her with their annoying presence.
Beside him, Amelie got to her feet. He felt her delicate touch on his wrist and realized his fist was clenched. “I don’t want another scene, Sulen.”
“Full means full, can’t you understand?!” A’shar’s bass roared across the place as he stormed from what Sulen assumed to be the kitchen area.
His gray skin was dark as slate, his large hands fisted at his side with each slamming step he took toward the group. The ambassador had the good grace to appear embarrassed while Roan straightened his shoulders and demanded, “Are you in charge? We wish to have the experience of enjoying Dorian food. We need a table.”
Fleur whimpered and dug her nails into Sulen’s skin. It was Roan’s voice she was reacting to. He’d scared her by approaching her at school then again at the community center and now he was behaving in a way designed to intimidate and bully those around him.
Sulen had never liked bullies. He dropped his free hand to the spinning star at his waist. One flick and he could end Amelie’s problems.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
She dropped her gaze to his hand on the projectile weapon. Her face was pinched and pale. Not quite trembling like Fleur but definitely scared. Sulen released a breath and gave her a chin lift. He was definitely tempted to pay the ambassador’s son-in-law a special visit but didn’t need the added attention.
“Let’s go,” Amelie said, tugging on his wrist.
He entwined their fingers and moved toward the door. The only exit was the front door and they’d have to pass the group.
A’shar was arguing with Roan and Aviana added commentary. The ambassador stood off to the side, not adding but not deflecting the confrontation either. Weak. Sulen sneered in his direction as they got closer. The ambassador ducked his head and turned away.
They were almost to the door when Roan happened to look up. His eyes bulged. Sulen needed his hands free and nudged Amelie with his shoulder. “Take her.”
It was a tussle because Fleur refused to release her grip on him. He eased her into Amelie’s arms. “It’s alright, sweetling.”
Once she was cradled in her mother’s arms, face still hidden from the trio at the entrance, Sulen placed a hand on the hilt of his blaster and guided Amelie forward with his other.
“Hey!” Roan shouted.
“Keep going,” Sulen muttered to Amelie.
As soon as she was through the door, Sulen stopped and turned. Roan was on his heels. The prick actually thought to follow Amelie. Sulen made sure to block the way out and stayed directly in Roan’s path. “No.”
Roan stretched to see around Sulen’s shoulders, wildly gesticulating. “That’s my daughter. I have every right to see her.”
“She’s mine, not yours. Amelie already told you that and her claim is the only one that matters here.” The lie rolled easily from his tongue. Sulen had no problem refusing this fool any claim on the two females he wanted to protect.
A’shar crossed his beefy arms over his broad chest and grunted. “I have helped raise the little one. Everyone knows Sulen Czen bond mated Amelie before they arrived here. We don’t know you. You’re an outsider.”
Roan sputtered, his face going from vivid red to a deepening purple. “None of that changes the fact that she lied.”
“What’s your daughter’s name again?” a voice called out.
Staff and customers alike glared at Roan. The reaction was far stronger than the one Amelie received at the community center event. Sulen could only speculate that Roan and Aviana hadn’t endeared themselves to the citizens of Covard during their stay so far.
The validity of Roan’s claim was now in doubt. Adding insult to injury, it was clear seeing the blank look on Roan’s face that he couldn’t recall his own daughter’s name. Sulen snorted and shoved him back. “Stay away from Amelie and Fleur or else.”
“I want a test!” Roan shouted to his back.
Sulen had one hand braced on the partially opened door. Standing outside, Amelie held Fleur to her chest, dismay darkening her eyes. She’d heard Roan.
“If the girl’s not mine, Amelie should agree to a test on her parentage,” Roan challenged.
Chapter 11
Sulen rushed toward Amelie and hurried them home, Roan’s demand echoing in his head. Amelie shook beneath his hand at her waist as he waited for her to enter the code and open her door. It took two attempts. Fleur had fallen asleep in her mother’s arm. There were dried tear marks on her cheeks.
“I’m going to lay her down.”
Amelie was gone before he