Kershov wasn’t necessarily against lying, but if someone had bothered to ask him whether or not he took pleasure from watching Queens snarl at one of her own soldiers, the answer would have been a truthful and emphatic yes. The alabaster gangster savored a malevolent satisfaction as the chocolate panthress turned about to glare directly at the intruding male with those scorching amber lanterns. This was prime entertainment, right here. The sound of Queens’ growl rumbled like the sweetest music in Ker’s perked ears. In theory, the arctic Alpha should have been professional; he should have quietly stood by and allowed the Empress to deal with her underling without a so much as a gesture of glee, as if the scene unfolding before him were invisible. But he didn’t. It was just too perfect. Served the pale bastard right for intruding. When Queens turned her back on him—unforgivable if she’d been any other wolf but herself—Kershov slid a sly, reptilian stare toward Arcadian, the shredded side of his muzzle portraying the wicked grin hiding in his stony heart. His head tilted the tiniest, subtlest increment. Yes, I am looking at you, sir . . .

The ivory warrior didn’t respond to his lover as she continued scolding Arcadian—he didn’t want to risk outright rudeness by interrupting the Alphess and he preferred speaking face-to-face with the gorgeous snake anyway. And besides . . . why spoil the moment with his own voice? Queens was doing just fine on her own. All the while Kershov wore his permanent smirk, obsidian eyes narrowed and feathered tail lazily stirring the air. Only when Queens finished her tirade did Ker speak up.

“Yes. I think that’s what your Regal desires.” That was taking a risk—Kershov respected the shadowy femme more than any of the wolves he knew save one, and that meant he believed it fundamentally wrong to speak for her. Queens had a tongue—a scheming, sharp, seductive tongue—and she could talk on her own . . . but again, he couldn’t help himself. It was too PERFECT. And to hear Queens coming to his aid like that? Ker wanted to laugh aloud. “I wouldn’t dare pretend to have authority over another Alpha’s wolves, but as an Alpha myself, I must say this hostility is unwarranted and offensive. I don’t see an ambush behind me, do you?” All the while, Kershov’s frosty tone remained collected, businesslike.