CHAPTER THIRTY
I walked on steady legs toward Mr. King’s door. Steady legs. Immortality had its perks. This morning, when I had climbed out of Finn’s bed, my ankle no longer hurt. It was completely healed.
I smiled at Finn. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“Of course.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close. “It’s very kind of Poppy to give you lessons on defense…but I could have helped you too.”
I chuckled, the sound content. As I was. “I know. But I like this. Poppy’s someone I wouldn’t mind spending time with—girl time.”
Actually, I had chased her down like a demon before she and Mr. King had boarded their train to leave last night. I wanted this so much my chest constricted at the thought of being defenseless any longer. I was fairly certain Poppy had seen that in my eyes when I asked.
She was a good woman.
I stopped in front of the door and stared.
Pointedly.
“What the hell is all over this beautiful lion sculpture?” I exclaimed and then leaned forward to further peruse the beast. “Are those tiny little hearts?”
Finn choked next to me, his face turning a shade of pink. “Oh, fuck. I hope God hasn’t seen that yet.”
He rubbed at one of the little hearts, his chest lowering in relief as the pink ink rubbed off onto his finger. “If that had been permanent, Poppy would have been in some deep shit.”
My eyes widened. “Poppy did that?”
“Yes.”
That made no sense to me.
It was an exquisite piece of artwork.
Finn offered, “She thinks it’s a bit much.”
“It’s breathtaking. Perfect.”
“I think so too. I may have a white tiger fashioned.”
I nodded curtly. “That’s a splendid idea.”
Finn knocked on the door.
Both of us were studiously ignoring the thousands of golems lying at our feet. Apparently, Mr. King hadn’t cleaned house yet.
Poppy opened the door with a grand smile. “Hello!”
I instantly pointed at the statue. “That is not appropriate, Poppy. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Her smile didn’t falter. “It’s great to see you too.” She opened the door wider. “Come on in.”
Finn and I walked inside.
I glanced around the interior. “You have a beautiful home.”
“With fun statues to draw on.”
I narrowed my eyes.
She chuckled. “I might enjoy kicking your ass today.”
My eyes instantly turned wary. “Be nice.”
“You first.”
My lips pinched, and then I sighed. “I’m just nervous about this. If I seem horribly rude, you’ll have to excuse me.”
Poppy shut the door and locked it. She slung her arm around my waist and jiggled me. “It’ll be all right. I promise.”
“I hope so.”
Mr. King strolled into the foyer.
I blinked and cleared my face of any emotion.
He was wearing a pair of pajama pants, and that was it. Utterly relaxed inside his domain on a Saturday morning. He threw his arms wide, walking straight toward Finn. He hollered in delight, “I hear congratulations are in order, you asshole! Why didn’t you tell me?”
Finn smirked. “Cass contacted you?”
“Yeah, he sent me a message. He heard it all last night.”
My cheeks flamed in embarrassment.
We had been acquainting ourselves with each other all damn night. Finn and I hadn’t even slept yet.
Poppy’s brows scrunched, glancing back and forth between us. “What did I miss?”
Mr. King wrapped his arms around Finn for a hug, both of them slapping each other hard on their backs. He peered to his mate over Finn’s shoulder, grinning like the devil. “Ms. Kramer is Finn’s mate.”
Poppy gasped…and then squealed.
She threw her arms around me, making me hug her little frame. “I am so thrilled for you guys.” Her head tipped back to stare into my face. “He’s a filthy bastard, isn’t he? You can tell me. It’s always the steadfast ones that have kinky secrets in bed.”
Like shifting into a white tiger last night to chase me around the room until I gave up in a fit of laughter, then shifting back into a man to take me against the wall…two knives buried deep into the wood next to my head to hang onto as handles.
A few little kinks, yes. He liked to play—a lot.
My mouth bobbed a few times, and then I sputtered, “I’m not telling you anything about our sex life!”
Poppy snickered. “That’s a yes.”
Mr. King pulled his mate to his side and nuzzled the side of her face. “Aren’t you supposed to be teaching Ms. Kramer how to defend herself? Not teasing her so much she won’t want to come over again.” He raised his head up, his golden eyes staring into mine. “May I call you Mina?”
My brows rose. “Of course.”
“You may call me Godric if you wish. There’s no reason to be formal now.” He flashed a look at Finn and then turned his eyes back to me. “But don’t call me God. Please.”
Finn snickered and stepped behind me to place his arms around my waist, bending a little to rest his chin on my shoulders. He stared at his friend. “Everyone needs a little God in their life.”
Poppy pressed her side against Godric’s, her gaze flickering with fierce ownership. “He’s all mine. No one else gets him.”
Godric’s lips twitched, his gaze on mine. “She’s a little possessive of me. Don’t mind her.”
My shoulders shook as I snickered. “I understand.”
Poppy waved her arms about. “How about we get out of the foyer and find a place to fight?”
Finn murmured, “I’d like to watch.”
“I’m sure you would.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re already protective as hell over her, aren’t you?”
I glanced back at him over my shoulder.
A small smile lifted his lips, not commenting.
Poppy snorted. “Damn. It’s even worse than I thought.”