Chapter 8

I was still cold, despite a long, hot shower. I held my hands clasped behind my back and stood at the side of room with the other guards. A shiver went through me. I hadn’t bothered to go feed when Sith had knocked on my door and told me the family was meeting and we were to attend.

I’d taken too long in the shower, but it had felt so good I hadn’t wanted to get out. As I’d stood in the warmth of the water, I could only think about my conversation with the captain. I know his reaction had been favorable, but now I was second-guessing my choice to resign as Rena’s personal guard.

I forced myself to stand straighter. What if I was just sent back to the yard to await a new assignment?

“Kin.”

I looked up to see Felix looking down at me.

“You need to feed and lay off the thousand emotions you’re feeling right now.” He smirked.

I’d forgotten he was an emotion feeder. I blew out a breath. “I didn’t want to be late.” I whispered.

Mac leaned forward and looked around him. “Not everyone is here yet, there’s time.”

“We could be rushing off with a minute’s notice, you need to make sure you’re right.” Sith added.

I groaned to myself. I was failing so badly. “I know.” I watched the princes huddle together in the corner, talking quietly. “I don’t want to take a chance there’s a lineup and be late.”

Woods grunted, annoyed. “Normally I can’t pick up your emotions, but you’re playing havoc with my focus right now.”

I sighed. I hated being a weak link.

“Come on.” Mac motioned with his head to the door. “I’ll help you out.”

It wasn’t unusual for fellow guards to help with feeding when time didn’t allow otherwise. I’d never had to rely on any of them before. I’d worked too hard to get here. I didn’t want to be ‘that woman’ who couldn’t stand on her own. I watched a few of the princesses come in. They looked fine. I nodded. “Okay.” I turned and followed him quickly into the hallway.

He continued until we were well out of sight of those in the room. Stopping, he looked down and me before bending his knees and leaning down to my level.

I rolled my eyes, “not a word about tiny people. We all can’t be giants.”

Mac grinned wide but made no comment. Tilting his head to the side, he looked down at the floor.

There was no need for any preamble, this was part of our lives. I bit into his large, muscled neck. For a brief second, I appreciated that heavily muscled guys weren’t volunteers at the feeding bank.

Licking over the punctures, I straightened away. I looked up at Mac to say thanks only to see him looking elsewhere as he straightened slowly.

I turned around to see Prince Emil standing a few feet from us. His eyes were red. I figured his human side didn’t allow him to control his feeding urges. Then I noticed the anger in his expression.

“I don’t think this is the place for that.” he bit out between clenched fangs. Giving me a cold look, he motioned to the stairs and glared at Mac. “Go check on my daughter, her new guard has been detained.”

Mac didn’t even pause. “Yes, sir.”

I watched the gentle giant walk away with long strides and then turned to the prince. “Sorry, I didn’t have time to...”

“I care not for your habits.” With another brief, hard appraisal, he turned on his heel and went into the solarium.

I blew out a breath and looked at the floor. Great. One more reason I was going to be posted to an empty forest on the outskirts of civilization.

“What’s wrong?”

I looked up to see Prince Leone looking concerned. I blew out a defeated breath. “I think I just got myself reassigned to the furthest post from the palace.”

His expression became serious. “What?”

I motioned to the room Emil had gone in. “I didn’t have time to feed after,” I waved my hand in the air, “using so much energy earlier.”

“It’s amazing what you did. Thank you.” He nodded.

“You know I’d do anything to protect the royal family.” I felt I needed to say it out loud.

“Of course.” He glanced toward the room. “What happened?”

“Mac offered to help me, so I didn’t have to leave the palace and Prince Emil walked up on us,” I grasped my hands so I wouldn’t wave them around like a frantic lunatic, “I think he thought something else was happening.”

“Oh.” Leone smirked, then sobered quickly. “Don’t worry about it. I'll talk to Raf, all guard assignments go through him.”

I nodded. “Thank you.” Taking a deep breath, I tried to compose myself. “I think—” I slumped my shoulders forward, “I’m not sure if there’s a protocol or anything, but I think I need a meeting with the captain—at least I think this would fall under the full disclosure policy.”

“For?” He stepped closer. “Is something else going on?”

I opened my mouth, then snapped it shut, only to open it right after. “Prince Emil is my mate.” I blurted out. His eyes widened. “I don’t know if he knows—but I won’t let it affect my job—” My heart was beating frantically. “I know a prince doesn’t mate a guard...”

Leone chuckled. “You need to talk to Mitz, not Raf.” He grinned at me. “This is going to be interesting” he commented, chuckling to himself. He patted my shoulder, then motioned to the door. “Let’s go. I don’t know about you, but my main desire right now is to find Arwan and end his miserable existence.”

I bobbed my head quickly. “Bastard tried to drown us.”

“Exactly.” He started walking. “Karma owes him a beating.” He grinned down at me. “And today, I’m karma.”

I laughed softly. “Then I volunteer to be karma’s backup.”