Free A Price for a Princess by R.E. Butler Page B

both my mates in this realm and to have them with me on the journey to the palace.  In a world that I didn't understand with the wizard after me, having people I trusted with me was even more important.
    Ekho said we were in the home he shared with a mated Leonemen couple, another male, and the two children.  He suggested a trip to the bathroom and a good meal and a walk to see how I was feeling after being in bed for a day.  I liked all of those ideas.
    Ekho went to see about dinner and Perseus followed me into the bathroom. When the door shut, he pulled me into his arms.  "I thought I lost you.  When you ran away from me, I couldn't see you and then you were on the ground, unconscious.  Next time," he lifted my chin with his fingers and his face became very serious, "you plan to run into danger, you make sure you take me or Ekho with you."
    "I promise, Pers.  I'm sorry.  I, I didn't even think about what I was doing when I ran after the boy. I just wanted the bracelet back."
    "It wouldn't have been worth dying for."  He said soberly.
    I nodded, shame pinking my cheeks.  It had been a gut reaction.  I would have to work on that.
    The shower in the shared bathroom of the home was similar to the one in Perseus' home, with a showerhead over a drain in the corner.  He stripped out of his trousers and joined me in the shower - strictly for cleaning he promised - and just as the water went from pleasantly warm to frigid, we finished and hopped out.  After drying off, Perseus pulled one of my new dresses from a satchel and I put it on, along with a pair of comfortable moccasins.  I pulled my hair into a high ponytail and secured it with a leather tie and we went to find the kitchen.
    The other Leonemen were talking quietly around a large round kitchen table.  The female had white-blonde fur and her belly was round with child.  The two males had the same golden colored fur as Ekho, as did the young girl and boy. 
    The girl and boy both looked uneasily at me as Ekho brought them over.  She couldn't have been more than twelve, he more than 5.  With a nudge from Ekho, Ananda said with a soft voice, "I'm very sorry that I hurt you, Daeton.  I thought you were trying to hurt my brother."
    "Thank you for apologizing."  I smiled at her and turned my eyes to Bartholomew.  He shuffled his feet and kicked at an imaginary spot on the floor.
    "I'm sorry for swiping your bracelet."  He handed it up to me with a forlorn look in his eyes.  I slipped it on my wrist and chucked him under the chin.  "You'll listen to Ekho and try hard not to be tempted to steal anymore?"
    He nodded, his eyes wide.
    "Okay, I accept your apology."
    Ekho shooed the children over to the table and Perseus kissed my cheek and moved over to the table to sit down.  I noticed that Ekho was fidgeting, his hands clenching and unclenching.  "Are you okay?"  I asked.
    His brow furrowed and then he sighed, "I am, I just, I want to hold you so badly but you don't know me and I don't want to rush you."
    My stomach did a little flip at his sweetness.  Where Perseus had made assumptions without worry, Ekho tread carefully.  How different my two mates were!  I stepped to him and slid my arms around him, realizing for the first time as my hands rested on his back, that the velvet fur covered his back as well.  It was soft and silky to the touch and I ran my hands up and down his back slowly to feel the texture against my palms as he put his arms around me and pulled me close.  He shivered suddenly and laughed, kissing my ear, "If you keep that up I'm going to embarrass myself."
    I was about to ask why, when I felt the hard ridge of his cock against my hip.  I stifled a laugh and tipped my face up, "Sorry."
    "I don't believe that for a second."  He laughed and pressed his mouth to mine.  The kiss was sweet, tentative at first, and then I felt his tongue trace the seam of my lips and I opened them.  He tasted sweet, like he'd just eaten fruit and we