By the Horns by Rachael Slate Read Free Book Online

hadn’t been able to resist last night, but she hadn’t either. Sleeping and all that. Awake, she’d never let him touch her. She shouldn’t. He had bigger concerns, like saving the world.
    The grunts and thuds of sparring greeted his ears, as familiar to this place as the jasmine incense perfuming the halls.
    “Hey, guys.” Fang met them at the gym doors.
    “Hi, I’m Nat.” She stuck out her hand.
    The Chosen of the Rat gave it a brisk shake. “Fang. Welcome.”
    “Thanks.” Nat smiled.
    Kassian jerked his chin at the gym. “The others inside?”
    Fang shrugged. “Probably.” He swung open the doors to the main gym and groaned.
    Kassian scanned inside. On the mats, Lucy straddled Sheng, their lips about to press.
    Nat bumped his shoulder and curled her fingertips around his arm to peek into the gym. Kassian stiffened at the contact while Nat stifled a laugh. “Are they usually like this?”
    “Nope.” Fang swung a grin at Nat. “Usually, they’re fucking.” He rolled his eyes at the lovers and grumbled, “I’m so outta here.”
    Nat laughed as Fang trudged back in the direction he’d come. Her chuckling drew Sheng and Lucy apart.
    Kassian advanced, scowling at the pair. “Save it for the bedroom, yeah?” He didn’t so much mind not getting laid but, bloody hell, did they have to flaunt their—very active—sex life in front of him?
    Lucy hopped off Sheng and plastered Nat with a bright smile. “You made it. I mean, of course you made it. We knew you’d be fine.” She scrunched up her nose. Lucy possessed the Rabbit, and occasionally, no filter.
    “We didn’t doubt for a second you’d come through.” Sheng rose next to his girl. He slid one hand around her waist and she leaned into him. Their intimacy seemed effortless, subconscious even.
    Kassian tore his gaze from the pair of fucking happy lovers to survey the center of the room. The spaces between these walls were empty without Mei. Even with the addition of Delun to their numbers, without Mei… Hell, he couldn’t even look up at the elaborate tree fortress Monkey treasured.
    “You up for sparring or what?” Kassian cracked his knuckles, directing his request to Sheng. After the past day, he had more than enough frustration built up.
    A familiar clack of heels halted in the doorway. Sheng smirked. “Actually, you two have a visitor.” He clasped Lucy’s hand and the two of them squeezed past him and Nat to exit the gym.
    “Matchmaker?” Nat’s voice chimed as Kassian spun to face the manipulative bitch. Why the fuck was she here? Hadn’t she already done enough?
    Despite his desire to tell her to piss off, he clamped his jaw shut. He was already on her shit list. She’d probably placed a curse on him as punishment.
    “Natalie. Kassian.” One fine brow arched as she waited their deference.
    With his hands fisted at his sides, he inclined his head. “To what do we owe this pleasure?” he grated between clenched teeth. Kassian glanced to the side, but Nat beamed as if glad to see the woman. So much for standing together.
    “I have your next assignment, Natalie.” She clutched a manila envelope in her hand. “If you’re up to it?”
    He tensed. “What about the training?”
    The Matchmaker’s sly perusal shot to him. “Oh, this is your training.” One red nail tapped the envelope. “Since you seemed concerned about Natalie’s ability to control the Snake, you are in charge of her.”
    Great. This was to be his punishment? To run around, fulfilling the Matchmaker’s grocery list of hits?
    So much fun. He couldn’t fucking wait.
    “Besides, it’s better to keep Natalie out of Penang until we can prove to the Council the Jade Emperor bestowed the Snake upon her. We wouldn’t wish for any suspicion to fall upon Lucy, hmm ?”
    He raked a hand through his hair. She had a point. If any of the Council members met Nat before she’d learned to control her spirit, they’d ask one question too many. The Council had