The admission was so unexpected and honest that she dropped the stack of papers she had been holding. Shaking her head at her own ineptitude, she bent down to pick them up. He shocked her even further when he joined her, picking up the scattered pieces of paper.
"Did I shock you, young Kari?" he asked in a teasing manner.
She nodded. "Yes. I was expecting a dictator, but you are..." She hesitated.
"Tell him," a voice said from the doorway.
They both looked over to see Bethy smiling at them. "Tell him what you really think. He needs to hear it," she encouraged.
Magnus handed her the papers as they both straightened, his eyes bright with curiosity. She took a deep breath. "You feel more like a favorite uncle than a prince," she admitted.
Bethy giggled and nodded. "He is."
Magnus blinked and began to blush furiously. "I am demanding when I need to be," he said gruffly, walking back to his chair. He sat down and began to go through his own stack of papers.
"Oh, he is adorable," Kari said, watching the man trying to read notes that were upside down.
"Not many see this side." Bethy walked in and stood beside her.
Kari turned to her, pursing her lips. "You could not get him past color coding his notes?"
Bethy threw her hands in the air. "He was fine when I left him to go live among humans. I don't know how he got so far off track," she said in an exasperated tone.
"I am right here," he muttered.
"It is going to take me weeks to retrain him." Kari handed Bethy the "non-urgent" note.
Bethy winced. "Let me guess, because it was on green paper, it's not urgent."
"Got it in one."
"Oh dear."
"I am still here," Magnus fussed.
"Kari!"
Kari turned around to the doorway as Avery flung himself into the room and into her arms. He clutched his forearm to his chest as blood streamed through his fingers.
"I can't do this anymore! She's a hateful, mean woman!" Avery shook as he buried his face in her neck.
With fury streaming through her veins, Kari gently disentangled Avery from around her neck and passed him to Bethy who cooed at him and ran a hand over his hair. Magnus was at her side as they left his office and headed toward the front lobby where his secretary sat at her desk. She saw them walking toward her and stood.
"Sire, thank goodness you are here. That young shifter brat had the audacity to try and tell me how to do my job."
Kari fought every instinct to throttle the woman. If the prince hadn't been at her side she would have raked her claws across the woman's face for what she had done to Avery. "That shifter brat works for one of the most prestigious training facilities in the world, which grooms personal assistants for the CEOs of the Fortune 1000 companies. He is actually the personal assistant to the owner and CEO of that company; he knows exactly what he is talking about," she fumed.
"Maybe that is impressive in the human world, but this is Noctem Falls. Working for the prince of our people is in a league entirely of its own," Cheryl argued.
"You have disparaged both shifters and humans in the thirty seconds I have been standing in front of you. It leaves me wondering if this point of view has affected the way you do your job," Kari pointed out.
Magnus' eyes narrowed. "Like not passing along complaints from shifter unit warriors or our new refugees?"
When Cheryl paled, Kari knew her guess had been accurate. She turned to Magnus. "In this type of politically charged atmosphere, neglecting to pass on vital information could have disastrous results. If she were my employee, I would fire her."
Magnus nodded. "I agree. Cheryl, you are fired. Please pack your belongings and return to your family level. I will discuss your termination with the head of your Founding Family, Hugo Evreux." Sputtering, Cheryl began to pack up her desk with shaking hands.
Kari looked over at the two unit warriors standing guard just outside the door. "Gentlemen?" she called. As one they turned to her.
"Yes, Ms. Delaney?"
"I am sorry; I have not met either of you yet." Kari smiled warmly at them.
"I am Vindonnus Li'Elearson, Kappa Unit, my friends call me Vin." The fae bowed regally.
"And I am Keegan Basswood, Iota Unit, witch." The blond imp winked at her cheekily.
"Could one of you ensure that Cheryl returns to her Level without issue?" she asked.
Vin nodded. "Of course, it would be my pleasure." His wicked grin hinted that Cheryl would not be missed.
"How could you! You are one of us," Cheryl hissed at her.
Kari blinked. "One of you? You mean vampire?"
Cheryl nodded with a sour expression.