Chapter 240 Who is Jealous of Whom?
The morning training session had concluded, and the boys were finally walking away from the training grounds, still damp with sweat, the morning sun climbing over Dravengard.
Derek strode at the very front of the group, flanked closely by Declan, Kai, Connor, and a small handful of senior Gammas.
“Now that she’s back,” Derek was saying, “and carrying my heir, the Queen’s security is my highest priority. I want it airtight. Connor, choose your most trusted, capable and strongest warriors to guard her. Handpick them yourself. I want men you’d stake your own life on.”
“Consider it done, Your Grace,” Connor replied.
Then he cleared his throat. “But… what exactly are we supposed to do about Gavin? That stubborn guard her brother sent along to look after her? To be honest with you, the guy is getting right on my last nerves.”
Kai burst out laughing, slumping his arm over Connor’s shoulder. “Oh, come off it, Connor! Do you honestly think you’re the only loyalist in the world? Kira and Gavin clearly grew a bond while she was living in his pack. Let the man do his job.”
Connor snorted, rolling his eyes so hard it looked painful. “And what kind of Alpha turns his own head Gamma into a mere bodyguard and ships him off to another pack? Isn’t that madness?”
Derek shot him a look. “So you mean I’m mad, then. For wanting you, my royal Head Gamma, to guard the Queen?”
Connor’s mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again as he realised the hole he’d just dug for himself, while Declan and Kai shook silently beside him, shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter.
“No,” Connor said quickly. “No, that’s… it’s different.”
Derek eyed him. “Tell me exactly how it’s different.”
Kai swooped in to the rescue, grinning ear to ear. “Derek, you must know by now that Connor is just jealous of Gavin. He’d say anything to undermine the man’s position. It has nothing to do with you at all.”
“Who is jealous of whom?” Connor huffed. “Please! The boy cannot even stand where I match. I could flatten him in the ring in under two minutes.”
Declan chuckled. “Are we talking about physical strength here? I thought the whole competition was about whom the Queen loves most.”
He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Because I’ve seen how she plays with the fellow. They seem pretty close. In age, I mean. Very well matched.”
Derek suddenly coughed.
“What the fuck is going on?” he gritted out, halting and shooting his Beta a glare that could have melted silver. “Are we still discussing security details or not? Why are you suggesting their closeness in age? What has age got to do with anything?”
Declan opened his mouth and closed it again, visibly at war with his own straight face and losing.
Kai, on the other hand, was completely unable to contain himself and kept laughing even louder, completely unbothered by the glare.
“I just don’t like the guy, alright?” Connor muttered, crossing his arms. “He’s doing too much, hovering over the Queen like he is the best guard ever. He is going to suffocate her with his presence.”
Derek exhaled. “I suddenly don’t like him either. And if he must stay in my pack, he must be humble.”
Kai shook his head in amusement, enjoying how ridiculous the two powerful Lycans were being.
“But from everything I’ve seen so far,” Kai said, smirk widening, “he hasn’t challenged anyone. He shows deference when it’s due. Honestly, he seems like a perfectly okay guy.”
“Shut up,” Derek and Connor said at exactly the same time.
Kai only laughed harder, doubling over, and Declan finally lost the battle with maintaining a straight face and joined him.
Derek glared at his Beta. “Even you? You are supposed to be the sensible one.”
Declan raised both hands in surrender, wheezing. “I’m on your side, Your Grace, I promise. But this whole conversation is far too funny not to laugh at.”
***
A few minutes later, Derek had showered and changed into casual clothing, and he made his way down to the kitchen for breakfast.
When he stepped across the threshold, he found Ishita standing by the counter. She had already prepared a sumptuous spread of food that covered almost the entire table.
Pancakes, eggs done three different ways, fruit platters, pastries, porridge, sausages, grilled fish and something steaming in a pot that he couldn’t even identify.
“What’s the occasion?” he asked.
Ishita turned around with a warm smile.
“Good morning, Your Grace. The Queen was still asleep,” Ishita said, wiping her hands on her apron. “And I couldn’t very well wake her to ask what she wanted. So I decided to make everything, and let her choose whichever she prefers.”
Before Derek could say a word to that, Kira’s sweet jasmine scent drifted into his nostrils. Leo, instantly perked up, wagging his tail. The scent was immediately followed by the sound of laughing voices, and he turned.
She walked into the kitchen, dressed for the day, her hair still damp from the shower and falling loose over her shoulders.
It struck him, with a small, unexpected pang, that this was the first time he’d seen her wear her hair down since their meeting again. She looked softer this way. She looked like before.
Then his jaw tightened as his eyes fell on Gavin, who walked in right behind her.
Kira swept into the kitchen in her usual bright fashion, greeting Ishita and the kitchen staff by name, all bubbliness and warmth, entirely unaware of the storm cloud gathering by the table.
“Oh, wow, so many foods. It looks incredible!”
Gavin bowed respectfully to Derek, then moved toward the table to pull out a chair for Kira.
But Derek moved with the speed of a striking predator. He quickly intercepted the Gamma, using his shoulder to aggressively shove Gavin aside, and pulled out the chair himself with a very tight smile.
Kira’s eyes darted back and forth between Gavin, who was now bowing slightly to cover his surprise and retreating a step, and Derek, who stood gesturing graciously at the chair as though nothing whatsoever had just happened.
She made no comment as she settled into the seat.
Derek turned to Gavin. “You can leave now,” he said. “Your protective services aren’t needed inside the kitchen. I’m man enough, and very capable, of protecting my wife over breakfast.”
Gavin bowed once more and left without a word.
Kira watched him go, then turned and stared at Derek. “Why on earth are you bullying him?”
Derek’s face arranged itself into perfect, wounded confusion. “Bullying him? I don’t believe I did anything of the sort. I simply asked him to leave the kitchen. Politely.”
Kira laughed quietly and shook her head at the childish behaviour, reaching for a pastry. “I clearly know what I saw. You literally threw your shoulder into him.”
“The boy is far too arrogant,” Derek said, taking the seat across from her. “And arrogance won’t be tolerated inside this palace. He needs to know his place.”
Kira’s eyes went wide. She actually gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. “Gavin? Arrogant?”
She let out a disbelieving little laugh. “No. No, I think you’re hallucinating, Your Grace. That man bows to the furniture. Just say you don’t like him and stop inventing character traits for the poor fellow.”
Derek, finding himself with absolutely nothing left in his arsenal, gestured at her plate.
“Just eat your food.”
He picked up a spoon. “Why are you and Kai always on the same page, anyway?” he muttered.