Page 83 of Rising Reign

As if she could understand all the words being said, Princess leapt from Ender’s lap and onto the table. She bounded over and smacked Puck across the face, drawing a few specks of blood.

Puck’s hand flew to his cheek. “That goddamned cat.”

Princess darted away and jumped onto my lap. I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s what you get for hurling insults at Cat Daddy.”

Locke’s chest began shaking beneath me.

Puck narrowed his eyes on me. “He started it.”

“What are you, five?” King asked.

“Oh, his emotional maturity is barely three,” Clyde said from the loveseat he shared with Dina.

“On a good day,” Rhys called, striding out of the house, carrying a tray of drinks.

“What’s with the ganging up on me?” Puck complained. “Clare Bear, make your guards rough them up. They’re picking on me.”

Clara turned and glanced at us. “Fight your own battles, Pucker.”

“You should know he was planning on interfering with your love life again,” I said.

Clara’s eyes narrowed on her brother. “That is very risky, given that I know all your weaknesses and all your secrets.”

Kingston chuckled. “You want to move to Crescent Creek, Clara? It’d be nice to have someone who can keep him in line.”

“Sorry, but that sounds like a nightmare of a job.”

“You guys are the worst,” Puck muttered.

Rhys clapped him on the shoulder. “When you dish it out, you have to be prepared to take it.”

Puck glared up at him. “You’re one to talk.”

Rhys put a hand over his heart. “Me? I never create any trouble.”

The entire group grumbled at that. Rhys had needled or created problems for every single person here. It was as if he got a charge out of it. But as I studied him, I couldn’t help but wonder what his story was.

Memories swirled, the images that had flashed in my mind when I touched Rhys. Echoes of the pain and devastation rocketed through me. There was no doubt in my mind that Rhys hid his torment beneath charm and jokes, much like Puck did.

But as far as I could tell, Rhys didn’t have anyone to share his burdens with. He called Ender his best friend, but the two rarely delved deeper than surface level. That had to be lonely.

Rhys clapped his hands together. “Ready for more empath training, Little Vixen?”

King instantly straightened. “No. It’s her day off. She’s been pushing herself to the breaking point every day for the past few weeks. You need to give her mind a chance to recover.”

I shifted in Locke’s lap, disrupting Princess, who let out a meow of protest and jumped down. “I could do a little.”

King’s gaze cut to me, a stern look sweeping over his face. But it quickly softened as he leaned closer and cupped my cheek. “You need rest just as much as training. It’ll do you no good if you’re exhausted when the dark mages or Red River strikes.”

He had a damn good point, which only served to annoy me.

Locke started to laugh and then kissed my temple. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re adorable when you’re annoyed?”

“That’s only making me more annoyed,” I shot back.

King chuckled. “Apologies for being reasonable.”

“It’s honestly rude,” I muttered.