Free Knight in Leather by Holley Trent Page B

she generally didn’t lie. She probably didn’t know what Princess Siobhan meant. She’d never so great at putting puzzle pieces together, but that tended to be the case with most folks with mixed mermaid lineage. Apparently, something about breathing so much oxygen all at once made them stupid.
    “Unbelievable,” the princess muttered. She stepped down from the block and nudged Ethan away from the door. “I’m sure you’re aware that there’s no love lost between me and my mother, but I know the rules haven’t changed. You’re not supposed to be outside of the realm, so what are you doing out and about? If we were still working for her, we’d drag your sorry arse back to her.”
    Laurel bobbed her eyebrows. “I got special dispensation to leave.”
    “Did you, now?”
    “Uh-huh. I asked, and she said yes.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Uh-huh. I told you that.”
    “Just verifying. And you told her you needed specifically to leave so you could find Ethan, did you?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “To what end?” Princess Simone asked levelly.
    Laurel gave her head a slow shake. “She doesn’t take kindly to people abandoning their mates. She let me come out to get him.”
    “I am not your— fuck !”
    Simone had given Ethan’s bicep a pinch that shut him up good. He heeded the warning in her quelling glare.
    “What, pray tell, makes you think he’s your mate?” Princess Siobhan asked.
    Laurel’s eyes took on an unintelligent roundness. “He is. I’m going to have his babies.”
    Like hell you are.
    There was only one woman he had any interest at all in having babies with, and he wasn’t allowed near her at the moment.
    “Let me get this straight,” Princess Simone said. “My mother-in-law gave you special dispensation to leave the realm to drag back your neglectful mate , is that what you’re saying?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “And I bet she told you exactly where you might find him, huh?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Interesting. And who else was with you when she imparted you with this knowledge?”
    Ethan admired Princess Simone’s ability to quickly pick up on bullshit. She was very good at asking the right questions. She’d always had the raw material, but Heath had helped her hone her wit into a sharp and deadly skill. The prince and princess had an enviably good match.
    Laurel narrowed her eyes and clucked her tongue. She made the sound whenever she was thinking, and in Ethan’s opinion, it was a sound she didn’t make nearly enough. “Oh, my brother was there, and…a couple of guards and, oh, I dunno. I don’t pay attention to those sorts of things.”
    “And where’s Quinton now?” Princess Siobhan asked through clenched teeth.
    Laurel shrugged. “Oh, he’s probably around somewhere.”
    “Around here ?”
    “Uh-huh.” Laurel scrunched her nose. “He couldn’t get closer for some reason, but he’s around if you want to say hi.”
    “I’ll track him down and say hi , all right. Me and Heath.” Princess Siobhan started away as if she were going to do just that.
    Princess Simone pulled Ethan away from the door. “Good night, Miss O’Cuilinn.”
    “Uh—well, goodnight, then.” Brow furrowed, Laurel looked to Ethan, who gave his head a hard shake.
    “No,” he said.
    He pulled her door closed again, and wisely, she got out of the way. He didn’t doubt for a second, though, that she wouldn’t quickly regroup.
    He hustled Princess Simone into the office along with Hestia and pulled down the shade on the door after engaging the lock.
    He folded his arms over his chest and drummed his fingers along the sides of his arms.
    Princess Simone blinked at him several times, then turned to Hestia.
    Hestia threw up her hands. “I feel like I should make amends, but this wasn’t completely my fault. Ugh.” She paced in front of the door clucking her tongue for a while. “Look, as you know, there are rules of engagement. Gods and goddesses are restricted in how much they can meddle in the affairs of