“Which one of them is your mate, Sameya?” The Empress peered between the three of them, her interest obvious in the fine lines fanning from the corners of her eyes. “You said Lucius teased you about a vampyr and a shifter, so which one of them weakened you enough Lucius’ men could bring you down?”
Sameya cast a nervous peek at them, then squared her shoulders and said, “Both.”
Eyes widening, the leader’s mouth parted. “Mated to a shifter and a vampyr?”
“Yes.” Sameya dragged the word out. “I’ve not committed to remain with them.” She glanced between him and Gabriel. “And they know that.”
“Nonsense.” Empress E’Neskha’s chin notched higher. “Only a fool turns down the blessing of multiple mates, even if they are outside your race.”
Maximus grinned at Sameya. Oh, how he suddenly adored her Empress.
“But—”
“No buts.” The Empress interrupted his woman. “They’ll return to Atlantis with us.”
“Thank you. I owe you.” Gabriel chucked their mate’s chin while speaking to the Atlantian leader. “I’m glad to know your Empress is sensible, especially when you’re not.”
“All I ask is that you protect Sameya,” E’Neskha said.
That went without saying.
“This will only incite the propaganda against you.” Sameya rubbed her forehead. “Those who want you out of your seat of power will use this to demonstrate how you’re changing Atlantis. Not for the good either because no one likes foreigners within.”
“What of the witch over there?” Sameya glanced at Kat when E’Neskha asked about her. Maximus had almost forgotten she was present.
Sameya was the one who responded to the leader’s question. “That’s their familiar.”
“Friend,” Maximus corrected.
“She does magic for you for free. In our world, that’s a familiar.” She narrowed her gaze on the witch in question. “E’Neskha, I do have an idea that might rattle Lucius enough to make a mistake, but you’ll have to hold off on confronting him, and I can’t tell you what the idea is because I need your surprise to be genuine. I’ll need to bring the witch with me to set the plan in motion.”
A brief nod from the leader. “Granted.”
“No one said anything about Kat coming.” Maximus shook his head. Placing their friend in danger wasn’t part of any deal.
“Too bad.” Sameya tossed him a flat smile. “The witch tags along, or none of you are part of my plan.”
“See it done within the next hour. I’ll be expecting you in the Hall forthwith.” With a softly spoken word Maximus didn’t catch, the Empress vanished into a green mist that evaporated with her departure.
As Maximus attempted to figure out how the hell the other woman disappeared, Sameya turned to the tiger and became all business. “Gabriel, while in Atlantis, you’ll need to shift to your fur and remain that way when you’re not in my quarters. A siren won’t try to serenade a real tiger, and I’d prefer no one know you’re a shifter. Things will go smoother if everyone believes you’re an authentic tiger. Safer that way.”
“Done. But so long as you understand I will guard you with my life, and I’ll kill anything that even thinks of harming one hair on your head.”
Her expression softened. “Ditto, tiger.”
“Sameya, about Kat—”
“Don’t.” She swiped her hand through the air, cutting Maximus off. He adored her bossiness, but not her willingness to endanger herself. “The witch is strong enough to hinder a few sirens. They won’t expect her to retaliate if they believe she’s been serenaded. Any surprise we can get against Lucius is welcome.”
“You’re endangering Kat’s life.” That wasn’t something Maximus would tolerate. The fact she was so cavalier about her own life bothered him.
Stubbornness set in her jaw, defiance flashed in her violet eyes. Before she spoke, he knew she wouldn’t back down. “Your choice, leech.” They were back to name-calling, and he bit back a grin. “She comes or you don’t.”
“What’s my role to be?”
“You’ll be exactly what you are.” He elevated an eyebrow, not seeing how this helped her position. “But you’ll be collared so everyone will think you’re charmed. I’ll lead you about with a leash.” Her eyes were positively alive with the idea, probably anticipating a little payback. “Kat and Gabriel will be leashed, as well.”
Maximus would follow her anywhere, do anything for her…but he’d never been collared like one of the subs at the local BDSM establishment. Yeah, he’d put one on her and a few other women over the years. The idea of one snapping about his throat though, that was an uncomfortable thought. “It’s only for show? And only outside your bedroom?”