Free Blood of Sirens: Book 13 of The Witch Fairy Series by Bonnie Lamer

switching to all female guards?” I ask.
    “Only in the evenings,” Dagda says.  Smart plan.  To Kallen, he says, “I would like you to work with Naja on this.”
    Kallen nods.  “Okay.  Do you know where I can find her?”
    “She is in her office awaiting your arrival.” 
    So much for Kallen and I ‘resting’ before nightfall.  “Does he need to go now?”
    Kallen leans over and kisses my cheek.  In my ear, he promises in a whisper low enough Dagda can’t hear him, “Later.” 
    The blush on my cheeks is enough for Dagda to clear his throat in discomfort.  “Yes, now would be best.”  He is such a mood killer.
    “I will walk you to the Princess quarters first,” Kallen says, still insistent on me resting before I say my spell. 
    Dagda scowls at the idea.  What, he doesn’t trust us to keep our hands off each other?  He’s a smart Fairy.  I have every intention of trying to seduce my husband before he goes off to plan with Naja.  “Okay.”  I rise from my chair and give my biological father a smug smile.  “See you later.”  All I get in return is a sigh and shake of the head.
    Outside his office, Kallen asks, “Elevator or stairs.”
    I give him a sour look.  “What do you think?”   He chuckles and takes my hand, heading for the stairs.

Chapter 7
     
    When we reach the Princess suite, the room reserved for me at the palace, I pull Kallen inside and close the door.  Snaking my arms around his neck, I stand on tippy toes to reach his mouth.  After a long, sensual kiss, he murmurs, “I am supposed to be meeting with Naja.”  The way he wraps his arms tighter around my waist takes all the sincerity out of his words. 
    Backing up slowly, I lure him to the bed.  When I feel it against my thighs, I lay back, bringing Kallen with me.  “If you want me to sleep, you need to tire me out,” I purr.
    My gorgeous husband groans.  “You are killing me.  We both know there is not enough time to give your proposition the effort it should have.”
    He’s right.  “Then we better hurry.” 
    Admittedly, we are not the best at hurrying.  Making love to my tall, sexy husband tends to give me tunnel vision.  But, the enormity of the problem facing the Fairy realm has Kallen walking to the door much sooner than either of us would like.  Curling up under the comforter, my body now very relaxed, I close my eyes and try to rest.
    I lay here for an hour without any luck.  Finally, I get out of bed and dress in jeans and a blue sweater.  Opening the balcony doors, I venture outside.  The view here is of an ocean of trees instead of water.  It’s still pretty.  I sit on the pink lounge chair, everything in this room is pink or some other nauseating pastel color, and stare off into the distance.  From here, I don’t hear the bustle of the palace.  It’s quiet.  Serene, even.  Someday I will need to move into this place and I’m happy to realize there will be places of escape when the noise and nervous energy of the palace gets to me.
    Except for when I think stupid things and dare the universe to prove me wrong.  Right below me, an argument has broken out.  I immediately recognize the voices.  It’s Arie and Kai.
    “You want to what?!” Arie demands.
    “Please, keep your voice down,” Kai insists.  I hope she doesn’t.  This sounds like it could be good.  Shameful, I know.  But I might learn something useful about the Siren situation.
    “I will not keep my voice down.  You are telling me you want to be put under the spell this evening.  That tells me that my consort is concerned about his love for me!”
    After a brief pause, Kai admits, “You have changed since becoming the Queen.  You are not the Arie I once loved.” 
    Okay, maybe I’m about to learn something I don’t want to know.  I start to rise but my chair squeaks a little.   I stop moving.  I don’t want them to know I’ve already heard this much of their argument.  I assume they moved