FIRE NATION

CHAPTER 23

"Lalisa, you don't have to carry me anymore," Roseanne protested, pushing lightly against her sternum. "I can walk fine on my own."

Lalisa only smiled. If Roseanne had truly seemed unhappy in her arms, she would have set the omega back down at once, but so far, her mate's complaints had been mild at best. In fact, one of Roseanne's slender arms was still twined around her shoulders, and gentle fingers kept combing through the fine hairs at the back of her neck. "I know you can. This is a point of alpha pride. Please, indulge me."

Roseanne giggled, burrowing further into her chest. "Mm. You've been saying 'please' a lot the past couple of weeks, and your aura's very pink. You aren't actually becoming nice and learning some manners, are you?"

"Pink?" Lalisa questioned, raising her eyebrows. "And my manners are perfectly acceptable. I just don't waste them on fools, and the palace seems to be full of those." Roseanne snorted against her neck, and Lalisa dipped down, brushing a kiss across the top of her head. "You happen to be one of the few tolerable people in my life. Perhaps the only one."

"Tolerable?" Roseanne repeated, with obvious mischief. "I think I'm more than that. You might want to work on your sweet talk. Remember, you're stuck with me now."

Lalisa's heart swelled at the reminder, and her face glowed with a happy blush. She did remember. The tender mark on the side of her throat and the beautiful woman curled up in her arms were constant reminders. Such a deep, intense attachment should have frightened her, but when she searched inside herself, she didn't find a scrap of doubt. Truthfully, some part of her had already belonged to Roseanne before the bite. This was only outward proof.

"Does this mean you aren't going to leave after I defeat my father?" Lalisa asked, not bothering to conceal her hope. The thought of Roseanne's departure had been upsetting before, but now, it seemed unthinkable.

"Of course not," Roseanne said. "This is your litter I'm carrying. I'm not letting you off the hook for raising them."

"I'll gladly take those consequences, and you," Lalisa said. She set Roseanne back down once they arrived at the top of the stairs, wrapping an affectionate arm around her waist. She gave her new mate a slow up and down, admiring her thoroughly. The few bruises on her body were old and mostly faded, but her inner thighs still glistened, and there was a noticeable lipstick smudge above the rosy peak of her left nipple. "But first, the two of us should clean up."

One of Roseanne's hands crept along her side, lighting up the sensitive skin there. "Why? We're just gonna get messy again..."

The promise in her voice sent a rush of heat straight between Lalisa's legs. Her cock stirred, swelling to hardness as her mate's soft palm skimmed over her belly. "A good point," she murmured, pulling Roseanne closer. "I suppose cleaning up can wait, if you had other ideas."

Roseanne grinned. "Lots of other ideas."

Lalisa leaned past her to open the bedroom door, making sure their bodies brushed. "Oh? You'll have to tell me..."

Her voice trailed off, and she stiffened in surprise, stepping in front of Roseanne instinctively. Their room, which should have been empty, was currently occupied by several tall, heavily armored warriors. They wore the royal colors, stinking of alpha aggression, and as Lalisa looked past them, her gaze fell on the very last person she wanted to see.

"Lalisa," Larce said, regarding her with dark, flashing eyes. He was dressed in full royal regalia, decorative robes and all, and his headpiece was perched imperiously over his top knot. "I see you've been enjoying your vacation."

"Until very recently." Lalisa remained where she was without bowing, shielding Roseanne from her father's gaze. Some part of her knew why he had followed them to Ember Island, could read it in his posture and the sneer pulling at his lips, but strangely, she was unafraid. If he thinks this is the best time to confront me, he's severely miscalculated. I'm not letting him anywhere near my mate. "Do you want to tell me what you're doing here, or should I guess?"