“What?” The king roared. Smoke came out of every orifice. Okay, maybe it only came out his nose and mouth but he was so mad that she could swear it almost came out of every hole in his body. Idiot! She didn’t give two shits if he was angry. “Take her back to the human town she came from,” he said. “Why are you wasting your time with this female?”

Her blood seemed to slow and cool, even though her heart sped up. The funny thing was, she didn’t want to go back just yet. The thought scared her. Why would it scare her? It didn’t scare her, it made her upset. She was having too much fun. She’d counted on having two more weeks with Coal… two more weeks of relaxation. Two more weeks of no-strings fun.

“No, I’m not taking her back,” Coal growled. He put an arm around her shoulder. Even though she wasn’t one for public displays of affection, she leaned into him.

“You have to.” The king was looking at her. “This female doesn’t want young. She is useless to us.”

What a prick!

Coal squeezed her tighter. He gave a tiny shake of the head. It was meant for her. Julie realized that she had sucked in a breath and was about to tell this bozo exactly what she thought of him.

“She means something to me,” Coal said simply. The statement warmed her. It shouldn’t warm her. Maybe it was because she could count on one hand how many people had stood up for her in her life. She didn’t even need all her fingers on that hand at that.

She felt like blowing a raspberry at the fuddy duddy king. Take that.

Coal looked down at her. She only came up to the middle of his chest so it wasn’t hard. The king also looked down on her. He was just as tall but looked very different. They must each take after different parents. Blaze was very good looking. He had the whole chiseled jaw and gorgeous eyes thing. There was a slight cleft in his jaw. He looked like a movie star with a stick up his ass. He was not quite as built as Coal and to her, not nearly as attractive.

“I would like a quick word with my brother.” Coal smiled. It didn’t quite reach his eyes. He looked stressed. “Would you mind waiting outside or you could go for a walk. I’ll find you in a few minutes.”

“I thought I wasn’t allowed anywhere without you.” The thought of some other Neanderthal grabbing her, scared her.

Coal grinned, this time for real. “I have fully claimed you. You have nothing to worry about. They might look and sniff at you but no one will touch you. I’ll be ten minutes.” His throat worked. “Please…”