“Yes, sir.” Amber turned and slipped by Zorn, leaving the master suite.

“Daisy will need to be checked in immediately,” Zorn said. “Today is better than tomorrow. How do you want to handle that?”

“Lexi and I will take her right after…we get settled.” Kieran pulled me against him and slid his hand down over the swell of my hip. “A limo is still standing by, correct?”

“Yes, sir, as per your request.”

“We’ll take it to the registration office. I want her on the books before we walk the grounds. What about Mordecai? It’s not necessary, since solo shifter registration only applies when shifters are of age, but people might wonder why he doesn’t have a pack. It’s pretty unusual for their kind, obviously. If they even halfheartedly look him up, they’ll find out about his past sickness. That might make him a target if there are any other shifters on premises. I don’t want them trying to pick him off as a weakling who has history of being kicked out of a pack.”

“They won’t think he’s weak when they see him fight,” Zorn said. “He has the knowledge and ferocity to fight for placement in a pack right now. If he were eighteen, he’d be able to take over a lesser pack.”

“Without a clue how to lead it,” Kieran replied. “He knows nothing of pack life or true leadership. We need to start incorporating that into his training.”

My heart clattered against my ribs. “But he’s not of age—it’s illegal for anyone to challenge him so young.”

“It is illegal for them to challenge him, but not for them to answer a challenge from him. They’ll know how to goad him into action, Lexi. You need to harden yourself to the brutality of the magical world. We’re in the big leagues now. We’re with people who spend their lives manipulating others. Mordecai is ready for this, and he’s smart enough to handle it. It’s time to let him.”

I took a step back and stared Kieran directly in the eyes, fear eating away my rationality. “Do not tell me how to parent my kids. I will take what you say under advisement, but I want us both on the same page—he’s still my kid, and he’s under my protection. My protection. Ultimately, I am responsible for him. I will not let him walk straight into slaughter, whether or not you think he’s ready for it. Do I make myself clear?”

They both wrestled with grins. Zorn took a step back. “You’re wrong, sir. Mordecai has knowledge of pack life, just not the traditional kind. We’ve all got a ways to go before we challenge mother bear.”

I narrowed my eyes at Zorn. “If you are mocking me, you won’t like what happens next.”

He lifted his hands in surrender and his eyes twinkled with delighted malice. “We’ll do just fine here. All of us.” He closed the door behind him.

“What’s with him? He’s acting strange,” I said, still staring at the door.

“We’re all keyed up.” Kieran turned toward me and wrapped his arms around my middle. “We’re going to be okay. We will get attacked, and they’ll throw a lot of stuff at us, but we’ll make it through. We’ve been battling for placement in the magical world ever since we met. Everything we’ve been through has prepared us for this moment. We just have to make it through the next week.”

“I hate to be Negative Netty, but you were also optimistic about the Demigod Lydia fiasco.”

He sighed and kissed my forehead. “Will I never live that down? One mistake that almost changed our lives forever, and no one can let it go.”

I laughed and leaned against his body, taking comfort in his strength and warmth.

“Let’s take a moment to unwind, and then we’ll confront the next thing,” he whispered, then slipped his large hands down to cup my butt cheeks.

“A moment to unwind?” I angled my face up to him as my fingers danced along his belt line. “What did you have in mind?”

He covered my lips with his, and suddenly we were ripping at each other’s clothes, desperate to feel skin on skin. Desperate to lose ourselves in each other’s bodies for a few moments before we plunged into danger.

I freed his large erection from his pants and slid my palm along its smooth skin. He sucked in a breath as he tossed my shirt to the side. I sank to my knees, using my free hand to pull down his pants.

He stepped out of them as I licked his tip and then encased his head in my mouth. His breath hitched, and I worked my hand and mouth in tandem, starting a rhythm.

He grabbed my upper arms, and suddenly I was cradled against him and he was hurrying me to the bed. He ripped the covers to the side and laid me down gently before bending down between my thighs. I groaned as he licked up my center and his lips took in my nub. He swirled me in his mouth, and any worries clinging to my mind fell away.

“Hmm, Kieran,” I breathed, clutching the sheets.

He kissed and licked his way up my fevered skin, his fingers taking over for his mouth, working me higher. I gripped his shoulders in eager anticipation. His hot mouth encased a nipple, sending sparks of pleasure through me. My eyes nearly rolled to the back of my head as he took in the other.

“Kieran, please,” I said, running my legs along his sides, desperate for him to enter me. To move inside of me. “Please!”

He kissed up my neck and dragged his tip along my core. His weight settled on me, pushing me into the mattress. His cock lay against me and he moved his hips slowly—too slowly!—letting his cock trail through my wetness.