“They’ll go nicely with my brownie and my pair of Zion.”
“Indeed.” She palmed the witch’s head. “Join me for dinner in three hours, Sameya. Bring your new acquisitions. We’ll discuss the other details you’ve learned then.”
Sameya inclined her head and bowed low. As she rose, E’Neskha said, “That you captured my foe reconfirms why I maintain you as my royal guard. You will be rewarded well.”
“Your satisfaction is reward enough.” She led her men from the room, noting the curious stares and those deep in hushed whispers. She was certain at least one of E’Neskha’s enemies witnessed the exchange.
The walk to her room was short, as she was positioned near her Empress for maximum protection. Magically sensing her as she drew near, her door vaporized long enough for them to enter her abode. As soon as they stepped through, the opening became solid once more.
Releasing her mates’ leashes, she had little time to prepare for her Zion’s greetings. Huge paranormal canine’s loped into the room, tails wagging and tongues lolling. She went to her knees and wrapped her arms around their necks.
“My boys. My sweet, sweet boys, oh, how I’ve missed you.” Wet licks to her neck and face. She giggled as they overbalanced her, and without clinging to their necks she’d have tumbled to the floor. One week out of Atlantis and she’d missed them dreadfully.
“A dog lover,” Gabriel said with much disgust in his voice.
Swiveling in her crouched position, she studied her tiger. Naked from his shift back into human his tattoos were stark against his muscled flesh. “Particular cats have their appeal.”
His golden eyes grew hot at that confession.
Chapter Twenty-Two
As she rose, she motioned to the dogs that stood waist high. “Meet my long-time companions, Nero and Thrax. You two”—she rubbed the heads of the canines—“these are my…mates.”
Maximus’s perusal was so concentrated she shifted from foot to foot. He unhooked the leash from his collar and tossed it on the sofa with a hard fling. Silence extended between them as he approached and offered his hand for the dogs to sniff. In her personal space, he hooked a finger into the waistband of her Basilisk pants and simply stared at her as she waited for him to react.
Nervous beneath his quietness and stern regard, Sameya cleared her throat. “I know you like to cook, so I had Dart stock my cabinets and icebox. If you prefer something else, Dart will get it for you.”
“Who is Dart?” Gabriel strolled closer, his body language more playful compared to Maximus’s serious one.
“My brownie.”
Maximus arched a dark eyebrow. “As in the tiny species that enjoys cleaning one’s house.”
“Yes. More or less. She does many other things than just clean. I keep her well stocked with liquor. Tequila’s her favorite.”
Gabriel chuckled. “A drunk fairy. That must be entertaining.”
Sameya shrugged. She’d never seen Dart intoxicated, so she had no idea if the brownie could become inebriated.
Maximus yanked on her pants, and she stumbled into him. A hand to the back of her neck steadied her, and he massaged her flesh. “I want these off. Now.”
“N-now isn’t the best time for…p-play.” But by the goddess her belly burned in anticipation. “After our meeting with E’Neskha is the best time. You’ll have as long as you n-need.” Maybe it was best to get it over with fast.
“How considerate. She’s thinking of our timeframe, Gabriel.” He shot the other man an ironic glance.
“I believe she’s a little nervous, Maximus.”
Of course she was nervous. Her vampyr had detailed what he’d do to her later for collaring him.
Her tiger moved in behind her, his palms landing on her shoulders to glide down her arms and circle her wrists. He pulled them behind her back and held them imprisoned at the base of her spine. “I probably would be, too, with the way your vampyr is gazing at her. Like you might eat her.” She didn’t think Gabriel meant the sexual variety. “Maybe you should clarify why she deserves discipline.”
Discipline? Wait a minute! That she wouldn’t tolerate. “I’m not a child. I’m an adult who has the freedom to do as I please. If being mated means I have to answer to either of you, you’re dead wrong!”
“I’m angry with you.” Maximus knelt in front of her and quickly pulled off a boot.
“What have you to be angry about?” For the life of her she couldn’t figure out why he would be mad.
The second shoe followed the first, and he rose before her. His thumbs hooked between her flesh and pants on either side. “The hostility in that room was tangible. Thick. More than one wants your Empress out of her seat. And you can bet your ass you are the hot focus of an assassination attempt.”