Blackstone Ranger Scrooge - Alicia Montgomery Page 0,68
stories before. Don’t you think it’s time that … perhaps … we should focus on what we have now.” He motioned to J.D. and Cam. “And lay the past to rest.”
Natalia’s lower lip trembled. “But—”
“Babushka,” Cam interrupted. “Perhaps—”
“No.” All eyes turned to J.D. as she said that one word.
“Love,” Cam began. “You—”
“Nuh-uh.” She wagged a finger at him. “You don’t get to decide how she feels or how to act. I believe you, Your Highness.”
Natalia’s eyes shimmered with tears. “Thank you, kotyonok.”
Turning to Aleksei, she crossed her arms over her chest. “I’d like that favor now, Your Majesty.”
Aleksei’s blond brow rose up. “Favor?”
“Yeah, the debt you said you owe me.”
“J.D.!” Cam warned. “Not now.”
“Yes, now,” she insisted. “Please. Your Majesty. Just … just have someone check it out. I mean, surely you could send someone to investigate this lake.” She gestured to the two burly guards behind him. “You got any more of those hunks? They look pretty capable.”
The king continued to stare at her. “The Dragon Guards of the Northern Isles are the fiercest and most loyal warriors of my people. They are not errand boys.”
Arabella snickered, which prompted J.D. to glare at her before turning to Aleksei. “Are you going back on your word? About that debt?”
“I—” Aleksei looked flummoxed.
The queen, on the other hand, suppressed a smile. “She’s got your there, my king.”
He let out a defeated sigh and closed his eyes. Immediately, one of his dragon guards stepped forward. The man was easily one of the tallest and widest men Cam had seen, dwarfing even the king. His hair was a shock of bright red, eyes a bright piercing green.
“This is Rorik,” the king introduced. “Current Captain of the Dragon Guard. Rorik?”
“We shall endeavor to investigate the claims, Your Majesty,” Rorik declared.
“Great!” J.D. clapped her hands together. “That’s all we want. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Aleksei’s expression turned amused as he and Cam locked gazes. “A mate should be someone to balance out your personality and complement yours. To make up for what you lack.” He shook his head. “I wish you well, cousin.”
“Don’t worry, J.D., Princess Natalia,” Sybil said. “I’ll personally check in on the progress of the investigation for you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Natalia’s voice choked up. “And thank you, kotyonok.”
J.D. beamed at her. “You’re welcome.”
“Oh my,” Arabella sneered. “Bribing a king. Surely there’s a law against that somewhere.”
J.D. turned bright red. “Who the hell asked you? Why don’t you just shut your pie hole for once?”
“I’m positively shocked.” Arabella’s mouth shaped into an O, and a hand landed on her chest. “Tsk, tsk. Profanity is so unladylike.”
Cam knew J.D. would not back down, so he placed a hand on her lower back, which was promptly shaken away. Anger radiated from her, and he could swear her cat swiped its claws at him.
“Is that so?” J.D.’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Oh, pardon me, your ladyship,” she began in an exaggerated imitation of a posh British accent. “But would you be ever so kind, if it would please you, to go fuck yourself.”
“J.D.!” He grabbed at her hand, but she evaded him. “Your Majesties. My deepest apologies.”
“Don’t you dare apologize for me,” J.D. warned, her face an alarming shade of purple.
Arabella, on the other hand, was obviously loving this turn of events. “Perhaps you and your little mate should excuse yourselves, Cam,” she sneered.
He bit his lip. “Majesties. Your Highness. Uncle.” He couldn’t even look at his uncle’s face. He could already guess the older man’s disapproval at his mate’s antics. Cam was supposed to elevate their status among the high society, and it was obvious J.D. would not be doing the Dashokov name any favors with her crass behavior.
J.D. turned on her heel and started walking away, not even waiting for him. He followed her through a set of glass doors that led to the outside. Hopefully, the cold air would temper her anger.
She stopped suddenly, her back remaining to him and so he, too, halted.
“Was that really necessary?” he asked. “Did you have to be so vulgar in front of the king and queen? And my family?”
She whirled around; face twisted in anger. “Your ex-fiancée started it!”
“But you didn’t have to rise to her baiting! I thought you were smarter than this. Couldn’t you have controlled yourself? I know you and the queen are friends, but you could have displayed some restraint in front of my uncle.” Wasn’t she the one who wanted to make this work? To ensure there was no cause for