The king laughed. “Here here!” They all clanked glasses.
Gaby glanced at her texts. She’d finished shadowing Cricket for the day. It had been five days since she had seen Steele and missed him. His only text had been this morning. He told her Rylee would talk to her today, but didn’t specify the topic. Only that it involved her safety. He finished by saying take care, not I love you or miss you. He asked her not to text him back.
Hmm. Something fishy. Had the king found out about her special gift? She glanced at the clock, seven p.m. She’d finished dinner and cleaned up the kitchen. Cricket mentioned Steele probably spent the majority of his time in wolf form while visiting his brother the king. Wolves didn’t check their messages, how could they?
Gaby sank onto the sofa and sighed. She picked up the remote and turned on the news. Nothing to do but wait for Rylee’s call. She felt as alone as she had at the animal facility. Cricket and Slade left for their home outside the LIA. They earned some time off to be alone and most likely do all the things she wanted to do with Steele. Goofing off with games, watching 80s movies, enjoying a meal and then making hot wild love. What if Steele no longer wanted to be with her? Her marriage status was null and void, anyway. She’d agreed to be his pet, but only as a formality. Once behind closed doors, they could have a normal relationship. Although, after learning all the rules and proper etiquette, she feared even those stolen moments wouldn’t be possible. At least she was safe from Tomlin. No doubt after what happened to his soldiers, he’d decided she wasn’t worth the risk. Or with the Keep’s help, perhaps, Project Sabertooth would grow stronger than ever?
A knock on the door startled her. Was it Steele? She rushed to open it.
“Good evening, Gaby,” said Rylee. Alone.
Gaby bowed her head, hoping she didn’t show her disappointment on not seeing Steele. “Please, come in, ma’am.” She had expected a call first and then an escort. Not a private visit.
Rylee stepped in and closed the door. “Cricket says you are a natural at learning our culture.”
She wanted to say learning animal cues came easy to her, but felt odd calling lycans animals. “Cricket is a good mentor.”
Rylee smiled. “So I hear.” She gestured to the sofa. “Please sit, we have much to discuss.”
Gaby sat and Rylee joined her. “Is it about Steele?”
“Yes. Your relationship is getting a bit complicated.”
Gaby stared at her hands. “I understand we’re technically not married. I mean, we didn’t use legitimate identities when we married in Las Vegas.”
“Yes, well, human marriages are not accepted as you know. And although Steele claims you as his human pet, the king may override that decision.”
“Cricket explained Steele will need to choose a proper mate, but like Slade, he may go against the rules.”
“The problem is after the king’s son and daughter, Steele is next in line as our king.”
A spare, yet, what were the odds of something happening to the king’s son and daughter? “But the odds are against him ever being king.”
“As of late, the king’s son, Maxwell suffers from morphogenesis.”
Gaby had read about the lycan condition. A minor form of morphopsychosis, which caused the sufferer to remain in wolf, or even hybrid wolf form. “Cricket mentioned he never got over killing most of his siblings.”
Rylee sighed. “An accident any alpha must face when initiating the change.”
“I heard his sister is being prepared to be queen.”
“That is our hope.” Rylee met her eyes. “I just need to warn you that Steele may not have a choice but to select a proper mate.”
Her heart stilled. “Has he?”
“He is under pressure to take Princess Kiara as his mate. Before he left to go on his last mission, he promised his brother he would date her.”
Cold jealousy coursed through her. “I see.” That must be why he’d failed to text her. His amnesia gone, he had a hard choice. Or had he already decided against her, a human? Not suitable for a potential lycan king.
“Trust me. Although he agreed to date her, he never liked her. She is petty and a social alpha snob.”
“Not the type to want her mate to have a mistress or rather pet.”
“Most of us would not stand for sharing our mates. Kiara, especially, is not a fan of humans.”
Hope remained he wouldn’t choose her. However, after Kiara, there must be a long line of available she-wolves looking for the perfect werewolf mate. “What do you recommend?”
“For one, Kiara must not learn of your relationship to Steele or your nature.”