No I’m not. She smoothed out her frown, trying to sink below the dark waters of sleep once more.
Warm breath flowed across her ear, and soft lips tickled the shell. She flinched, trying not to giggle. “Faker.”
She grinned. “Am not.”
“Are too.”
“Prove it.”
She squealed as fingers dug into her side, desperate to get away from the man now tickling her mercilessly. “Uncle! Aunt! Anybody!” She scowled up at the silver-haired bastard who’d interrupted her perfectly good snuggle. “You suck.”
His brows rose. “Not today.”
She blushed bright red, the memory of their interlude in the bathroom rushing through her.
Someone cleared their throat. Cassie glanced over at a man in a business suit, blushing almost as brightly as she was certain she was. “May I ask what your preference is for breakfast, your highness?”
She blinked. “Good morning, Harold.”
“Good morning, Princess Cassandra.”
Above her, Oberon growled, the sound soft and full of menace.
“I mean Queen Cassandra.” Harold bowed. “My apologies, sire.”
“Accepted.” But the dark gray still marred the bright silver of Oberon’s eyes. “We’ll take pastries this morning. My lady is in the mood for something sweet.”
She was?
“Yes, sire.” Harold bowed a final time and left the bedchamber, his stride somehow both quick yet dignified. It was a trait she’d seen in more than one domestic servant over the years. She wondered if there was a school that taught butlers, housekeepers and majordomos skills like that. Stately Strategic Retreat 101.
“Good morning, Queen Cassandra.” The purr in Oberon’s voice sent goose bumps up and down her arms.
She gazed up at him, pleased when the dark gray in his eyes faded once more to shining silver. “Good morning, sire.”
His brows rose again. “Might I ask my bondmate for a good morning kiss?”
“You never have to ask for that.” She tugged on the long strands of his hair, smiling as his mouth met hers. The exotic taste of her truebond drove the last of her sleepiness away.
She hadn’t gotten the chance to taste him the way he had her the night before. She was going to have to rectify that soon.
The kiss ended all too soon, Oberon pulling away to stare down at her with a strange expression. Part fear, part longing, it made her want to pull him down for a hug, to reassure him that everything would be all right.
So she did, tugging him until he nestled against her, her arms wrapped tight around him. “It will be okay.”
He started. “What will?”
“You’re home, you have your memories and your crown back. I don’t think Shane’s bad prophecy will come true.”
He kissed the side of her neck. “I know that.”
Had she gotten it wrong? Perhaps he was worried about something else, like a threat to their new truebond? “My family will accept our bonding.”
“Yes, they will.” He snarled it, his arms tightening around her almost to the point of pain. “You are mine.”
“I am.” She stroked his hair, soothing him. So that was the problem. He felt their bond was going to be threatened. For a man who had once had his truebond forcibly shattered, scarring his very soul, that thought had to be near unbearable. “I will never leave you voluntarily.”
He shuddered. “That’s what I’m worried about.”
Before she could ask what he’d meant by that Harold returned, bearing a huge tray of pastries and coffee. “Breakfast is ready, sire.”
Oberon lifted his head, but didn’t let her go. “Thank you, Harold. That will be all.”
Harold bowed and left as quickly as he had arrived, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. Apparently he’d taken the advanced courses. Maybe Stately Strategic Retreat 201, with a smattering of Calming Your Employer 101.
“I’m starving.”
Cassie’s stomach growled, as if agreeing with his statement. “I guess I am too.”
Oberon chuckled. “Then let’s eat.”
Before he could climb out of bed, she put her hand on his shoulder to stop him. “Are you sure you’re all right?” Because she couldn’t bear the thought of him hurting in any way, not if she could ease it.
He took hold of her hand, pulling it forward until he could place a soft kiss on her palm. “I will be.” He poked her hip, tickling her again. “Get up, lazy bones. Harold brought croissants.”
“Did he get those raspberry tarts he had last time I was here?” She still had dreams about the fruity decadence.
“Let’s find out.” Oberon stood, gloriously naked, and held out his hand.
Cassie took it, allowing him to pull her from between the warm sheets and into the cool air of the room. She shivered, smiling when he immediately wrapped an arm around her.
There was a small sitting area over by one of the large windows with a view of the mountains. A table, large enough to hold Harold’s tray, was nestled between the two chairs. A fireplace sat directly behind one of the chairs.
Oberon seated himself in the chair closest to the fireplace and pulled her onto his lap. “Eat. I see Harold did bring you the tart you love.”
Oh. She knew she looked like a greedy child as she pounced on the tart, but Oberon merely laughed softly. He seemed to enjoy her enthusiasm.
If she didn’t stop blushing at every stray thought she was going to develop an aneurism.
She cleared her throat, hoping to distract herself from wicked thoughts. “I had a question, if you don’t mind.”
“Hmm?” Oberon was picking over the pastries, probably looking for the most gray in color.
“Why do you love gray so much?” There was very little color in his home, but what was there was usually natural, like the cherry cabinets, or very pale, like the blue he’d painted his ceiling.
He looked around the room. “It’s…me. Nothing else feels right.” He winked at her. “Although I might consider adding some darker tones of aqua and turquoise now.”
“Just touches?” She’d have to make sure a little more color came into his life. If anyone needed it, it was her bondmate.
“Mm.” He chose a pastry, studying it intensely before placing it on his plate. “Perhaps…half?”
He wasn’t nearly as nonchalant about this as he was trying to appear. The arm around her waist tightened just a fraction. His gaze darted toward her face before settling on the view out the window.
“We can choose together.” She wasn’t going to make the man uncomfortable with too many changes at once. He’d lived in a mostly gray world for centuries, the only hints of color brought in by someone else. Probably Robin, as the Hob was the only one she knew with balls big enough to paint the High King’s ceiling blue.
He relaxed marginally. He must have thought she was going to demand he change everything, when that was not what she wanted. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She took a bite of the tart, moaning at the taste.
“You’re not supposed to make that noise unless we’re making love.”
“I am.” She took another bite, groaning as she licked the fork clean. “Oh, I am.”
“Evil minx.” But he’d relaxed completely again, the arm around her waist once more holding her loosely instead of tight with tension.
“Mm-hm.” She wanted to enjoy this first morning with her bondmate before the cares of the palace fell on their shoulders. She understood fully how busy things would get once it was announced that the High King had taken a truebond, and a princess at that. The court would explode, some with joy, some with disbelief. Some would resent her simply because she’d taken her place at Oberon’s side.
“I’m going to have Robin assign you guards.”
She blinked. Had he b
een reading her mind? “Do you have guards?”
His brows rose. “I rarely need them.”
Was it arrogance or self-confidence? “You did, or you wouldn’t have found yourself wandering on that road.”
“If I hadn’t wandered on that road I might not have accepted the truebond.”
Ouch. At least he was honest about it.
Her expression must have given her away, because his arm tightened around her once more. This time, though, it was more to comfort than because he was worried. “Would you rather I lied to you?” She shook her head. “I thought not. When I first met you, I would rather have gouged my own eyes out than bring a female into my life.”
“And now?”
“Now I will destroy any who try to take you from me.”
“I doubt anyone will seriously try to separate us.”
From the look on his face, her words brought him little comfort. They finished the rest of their breakfast in silence.
Hopefully, the rest of the day would go better, because Cassie had the feeling that Oberon was hiding something from her. Something big. A secret that could potentially tear them apart.
He was escorting Cassie to his study to begin their day when the doorbell rang. Curious, he waited to see who it might be. He wasn’t expecting visitors this early in the day, and if Robin wished to see him he wouldn’t use the front door. The Hob would pop in as he always did, appearing wherever he wished, whenever he wished.
So when Harold opened the front door, he was shocked to see Shane Dunne and Raven MacSweeney standing there. Shane had the same expression he always did, as if he knew things others did not and wasn’t certain he wanted to share because it might spoil his fun.
Raven merely looked relieved. “Sire. It’s good to see you.”
If there had been any suspicion in his mind that Raven was the one who’d poisoned him, it was dispelled by his demeanor. He was genuinely grateful that Oberon was back and unharmed. “It’s good to see you as well.”
Harold stepped aside, allowing the two men to enter the Gray Palace. “Welcome, Lord Shane, Lord Raven.” He glanced toward Oberon and Cassie. “Shall I escort them to the parlor, sire?”
“No. Bring them to the study, and have a pot of tea prepared.” If Shane was here with Raven, leaving behind his very pregnant mate, his news must be important. The hybrid rarely left his mate’s side these days. “How is Akane faring?”
Shane grimaced. “Her ankles are swollen and she’s begun nesting.”
The half-dragon was nesting earlier than she should. “Has a healer been to see her?”
“Michaela came by with Robin not long ago, and told us she’s doing fine.”
But the man was worried, and rightfully so.
Cassie took a step forward, away from Oberon. “Do you want me to come take a look?”
Oberon growled and tugged her back. “Not without me.”
She shrugged apologetically. “Of course.” She patted his arm, trying to soothe him.
The expression on Shane’s face became grim. “It might be better if we speak alone, sire.”
This must have something to do with Shane’s sculpture, the fate Shane wasn’t certain they would be able to avoid. He glanced down at his bondmate to find her eyeing Shane warily. “What don’t you want me to know?” She shot Oberon a look, one filled with suspicion. “Does this have anything to do with your caveman routine?”
Raven snorted a laugh, one he quickly muffled. “Perhaps I should go seek out my father and tender my report.”
“Perhaps you should.” Oberon didn’t even glance at his Blade, his gaze far too busy dueling with his bondmate’s.
“Your majesties.” Raven bowed, disappearing in a swirl of dark feathers and warm air.
“That is so cool.” Cassie was staring at where Raven had disappeared, her expression one of admiration.
“He is his father’s son.” Oberon tucked Cassie under his arm, strangely reluctant to let her go. “Shane.”
“Sire.”
“Perhaps it’s best if Cassie knows what you’ve seen.”
His bondmate jolted, her attention once more on himself and Shane. “So there is something going on.” She frowned, concern replacing the admiration. “It’s about me. You made a sculpture, didn’t you?”
Shane grimaced. “And not a pleasant one.”
Oberon snarled. That destiny would not come to pass, not if he had anything to say about it. “Which is why she needs to be aware of it.”
Shane nodded. “Then let’s go to your study. I’ll show Cassie a picture of the sculpture, since I left it behind.”
Oberon led the way, opening the door to his study. He shouldn’t have been surprised to find Robin waiting for him, the long red hair bright against his knee-length black brocade jacket and shiny black boots. “Hobgoblin.”
Robin turned, revealing a brilliant blue shirt under the black jacket. “My king.” He bowed, his sapphire eyes darting toward Shane. “Ah.” He cocked an eyebrow at the hybrid. “Anything I should know about?”
Shane sighed. “Cassie is in danger.”
The sapphire blue of Robin’s eyes turned brilliant green. “Is she now?”
Shane settled into a chair across from Oberon’s desk. “How’s Michaela?”
Robin smiled softly, but the green did not fade. “She is well. Last I checked she was mumbling something about her family.”
Shane grinned. “You might want to prepare for a visit soon, then.”
The Hob sighed wearily. “A warning, Shane?”
Shane shrugged. “More like a promise.”
Robin grimaced. “Damn. I’d better warn my staff. Michaela’s family has no idea fae exist.”
“They will soon enough.” Shane smiled mysteriously when Robin groaned. “Don’t worry, Robin, it will all work out in the end.”
“If you say so.” Robin bowed to Cassie. “My queen.”
“Robin.” She darted away from Oberon and hugged the Hob. “I didn’t get to say it yesterday, but thank you.”
“For what, my dear?” Robin hugged Cassie tightly, the Hob’s affection for her clear. They’d become friends while Robin hid her from her family. Her memories of her time in Robin’s home were fond ones.
“Taking care of me, and not just over the last few days.”
Robin’s gaze darted to Oberon, the Hob’s expression carefully blank. It did nothing to disguise the fact that Robin was laughing at him. “Of course. What are friends for?”
Cassie pouted up at Robin. “I thought we’re family now.”
Robin blinked, his face softening as he gazed down at Cassie. “True, and very remiss of me to forget that.”
“Shane, can you show Robin and Cassie the picture of your sculpture?” Oberon settled behind his desk, tugging Cassie free of the Hob. He settled her once more on his lap, her contentment at being so close mirrored in her smile.
Shane pulled out a tablet PC and brought up the picture. Oberon’s hands clenched once more at the sight of his mate, hands held high behind her, her pose one of utter despair.
Robin drew in a breath. “Atlantis or Pacifica?”
“I don’t know, and that’s one of the problems.” Shane put the tablet away, his expression distant. Whatever he was seeing wasn’t pleasant. “I’m almost certain it’s unavoidable.”
“This is why you want me to have bodyguards.” Cassie shivered. “I’m good with that.”
“Whether you are or not is moot. You will have them.” Oberon shared a look with Robin. “My Hob?”
“Yes, my king?” Robin smiled, and it was anything but pleasant.
“Recommendations?”
Robin tapped his nail against his chin. “I would call in Blackthorn. He’s discreet, and the Blackthorn-Dunne family is fond of Cassie. It would be unremarkable to have one of th
em near her at all times.”
“That we are.” Shane focused on Cassie and smiled.
“Raven as well, perhaps?” Robin tilted his head. “I understand my son is looking for me even now.”
“Will those two be enough?” Oberon wanted to make sure his bondmate was secure wherever she went. As much as he hated to admit it, at some point in the coming days they would be separated. It was inevitable.
“Raven will, I am certain. Jaden?” Robin shrugged. “The boy has untapped potential, and a soft spot for our new queen. It will mean bringing Duncan and Moira here as well.”
And the older Duncan was more than a match for anything that might get thrown at him. At five hundred years old the Sidhe’s powers were strong. Between the two, they would keep Cassie safe. “Make it so.”
Robin bowed and disappeared.
“I need to learn how to do that.” Cassie sighed. “As much as I hate to say it, my money is on Pacifica. Atlantis might be annoyed by our bonding, but they’re White Court. They wouldn’t dare try and take me from you.”
“And Pacifica, due to its ties to the Black, might act on Titannia’s orders and try to remove you from Oberon’s side?” Shane tilted his head, his gaze once more focused on something no one else could see. “I wouldn’t bet my life on that. Watch both courts closely in the coming days.”
“I will.” He would chain her to his side if need be. “Until Cassie’s guards arrive, she will go everywhere with me.”
“Even to the bathroom?”
He shot his bondmate a look.
She shrugged. “It had to be asked.”
She was going to be the death of him. “Yes. Even to the bathroom.”
“That could get awkward.” She bit her lip, obviously trying to lighten the mood. “I mean, if I have too much dairy—”
Oberon covered her mouth as Shane began to laugh. “Perhaps I’ll stand right outside the bathroom.”
“Do yourself a favor.” Shane winked at Cassie. “Keep all open flame away from that door.”
“I’m not that bad!” Cassie mock-growled at Shane.
Shane sighed sadly. “My mother’s hair used to be curly.”
“It is not my fault she made strawberry cheesecake, you bastard.”
Siren's Song: The Gray Court, Book 5 Page 13