgive that?”

“Yes, I would.” She gently pushed him back a step. “Go on in there and don’t worry about us.”

He debated what course of action he should take. On the one hand, he wanted to break someone’s ass. On the other, he knew Zarya and Maris were right. No one would remember why he left the meeting tonight. They’d only remember that he’d turned his back on his gerents and insulted them.

“We’re really fine,” Maris said, reiterating her stance. “They did us a favor with this. We’re having a great time out here.”