“Which is perfect, because we need a new spymaster, and Kaya’s spot on the council has just been handed off to its rightful owner. So, she can do that now.”

  Kaya glared.

  Bruce said coldly, “Who the hell do you think you are?”

  I blinked in mock surprise, “The king. Did you miss that part? I mean, I get what you’re all trying to do, and it’s good. I mean, you guys are doing a bang-up job. I mean, that’s the rules right. I’m king, but I have no authority to exercise my power, only to delegate it. So, what’s the problem? I’m delegating, just like you wanted, and I’ll watch you all so if anything goes wrong, well then I can bring it up. Call a council meeting, or whatever, so we can vote? I mean, that’s your plan, isn’t it?”

  They all looked flat footed, and a bit shocked at my arrogance. They were totally right of course, I was being an ass.

  Gary said, “No. You can delegate but you can’t force one of us into a position, we have right of refusal. I’ll do it, temporarily, until we see if the new queen of the gods is suitable. Kaya can take my place with Natasha as a representative of the justice council.”

  I frowned, then shrugged, “Okay. I’ll back that up from my side, if it makes you happy. You’ll probably be better anyway since Kaya obviously missed all those murders and rapes the last twenty-two years. In hindsight, obviously not good spymaster material.”

  Gary growled, and Natasha put her hand on his arm.

  I winked at the goddess of love, sure that she was the one person in the room that knew exactly what I was doing. I just hoped I didn’t overplay my hand and end up dead.

  Bruce said, “No, it’s not her fault, if it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. She was responsible for detecting and outing overreach and power grasping. That’s it. It’s my job to enforce the laws, and by his own testimony he hasn’t overreached his position in those ways.”

  I nodded, “My mistake then. So, are we good? I trust you can take out the trash without supervision? Oh, I’ll need access to the database, and some turnover from Kaya. On all the… ins and outs.”

  Kaya frowned, at my obvious double entendre, of a little in and out. A clear reference to sex, but at the same time it was a pretty common phrase for business, so she didn’t look entirely sure.

  “The staff can set you up, and they’ll show you the system and how it all works,” she replied with distaste.

  I sighed in disappointment, “Very well then. That will have to suffice.”

  I took Lianne’s hand, waved with a smile, and then teleported out.

  Lianne sighed, “I’m sorry. That could’ve gone better.”

  I shook my head, “It really couldn’t have. It went just about perfectly to plan, actually. I totally didn’t mean that flirting by the way, I wanted to alienate her, and therefore Gary, just a little. Having Bruce come to her rescue and eating shit to do it was just a bonus.”

  Lianne sighed, “You’re going to have to explain that.”

  I said, “They’re all going in one direction because of Nate. A block, all against little old me and to keep me under their control. If I’d gone waltzing in and just folded, or even showed true excitement that they were doing a good job, well chances are they’d stop doing it. They want me to suffer, to languish in my impotence to rule, to… be the bad guy. That’s what brought them all together, and that’s what’s going to keep them together and doing all that work on my behalf. It’s genius, don’t you see.”

  She giggled, “I see, so you’re like… bad guy light.”

  “Exactly, or I wanted to come across that way, at least. A little petty and annoyed, a little bit of a leche, and a little bit bossy, but not so much over the line they felt they needed to take me down. That will bind them together, and they’ll continue making fine decisions and doing good work. While I just watch over them, and don’t have to deal with all the headaches, and can pursue my own interests for the first time in my existence and lifetimes.

  “I never intended to put Kaya in as the spymaster either, Gary is clearly the best one for the job. I just… wanted to give them a victory and appear pushy. Of course, Natasha saw right through me, and will no doubt tell Gary and Kaya I’m not a lecher or asshole. But I’m betting they’ll keep it from the others, for the same reason I did it in the first place. They want to maintain the council, it’s their baby, and extremely important to their mate Amelia.”

  She smiled, “Okay, that’s… all very clever, you really don’t want to rule?”

  I shrugged, “Honestly, I would if I had to, and a part of me thinks I should. They won’t let me, and I am excited about my business ideas and patents. Plus, they’re really doing a good job. I could fight it, plot, and likely die. Or I can accept it, put my stamp on it, and move on. Our vampire will be monitoring the database for me, as well as keeping an eye on the companies, just in case I miss something.

  “Otherwise, I’ll get to spend my time on the businesses and you, the council is like, a very part time job.”

  She smiled, “So you’re trying to look on the bright side.”

  I nodded, and looked into her eyes, “Yes, and some of those sides are much brighter than others.”

  She blushed, “Thank you, but I didn’t do anything.”

  I shrugged, “You did, baby. You didn’t blink, when I started to act like a jackass, you just went with it. Trusted me, was loyal without even knowing my plan or that it was an act. We’ll, mostly an act.”

  She smiled, “You’re welcome, Liam. It never even occurred to me not to.”

  Gods, I wanted to kiss her badly in that moment, and I saw the warm heat in her eyes, but instead I said, “We should get ready for tonight, it’s almost five now.” I suspected she was already there, receptive to a kiss at least, but I wanted to woo her tonight, and after our first kiss, I’d have a good idea where we were. Romance her right, I hadn’t earned it yet, even if our kicking ass together had aroused and wound her up. That would be empty sex, a life affirming thrill, that would leave her empty and doubting.

  Not good enough. I needed to make her the center of my attention, and to treat her like she deserved. Make her feel desired, cherished, and important, then and only then could I show her just how wild and demanding a shifter could be in bed. Life affirming sex was wild and a blast, but not for our first time.

  She smiled, “Italian food, dancing, and crazy conversation.”

  I grinned, “Exactly.”

  She bit her lip, and then headed up to her room at a fast walk, and I headed to the guest room with all my clothes in the closet which had an in-suite bath as well.

  Chapter Four

  Lianne looked amazing in a strapless little black dress that really hugged her form. Her rounded B cups were pushed together and up really maximizing her cleavage and showing off about a tasteful third of it. The skin of that cleavage a couple of shades creamier and fairer than her light skin made it mouthwatering. The dress went down to lower thigh and was snug enough to show off the shape of her petite and tight pear-shaped ass and gracefully long legs. She had her hair pinned up on the sides to reveal her neck, ears, and the full exotic beauty of her face, while it still flowed down to the small of her back. A tasteful ruby and diamond pendent necklace and diamond stud earrings jewelry set, red shoes, and a red clutch rounded it out.

  I wasn’t sure what if anything she had on underneath the dress, but I really wanted to find out. Partly shallow and selfish need, it’d been a couple of weeks and shifters had really high libidos, and partly because she was mesmerizing to me, and I wanted to watch her stunningly beautiful face twist and surrender to ecstasy.

  “You look magnificent.”

  Lianne smiled, “Thank you,” and I loved the way she floated forward and took my hand. Only together a mere five hours or so and she was already getting over that fear, taking her place by my side without looking like I was about smite her. Really good sign, and far more natural to the powerful and stubborn woman I knew her to be, even the crazy part excited me. I hadn’t failed to note Mark dismissing her as crazy earlier, if not in a horribly rude way, which was both shortsighted and idiotic. In my opinion anyway, but everyone had their own tastes, and his ran to devoted bimbo, not devoted and formidable.

  But then, shifters liked a challenge, didn’t they? And maybe crazy hot goddesses that got aroused by violence.

  Don’t get me wrong, I was sure the muses were complete and complicated women, but their mantels led them to be constantly seductive and in a willing sensual daze. Which would totally be boring to me after a while. His greatest challenge was keeping them all thoroughly fucked, and not at all getting them into bed. At least, for the last forty years, his first year or two had been more difficult than that I knew, and he had acquitted himself well.

  I teleported us to central park, about a block inside. I knew right down the path, and a half a block down in the city, was an amazing little Italian place that was a hidden gem. Simply because I’d wanted to know. The short tenth of a mile walk in the park would set the mood, and of course the bright flash of golden light would ensure any muggers or gangs kept their distance even if they did take exception to us being in their park at night.

  She looked delighted as she took a look around, and then smiled and squeezed my hand back after I’d squeezed hers and started walking down the path between the trees.

  I grinned, “Still awake, baby.”

  She smirked, then giggled, “Promise?”

  “I do. So shifters tend to live in their own world, I don’t know dating rules out here.”

  She snickered, “I see, so do you sniff each other, then jump in the sack?”

  I laughed, “You know, that’s not far wrong. Shifters tend to be a randy bunch and free with their bodies until they find and committed themselves to a mate. Mutual arousal almost always ends up in naked, sweaty, sore, and exhausted.”

  She giggled, “You’re messing with me.”

  “Nope, we have that nose thing.”

  She gasped, “Oh goddess. So you… when I…”

  I laughed, “Yes. Don’t be embarrassed, it’s mutual tension, trust me.”

  She blushed, “Good then, I think. I suppose that would cut through a variety of social constructs on the human side, and most of us gods were raised human.”

  I nodded, “I think my spirit got tired of being a dick when in ignorance to our true nature and purpose, when incarnated. So I got a shifter body. Shifters are big on protecting the weak, responsibility, and discipline, and the more power they have the more responsibility and discipline is required. So it’s doubtful I’ll be corrupted anytime soon, I think.”

  I was raised right, even if Raelyn wasn’t.

  She giggled, “So the gods are like… your new pack, that you have to protect.”

  That was like a slap in the face, also obvious in hindsight. Already my advisor in truth.

  “Interesting insight, and I do feel that way to an extent. You were right before too, not just constructs built around mating, but things like white lies, soft speech, spin, are anathema to us that can smell the truth. It’s rude, like someone pointing at the sky and calling it purple when it’s light blue. There are subtle things about us, but not when it comes to our culture and personal relationships, we’re blunt all the time.”

  She sighed, “I think I like that, I’ve had enough of the smooth operators and players in my life, and that doesn’t mean no romance either,” She waved her hands around at the trees, with a warm and thoughtful smile on her face, “But didn’t you use spin earlier?”

  I sighed, “I kind of did and didn’t. I mean, I meant what I said. The bright side thing you mentioned? There is a part of me that’s bitter I’m paying for Nate’s mistakes and that also believes I could do a better job. So I focused on that part of me, and displayed those distasteful parts of my personality on purpose. Most of the time I’m focusing on the discipline and suck it up side, to enjoy what I do have, which is not insignificant, especially you.”

  She blushed, “I see, and I think I get it now. Another shifter would just perceive all of it though, the entire whole, no matter what expressions you used.”

  “Yes, that’s true. The point though is I didn’t really lie or deceive, I just hid the best parts of me while telling a bitter truth. Maybe that’s just self-rationalization, and becoming what I am already changed me? I mean, I did purposely mislead them with that small truth, that’s something a fae would do.”

  She frowned, “You’re really hard on yourself, aren’t you?”

  I grinned, “Sorry, didn’t mean to bring down the mood. I’m excited to be here with you.”

  She shook her head, “I’m not down, just trying to figure you out.”

  I winked, “I’m easy.”

  She snorted in disbelief.

  I squeezed her hand as we exited the park, then crossed the street, and headed down half a block. The Italian place was small, only ten tables and three of them were empty, two of them couple tables. It was dimly lit with candles on the tables, but not fancy romantic, although there was a nice classical music selection playing low in the background as we went in. The important part was it was the best Italian food on the east coast of North America. Food and sex tended to be the big things in a shifter’s life, which was one of the reasons why discipline was so important.

  After they sat us down and brought out the wine, I said, “So, what about you. We talked about me the whole way here, and I’m boring. You were in real estate and recently an investor, terrible taste in men, and you’re exquisitely beautiful. Tell me something new.”

  She giggled, “I can fly.”

  I nodded, “Me too as a sky god, but you use force for that, generate thrust?”

  She nodded, “I can also cut the wind and lessen or even redirect momentum for sharper turns. I love to fly, but it’s one of my hobbies since you have to dress for it and I don’t walk around in skintight leather outfits as a rule, in public.”

  I grinned, “We’ll have to do that then. Any other hobbies?”

  She replied, “I have a punching bag for anger management work-outs, and I like to stargaze in the quiet moments. I tried yoga to quiet my mind, but that really doesn’t work for me at all. I usually just get angrier and stew in the silence, with nothing to focus on, better to punch something and get it out. Oh, I like skiing and rock climbing, sort of sky diving, and sailing.”

  I blinked, there was a lot in there.

  “Sort of sky diving?”

  She giggled, “Well, I don’t need a chute, or a plane. I just love to freefall. The sensation of falling and feeling so free. So sometimes I fly up to ten thousand feet, then just cut off my power and enjoy the ride.”

  “So is lack of loyalty in your partner the only thing that flips the switch and makes you scream and punch a punching bag?”

  She blushed, “Nope,” then winked, “There’s more crazy in here than that.”

  I laughed, “Not going to share?”

  She waved, “Fickleness in general, if you remember I got angry on your behalf earlier. I only have a few friends because of that, true friendships.”

  “Keep quiet… or help bury the body?” I asked playfully.

  She giggled, “The second one, definitely. Social friends always fail you when you need them the most, which makes them worthless in my eyes. I suppose that ties back to loyalty in a different way. The other triggers aren’t really reasonable, pet peeves. Dirty clothes on the floor, wearing socks to bed, leaving the cap off the toothpaste.”

  I chuckled.

  She winked, “I mean, what kind of monster leaves the cap off their toothpaste? Not paying attention and actually listening to me, which I sense won’t be a problem. You’re a very intense man, Liam. Your blue eyes.”

  “Too intense?”

  She blushed, “No, I’m really enjoying the attention, and that you haven’t even noticed the hot blonde behind you.”

  I winked, “Only unwashed heathens wear socks to bed. I also cap the toothpaste and put my clothes in the hamper, mostly to spare the nose but it still counts.”

  She snickered, “I’ll give your dubious motivation a pass, if I never find dirty underwear on the floor. So I know loyalty is your trigger too, even if it doesn’t make a raging crazy person. What else?”

  I said, “Like most shifters, white lies and insincere politeness grate on the nerves. People with a victim mentality annoy me, life is for conquering and is supposed to be hard, it’s not fair for anyone, and those that never own their faults can be irritating as well.”

  She smirked, “Well, I totally own my crazy and my bad taste in men.”

  I nodded, “Exactly, and you’re still here, putting yourself out there, and not sulking and blaming the world for all things gone wrong.”

  She blushed, “I suppose that makes me sound pretty good. So, how do you feel about the outdoor sports?”

  I said, “Shifters were born on skis, and mountains were meant to be climbed. Slight exaggeration, but we’re all about the outdoors. Sailing sounds good too, but it would probably be imprudent. Looking up at the stars is also something we do, after wearing ourselves out on a night run or hunt.”

  “Bruce?”

  I nodded, “I could always fly up, but I could never let my guard down floating in his domain, which would defeat the purpose. People sail to relax and unwind.”

  She smiled, “I can give up sailing, if you climb, ski, and freefall with me.”

  “Sounds like a really good time, to me. I’ve never done it, but then I’ve only been able to fly for two weeks now, and I’ve been a bit busy setting up some things.”

  She giggled, “So, how do you feel about older women?” then she bit her lip.

  “It’s who and what you are I’m interested in, not how long you’ve been here. It truly doesn’t matter, and you’re a flawless young beauty by perception. Does it worry you?”