“It’s our pleasure,” Annika answered before her mother could. “I’ve always wanted to meet you,” she added as she opened the doors and ushered Avi inside.
“Same goes for me,” Avi answered, dipping her head in thanks again as Hawke followed us inside, sweeping the room like he was looking for monsters under the bed. Avi ignored him. “I look forward to attending the festivities with all of you,” she said, giving my sisters and niece her best smile. “But, if you don’t mind, I’d love to speak with Olivia. It’s been ages since we’ve been separated for any lengthy amount of time.”
“Of course,” Katya said in a hurry, practically shoving the rest of my sisters and her daughter out of the room. “If you need anything at all, your highness, please don’t hesitate to ask.” She bowed at the waist, smiled at me, then shut the doors behind her.
“That means you three, too,” Avianna said, eying the assassins crowding her room. “Now.” Her tone had fully switched from royal grace to familiar cadence.
Hawke arched a brow at her tone. Ransom rolled his eyes. And Benedict simply bowed and jerked his head to Ransom. “We need to talk anyway,” he said, and they filed out the door, shutting it behind them.
I stifled a laugh but stood at attention near the door, my body and mind shifting into those familiar roles of bodyguard. Avianna threw herself onto the bed, sighing happily. “Your home is stunning,” she cooed. “I love it.”
“Thank you,” I said, folding my arms behind my back. My princess, my friend, was here, and that meant I had to be on. Meant I couldn’t separate those instincts ingrained in me to protect, to serve.
“Come sit,” Avi urged, rising to a sitting position on the bed. “I want to hear all about—”
“I should remain by the door,” I cut her off, and she scowled at me.
“Oh, no you don’t. You can’t pull your duty card to get out of sharing the deets. Not here.” She wagged a gloved finger at me.
I barely bit back a smile.
“Sit. Spill.”
“Yes, your highness,” I bowed, teasing her as I came to sit beside her.
She waved me off. “Tell me about what happened.”
Excitement built inside me, climbing up my throat so fast the story almost burst from my lips. I managed to slow it down enough to explain everything to her, keeping little intimate details to myself.
“Wow,” she said after I’d finished. She eyed the fake tattoo on my wrist. “Are you sure that isn’t real?”
I huffed a dark laugh. “Positive,” I said, wilting slightly at her insinuation. I didn’t even know the definition of what we were to each other, let alone have something as strong as a mating bond appear.
“But the way you tell it…” Her voice trailed off as she fiddled with the glove on her left hand, readjusting where the silk had pooled slightly. “It sounds so intense.”
“It is,” I said, sighing. That was the truth.
“I’m proud of you,” she said, and I laughed.
“This? You're proud of me for this?” I flung my arm toward the door as if Ransom waited out there for me. I knew he didn’t, could tell from his faint scent trailing far beyond the hallways and likely back to our room.
“Of course,” she said. “You’ve been close with Ransom for decades now. What’s happening between you two is natural.”
“Oh, really?” I arched a brow at her. “Are you saying any two individuals who are attracted to each other will eventually be unable to avoid having sex?”
She rolled her eyes. “No, I’m not going that far. But what’s between you and Ransom has always felt electric.”
My heart did a little stutter. “I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into, Avi,” I admitted. “He’s my best friend beside you. What if we return home and he wants nothing to do with me in that way? What if he wants to go back to the way we were before?”
Avi flashed me a sweet look, then a wicked gleam took over. “Don’t worry about then. Focus on now. Honestly, Olivia, the story you’ve just told—even with what you held back—sounds like a little slice of paradise. Pure bliss. Don’t waste one second getting lost in the details. Enjoy it.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, contemplating. Could I do that? Could I simply let whatever was happening between us happen and not concern myself for the future?
“Fine, tell me this,” she continued. “How many times have you felt this way in your immortal existence? How many times has your mind been blown in the way you just described?”
“None,” I admitted.
“Then there is your answer.” She rose from the bed, motioning toward the door. “Go forth and indulge.”
I laughed but followed her toward the door. “I need to stay here,” I said. “Guard you.”