Romantic

**MAX**
By the time Doc Maize leaves, I'm clenching my jaw so tightly I'm afraid my teeth might snap.
Jared really thinks he's taking her to his suite. He *really* thinks he can just waltz in here and take my mate from my room and place her in his goddessdamned *private* quarters. And take care of her. And keep her safe. And be *all the things for her* that *IIIIIIIII was chosen to be.*
*Well, can't he though? You're not going to claim her.*
With a growl of frustration, my eyes fall on Blanca. *She's injured and the doc says that I could potentially heal her.* She should be in here *with me.*
Ha! Yeah right, and then Jared will *know* for sure what I'm pretty certain he already suspects.
That she's mine.
*Mine, mine, mine!*
Ten fucking stitches. *Ten!* All because some bitches don't follow orders. *All* because *certain* omegas took it upon themselves to disobey my explicit instructions and deign to put her in the back of the house like an embarrassing secret. As if she's someone to be ashamed of.
*Kind of like you do, asshole.*
Would they be treating her so roughly if she *wasn't* Drake's killer? *Would I be?*
The answer to that question burns. Fires to life with blazing torment. *Do I wish I could claim her? Even though she is Shiftless?*
Something tells me that those women, those *omegas*, would treat Blanca like garbage regardless. Not just because she is Shiftless, but because she's like sparkling wine in comparison to them. Gina is fairly pretty, but she's no Blanca. Come to think of it, neither is Fionna. Not even close. Not that all that matters in the world are looks, but Blanca surpasses them in the personality department as well. Blanca... her heart is...
*Shit.* I need to stop thinking about her completely. I really, *really,* do. But... it's almost impossible. Even now in sleep she shimmers like a diamond in the river. Blanca's as sweet as a sun ripened berry on a summer day. Even if she *is* a killer.
I'll just bet that she tastes like one too and I'll have the answer to that bet one day. I swear it. I'm *going* to taste her. I have to.
Just not today.
"Everything's ready for her at my place," Jared says, stepping back into my rooms without so much as a courtesy knock. "I'll just grab her and-"
"No!" I say sharply, ignoring the look of indignation he gives me. "Let her rest here for now. Then, when she wakes up, you can retrieve her." *Unless I can somehow manage to get Fionna away from here tonight. Then Blanca can stay right here. With me.*
Jared snorts. "Well then, who is going to watch over her *right now?* You have a meeting with her mother in ten minutes."
*Fuck, that's right. I do.*
The sound of gentle footsteps meandering toward my door has me glancing up just in time to see Diana waltzing into my room carrying two trays. *Oh yeah. Lunch.* Jared and I watch as Diana sets the trays on the table and then turns around to face us.
"Diana!" I exclaim with a smile. *Perfect*. "I'm signing you off kitchen duty for the rest of the day. As of right now you have a new job."
Diana flinches, monumentally surprised. "I-I do?"
"You do," I confirm. "You will stay right here and care for *Blan-* for the Shiftless girl while I'm in meetings. When she wakes up she's likely to be confused and hungry. Maybe even sore. Can I count on you to keep your eyes on her until I return?"
Diana's face suddenly widens into a grateful smile. "Of course Alpha Max. I could *really* use the day off. The kitchens are brutal and some of us are assigned to do more work than others. In fact, after you left..." she fidgets, trailing off for a moment as if she's deciding whether or not to confide in me.
"Go ahead. Spill it," I command softly, my body tensing for new anger.
"Well... um... Hilda added garbage duty and clean up to my task list for the month. I think she knows I'm the one who went to get you," Diana admits quietly.
This actually makes me smile because it gives me new ideas for punishment. "Good. I'm glad she does. Because you just became the Kitchen Manager and *she* just became you."
Diana's jaw drops so low that Jared physically reaches out and shuts it for her. "And you can call *me* if Blanca wakes up and decides she wants to turn in for the night. I can come and get her. I don't have much else to do today."
*That's what you think punk.* "Actually," I grin at Jared. "I'm *only* going to take the meeting with Missus Ceuran. You'll be handling the rest of them for me."
Jared's dark eyes spark with a dangerous anger and when he looks at me I almost want to hit him, *despite* that he's my best friend. "Of course Alpha," he says in a clipped tone.
"Of course," I agree, lifting my brows innocently. *Go ahead, jerk off, deny me.*
"Are you going to tell me *why* that is?" Jared asks with a malicious smirk.
"Nope," I say flatly.
"Motherfucker," Jared coughs.
"Bitch," I say under my breath.
"Oh that's right," Diana says. "Your intended chosen is visiting. You must be planning to take her somewhere special. That's very romantic of you, Alpha Max, is you don't mind my saying so."
Jared snickers and I frown. "I agree Alpha, that's*very* romantic indeed. I didn't know you had it in you."
*Fuck you, Jared. Fuck you very much.*
"I can be romantic," I snarl. *Not with Fionna, but I can be... with...*
*I mean. I could be, I think.*
*Oh yeah, that offer you made Blanca this morning was super romantic.*
The sound of clicking heels coming up the stairs sends a zing of apprehension up my spring like a warning of impending doom, but because Jared is *still* in my room, I don't move a muscle.
"Max!" Fionna's voice silks past my ears. "What are you..." Three heads turn her way the moment she steps toward my door and I turn my body just so, hoping to hide Blanca from view. It doesn't work. Fionna’s eyes narrowed to slits and she crossed her arms under her non-existent bosom. "Why is the slave girl *asleep* on your couch?"
*Fucking perfect.*