Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
“ N o.” Des sat in his office at the apartment, his phone on speaker while he reviewed a pile of shit he’d let slide in the last few weeks while he and Starry loved on each other. “Negotiations don’t start again until I get an acknowledgement of my demands.”
“Sir, you know they won’t do it.” His lawyer, Magnus Leanos, sighed, sounding put-upon.
He growled, knowing the sound would vibrate in Magnus’s skull. “Then there is no deal.”
“Sir, the territorial raids are not going to stop if we don’t negotiate a peace.”
“I will not make any deals until I get a formal apology. And Alistair as well. They thought they could kidnap him and make him do their dirty work by forcing me to yield to their demands or lose my mate and child.” He was roaring by the time he was done, his wings and tail trying to sprout.
“I understand, sir. I will pass on the message.”
“Good. Today.”
“Immediately.” The call ended, and he hit the damn button, trying not to flame his office.
Dammit, he hated this shit. If the Galandels didn’t stop trying to nibble away at his territory, he was going to stop all negotiations and start a war.
Starry was the only reason he hadn’t yet.
His mate needed a stable home and no fear as far as raising their child was concerned. He would try his best to settle this peaceably.
His phone beeped, and he looked at it, finding a text from Starry.
RU coming home?
I am home. In my office
B right there
Des was the only one Starry texted using letters instead of full words. He was acutely aware of his position in the clan, and he was very careful about it. Which made his impatience when texting Des so cute.
His office door opened, Starry strolling through in a heartbeat. He must have been standing right outside. “Are you coming in to lunch, love?” Starry asked.
“I am.” He shook off his anger and rose, moving to take Starry’s hand.
“Oh, good. It’s too nice a day to sit in here and roar and fume. I thought we might go out on the terrace.”
“That sounds good.” They had a rooftop terrace that held a patio, a pool, and a place to launch when he wanted to fly. Starry loved to dine there, and it had been ages since he’d been able to do that with his mate.
“I asked Francois for some soup and sandwiches. Nothing spicy.” He grinned a little.
Des loved spicy food. But Starry couldn’t stomach it right now. Pregnancy had given him heartburn.
“That’s fine, love. I’m happy with chicken noodle and crackers.”
“I know.” Starry rose on tiptoe to kiss him. “Oh, I missed you so much.”
He slid his hands under Starry’s butt to pull him up, kissing him hard and deep. “I missed you too, baby.”
“Mmmm. I love how you love me.” Starry patted his chest. “But I’m starving.”
Des hooted. “Right to the point, my love. Okay, come on. Lunch on the terrace.”
Francois, as always, had done amazing things with cheese, bread, and egg wash. Clearly he’d left the mustard powder out of the Cheese Dreams, but they tasted amazing dipped in the chicken soup anyway. Nothing too acidy or strong, but the food was lovely and filling.
They lingered over their drinks, Starry with an iced tea, and him with a glass of whiskey, even though it was probably too early. But alcohol rarely affected him, so he sipped it happily.
This was a much better way to spend the day than sitting in his office.
Mmm.” Starry smiled at him, his mental touch strong again, right there on the edge of Des’s mind.
“So.” Des stared into his mate’s eyes. “Charity work?”
“I had to get out of the house, Des. You weren’t speaking to me. You weren’t coming home. You never told me I was in danger, really. So I wanted to go to Luigi’s.” Starry sighed, running his fingers around the rim of his glass. “Will you talk to me from now on?”
“I suppose I’d better.” Des grabbed Starry’s hand. “I’m sorry, love. I thought I was doing what I needed to in order to keep you safe.” He’d been wrong, and he knew that now. Live and learn.
“Well, now you know better.”
“I do.” He gave up being civilized and drew Starry over onto his lap. He nuzzled Starry’s neck. “I love you.” He felt compelled to say it over and over.
“I love you too.” Starry stroked his hair, and they sat like that for a long while. Then Starry leaned back to grin at him. “So, what are we going to do with Reed?”
“Who? Ow!” Des chuckled when Starry pinched him, thinking about the sweet, scared omega they’d brought home when they’d rescued Starry. He’d been in a guest room for a few days, sleeping and eating and not really showing his face.
Not even to Hamish, who really seemed to like the guy.
“I’m thinking of seeing if he wants to be my personal assistant. He could learn on the job.”
“If he’s happy to do that, then I’m good with it. Though I’ll have Hamish look into him.”
“Thanks. I think he’s just really scared.”
“Has he said where he came from?”
“No.” Starry nibbled his lower lip. “I’ll try to find out today.”
“Not now.” Now was for Starry to sit with him, loving him, and him loving back.
Establishing their connection again.
Now was about his mate. And he needed to make things right again. For both their sakes.