CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Finn demanded, “Tell me exactly what he said.”
I thought back to Cassander’s words and cleared my throat, reciting with ease, “He said, ‘I have this feeling about her, a vital and personal interest in that woman. I can’t see what it is yet, but it’s just this feeling. It’s dark right now, the air around her. Ms. Carvene has the power to change my life. And I’m not sure I’ll like it’.”
“Your memory is fucking amazing,” Finn rumbled.
But I knew he wasn’t ‘here’ in the moment.
His mind was elsewhere, deep in thought.
I shrugged. “I see words like a picture in my mind. I never had to take notes when I was a student.”
“Amazing,” he mumbled again, his brows creasing. His eyes cleared, his concentration gone. “We need to check on Poppy. Make sure she made it home safely.”
My brows rose high on my forehead. “Cassander wouldn’t hurt her. I know that in just the few times I saw them together.”
“Cass does what he needs to get a job done.”
“No.” I shook my head, completely certain I wasn’t misjudging this. “I actually think he likes her.”
“I thought so too, but I want to double-check on her.”
“You aren’t understanding me.” I stared pointedly at him. “I think he likes her. His affection for her is what’s stopping him from doing anything bad to her. That was my very first impression of him. He wasn’t hiding his feelings very well at the time. It was almost like he needed a friend to talk with.”
Finn’s jaw turned slack, an interesting look on the intimidating and muscled man. “That can’t be.”
My head cocked. “He didn’t even glance at my cleavage while she was around.” I waved my hand up and down my frame. “And I’m his type, right?”
His eyes immediately narrowed. “How do you know that? Did he hit on you before Poppy got there?”
“No, he was too busy staring down at her in the lobby.”
Finn took another bite of his melting ice cream, chewing with a thoughtful expression on his face. “You’re right. You really are his type. Poppy is nothing like what he goes for.”
I smirked. “And yet, I think he still likes her.”
“Damn, baby Cass might have a crush.” He grunted. “Tell me what he said again about the dark around her.”
I did, repeating it word for word.
His white brows slowly rose on his forehead in surprised shock. “She’s going to affect his life in a personal way. And not a good one.” He waved his spoon in the air. “That’s what the ‘dark’ talk was about. Not that she’s cursed like the bad pairings.”
“Still want to go check on her?”
“No, I feel better about the situation now.”
“Do you want to know something else?”
Finn grinned. “Is the gossip as good as the last?”
It was refreshing for a tough businessman to let his shields down and simply delight in a good old-fashioned friendly conversation. No agendas. No moves of the corporate chessboard. Just…for fun. Enjoying each other’s company.
I smirked. “Just as good.”
“Tell me then.”
“I think Poppy likes him too.”
Finn blinked. “There’s no way. She’s head over heels for God. They’re a perfect match.”
My nose crinkled as I took my own last bite of ice cream. “You may be right. But she does flirt a little bit.”
“Seriously?” He grabbed my treat cup and spoon, throwing our trash away in the wastebasket nearby. Then he dipped back behind the tree with me.
“Yes. She probably doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.” That made sense, thinking more on their interactions. “It may merely be an unwanted attraction. Just because you’re mated to someone doesn’t mean you don’t find other people attractive, right? Or is there some magical spell blinding people from that?”
“There’s no spell,” Finn murmured. He stared at the tree as if it had the secrets to life carved into it. “If God figures this shit out, he’ll kill Cass.”
He was serious.
My goodness. “Since Cassander is the seer, only his mate can do that, right?”
“The seer position never has a mate. That’s the seer’s own internal battle to bear.” Finn’s attention snapped to me, the mood changing instantly. His eyes glazed over with the possible future of his friend’s death. “Only the alpha king has the power to kill the seer.”
“Then we should probably keep our mouths shut.” A man stepped around the tree into our space. He had a towel wrapped around his waist. The rest of his impressive physique was as bare as the day he was born. “Don’t you agree, Finn?”
Finn’s eyes shuttered of all emotion, his expression a blank canvas. “Theron, how long have you been standing there?”
“I’ve been at the park longer than the two of you. I didn’t intend to spy on you, but you came. I listened. You two talk loud enough to wake the dead, by the way.” He turned his attention to me, dark beautiful eyes scanning my body from head to toe in a cold evaluation of my person. “Hello, Mina.”
“Hello,” I squeaked. “It’s lovely to meet you, Theron.”
How old did he look? I couldn’t tell.
Somewhere around twenty to thirtyish.
My eyes widened, realizing my blunder. “I meant Mr. King.” Then I realized I didn’t know if he had the same last name as his son, born over a thousand years ago as he was. Barely stopping myself from kneeling in front of him like he was an ancient—because he was an Ancient—god, I babbled in rapid succession, “I mean, it is Mr. King, right? I would assume so, but assuming is horrible. I should have asked. My apologies. I’ll do better next time. I swear.”
My teeth clicked as my mouth snapped shut.
Had I really said all of that?
The skin on my cheeks heated up.
That. Was. Mortifying.
Finn cleared his throat. “It is King, Mina.”
I nodded like a broken doll with its head half hanging off, damn near down to one knee now. Perhaps I was going to kneel in front of him after all. My body currently had a mind of its own, and it kept lowering toward the ground.
Theron grabbed my right forearm and yanked me up straight. “Are you the fainting sort?” When I didn’t respond, he jerked his attention to Finn and kept a steadying grip on me. “Is she ill or something?”
Finn closed his eyes for a moment of peace. “I believe she’s overwhelmed by your presence.” He slowly opened them again to stare into the Ancient’s gaze. “She’s had a tough day. Give her some slack.”
“If I give her any slack, she’s going to end up eating dirt.” Theron pushed me toward Finn, the Ancient’s hands hovering around me as if I would drop any moment. “Take her. She’s making me nervous.”
A hysterical snort spewed out of my mouth. I grabbed onto the lapels of Finn’s tuxedo jacket, staring up into his face, hissing, “I need a break. I’m making a two thousand year old Ancient nervous. That really can’t be good. I may end up running through the park like a lunatic soon. I’ve had enough for one day.”
The Ancient ignored my tirade.
“You know, Finn, there was something you said to Mina that I feel needs better clarification. You understand, of course, since we’re apparently spilling all shifter secrets to this human that I haven’t seen before,” Theron lifted a finger, turning his regard to me, “but anyway, I want to point out that not all Ancients are odd because of their age, as Finn told you. There are a few Ancients who are just fucking odd and have been their entire lives.”
I stared, not releasing the tuxedo I gripped. “Pretty much like humans, but on a larger scale?”
“Exactly.” He shrugged his bare shoulders. “That is just life. People are not perfect, human or shifter. The problems may differ between our species, but emotions and actions never do. Like jealousy…”
Finn wrapped his arms around me. “I get your point, Theron. We’ll keep our mouths shut. God won’t hear anything from us on the matter since neither Poppy nor Cass is doing anything wrong.”
Theron nodded, pride radiating from him that his ‘pupil’ understood his teaching—I knew that look well. “Poppy has eyes. She knows Cass is attractive. And the times I’ve seen her flirt with him have been unintentional. Cass is dealing with his attraction for Poppy the best way he knows how, by being a friend to her—and that’s all.”
Finn’s eyes widened. “You already suspected all this?”
“I may be old, but I’m not blind.”
I touched my foot to Finn’s, a subtle hint not to forget about my request. If he didn’t escort me away from here soon, I would find another train home. One that didn’t have a tiger emblem on the side.
Finn stated, “We’re going to take our leave now. Mina’s ready for bed, I believe.”
Theron’s brows lifted, his sparkling dark eyes on mine. His lips curved up on the edges in a smirk. “It’s always so much better in light of day, isn’t it?”
I blinked. “He didn’t mean it that way, Mr. King.”
“Theron,” he admonished, his tone severe. “I’m not the king right now. That’s my son’s job.”
I couldn’t keep track of this man’s moods.
So I simply agreed. “Of course. My apologies, Theron.”
Finn dipped his head in a show of respect. “My apologies also for intruding on your vacation.”
He waved his hand in a dismissing nature. “Just come by for dinner sometime. That’s enough of an apology.”
“It’ll be my pleasure. Your food is always excellent.”
“All right. Quit kissing my ass and get out of here. Your woman there is about to drop.”
“Ass kissing done.” Finn dipped his head one more time and grinned before he led us from behind the tree and onto the walking trail. He glanced down at me, asking gently, “Are you all right?”
“Not really.” I shook my head, leaning against him heavily. “My mind is a confused mess and my body needs sleep. Lots of it.”
I squeaked when he lifted me into his arms, holding me close against his chest. “I can definitely walk. This is unnecessary.”
“But it is chivalrous.” He tossed me up and caught me, laughing at my resulting shout. “How else am I to get you into my bed?”
My lips trembled in humor. “You are relentless, Mr. Baker.”
“Absolutely. It’s a finer trait of mine.”