“Gabe would put the prick on his arse the moment he tried something,” Flea said in a low voice, “Don’t you worry about that. It’s Tess we’ve got to worry about.”
“I know, I just didn’t know what else to do. I need to keep the bastard interested, without having to actually follow through.”
“I’m going to try and talk to Tess again,” Flea said, “later tonight. She can have all the freedom she likes, once we get out of this bloody place.”
30
I left the room quickly, giving the corridors a quick scan and then ran back to my room. Well, that was the plan anyway. I got almost all of the way there, thankfully having slowed down as I came around the corner to my room, before running into the prince himself. “Lady McKinnon! I must say I am surprised to see you up and about, with your ‘terrible headache’ and all.” He ran his eyes down my body slowly, scanning every little bit, smiling slightly as he did so. Beside him stood the Captain who had brought us here, Mellors and one of his other officers, who looked much less happy to see me.
“I went to see Lady Pendragon, as I did not have any medicine with me to help with the headache.”
“Well, I have an excellent remedy for headaches back in my room. Come along.” He turned as if expecting me to follow like a good little dog, only turning when it became evident I wasn’t. He frowned and said, “I have made a request, Lady McKinnon.”
“One I must respectfully decline. In my world, an unmarried woman does not enter the room of an eligible man.”
“Yet you sleep next to three of them in your suite. Spare me the quibbling. I have yet to take my pleasure from this body with a sentient human and would very much like to compare the sensation of intercourse in this form against my rightful one. You are no weeping virgin like Lady Pendragon, so this may even prove pleasant for you, too.”
“No.”
His eyebrows shot up, “I beg your pardon?”
“I said no. I came here in good faith, to see if a connection could be made between us . . .”
“A connection will be made, between my . . .” he searched for the word and then gestured to his groin.
“Penis, sire.”
“Is that the term for it? How odd. Well, as I was saying, a connection between my penis and your . . . whatever it’s called. Perhaps several of your whatevers.”
“No.”
“One does not say no to the Crown Prince of–”
“Back away from the lady.”
I turned to see Gabe standing in the hallway, gun drawn and aimed at the back of the prince’s head. My eyes went wide as a dizzying array of emotions rushed through me. Pride that he would stand up for me like this, fear about the consequences and . . . love, I guess. Not in love, I wouldn’t even know how that felt. The tears begin to collect at the corners of my eyes, watching Mellors’ hand shift to his sword. “Gabe!”
He was one step ahead of me, shooting a hole in the ceiling just above Mellors, forcing the wolf man to flinch back and away from the explosion of plaster. “What the hell is that thing?” the prince growled. “And how dare you draw a weapon in the presence of your prince?”
“Not my fucking prince, mate.”
“No, but I assume you want your ‘lady’ in one piece,” Mellors said, drawing his sword and stepping forward, so the blade came to rest, hovering by my throat. I went to take a step, but Mellors said, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“Mellors, did you search the men?”
“Yes, sire, but I’d never seen a weapon of its like before.”
“An oversight, indeed. One that will be rectified.”
“Of course, sire.”
“Put the sword down,” Gabe said, “I can blow out your master’s brains in a matter of seconds.”
“It will take me slightly longer, but I will skewer your doxy. Her death will be prolonged and much more painful. An unfortunate side effect,” Mellors said, watching Gabe implacably. “Your arm is already starting to shake, whereas mine will stay perfectly still for quite some time. We train for every eventuality, you see.”
“Gabe . . .,” I said, my voice starting to break up. The very sharp point was now resting on my collarbone, the steel a cold, hard presence. The site stung as the blade bit down, a trickle of blood making its way down my chest.
“Fuck!” he swore, putting the gun down. I was shoved backwards onto the floor in one moment, the sword blessedly dropped, in the next, Mellors was on Gabe, wrenching the gun from his hands and yanking his arm behind his back.