Tarian Alpha (New Tarian Pride #1)(36)

“I’ll give you some space,” Ronin murmured. He nodded respectfully. “Sir.”

Dad watched him go and then wrapped Emerald’s hand in his own. “It’s not like it used to be here. Not anymore. I believe in that one. Ronin. He was just as worried about you as I was.”

“Whatever,” she whispered. “I saw you checking out Rose’s butt when she walked away. That’s the real reason you want to stay.”

Dad shrugged and offered her a remorseless smirk, the silver fox. “Well, she ain’t hard on the eyes.”

“Oh, my God.” She waved her hand in the air. “I’m glad you are alive, but I’m not having discussions about your lady friends.”

“Lady friends?” Dad scrunched up his face. “How old do you think I am?”

“Like four hundred and sixteen years old.”

Dad’s face went comically blank. “You’re grounded.”

Emerald giggled. God, she was so happy he was okay. They could’ve so easily missed this moment. Both of them had been in the heart of the Old Tarian Pride, the most lethal Pride of lion shifters in the world, and look where they’d ended up. Joking in Ronin’s room, her dad tucked in bed with soup still steaming on the nightstand, a fire in the hearth nearby, and an entire Pride outside that would keep them safe.

“I like him, too,” she whispered, eyes on the thread she was picking at on the comforter.

“Ronin?”

She nodded.

“Baby, you always did. He’s the only one I’ve ever heard you talk about. Hey,” he murmured, stilling her hand from plucking at the thread. “It’s okay to let yourself care. I did with your mom, and it was the best decision I ever made. It’s what I want for you, too.”

Her dad’s blessing meant the world to her. He had been her rock for so long, and she trusted him. He was giving his approval, and she wanted to start crying all over again. No one person deserved to be this happy, right? It probably messed with the cosmic balance or something—this much happiness inside of one person.

But then again, who was she to question what was happening? Her dad seemed relaxed for the first time in years, and Ronin’s last kiss still tingled on her lips, filling all the holes that had been in her heart before him.

It was okay to be happy. To fight for something she wanted. For a life she wanted.

“I want to stay,” she whispered.

Dad’s smile was easy and steady, and his dark eyes danced. “That’s what I hoped you would say.”





Chapter Sixteen


The day had been eternal.

It was four in the morning, and down to her bones, Emerald was exhausted. She’d stayed up late talking to her dad and then stumbled out into the hallway to find voices echoing from the kitchen.

She couldn’t help the smile on her face when she saw everyone. The Pride was still awake— Kannon and Terrence and Gray were here. The Daughters of Beasts were also here with Grim, the Red Dragon, Vyr, and his mate Riyah. They were all wearing PJs and gathered around the kitchen island. Ronin wore no shirt, but she couldn’t even be that big of a perv because he was covered in bandages. Low-slung gray sweats hung from his hips, and his hair was all mussed like he’d rubbed his hand through it a bunch.

And even though his eyes were tired, his smile was megawatt when he saw her. “There she is,” he murmured. “Come here. I want you to meet some friends.”

His arm was outstretched, and sleepily, she slipped against his side and rested her cheek on his shoulder. “I’m Emerald,” she introduced herself.

The others introduced themselves, too, and when it came to Grim, he said, “Hey, I remember you.”

“I remember you, too, but you’re really different,” she murmured. “The last time I saw you, the Reaper was new. And terrifying.”

“Yeah,” Kannon said, spinning a half-full beer slowly in his fingertips, “He’s still terrifying.”

“At least you’re on his good side,” Ronin murmured.

One of Grim’s Crewmates, Rhett, leaned toward Kannon and said with a mischievous wink, “Might want to keep it that way.”

Ronin pulled up a bar stool and settled Emerald onto it before he stroked his fingers lightly down her spine and said, “I have to ask, Vyr. Why did you come?”

The red-haired man took a long swig of his beer and murmured, “My son is a Tarian lion. I don’t want him to grow up ashamed of where he came from. If the council was revived with Cassius as Alpha, and the Tarian Pride went back to their old ways, how could he not be ashamed? I want better for my boy. Ronin, I believe you can fix this Pride.” Vyr shrugged. “And if you can’t, then I’ll just burn you and devour your ashes.”

“Hmm,” Ronin said, nodding.

Vyr winked at Emerald and took another sip of his beer, but she was still about thirty-four percent disturbed. She’d seen his dragon on the news and believed he was fully capable of following through with that threat. He would have to go through her, though.

They stayed up for a little while, but eventually, the Pride started trickling away, and the girls in the Daughters of Beasts crew nodded off on the couch. And before she knew it, Ronin was carrying her to his room.

“What happened?” she asked softly.