Chapter 342 – Jealousy (2) Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan “......” The sparkle faded from Leah’s eyes. It had been difficult to successfully eradicate the slave trade, and now counterfeit coins were being manufactured. The counterfeiters would regret their crime when she caught them. She would have them executed in the public square. A severe punishment that would serve as an example, so no one would ever even think of trying it again. Pulling out a fresh sheet of paper, Leah wrote a letter to Count Valtein, offering her observations about the counterfeit coins, and also asking him to investigate the man she had met in the bookstore. Sealing the letter with wax, she set the letter aside. She was considering going to have her bath when the office door suddenly burst open. “Mama!” There was only one person who would make such a racket moving through Estia’s palace. “Lesha!” Though he had often been reminded of his etiquette, the boy often forgot when he was excited. But Leah decided to save her scolding for later. “You’re back early,” she said. “I ran ‘cause I missed mama,” he said, hurrying over to her chair before she could rise. In one hand, he extended his trophy for her appreciation. “Look, look, mama!” The bird he had hunted was nearly as large as his own body. It might have even been bigger if its wings had been extended. “See, I did it like this!” Lesha stalked across the bedroom, demonstrating how he had come across the bird on the ground, then snapped its neck. The little boy’s eyes glittered with feral pleasure. The bigger he got, the more evident it was that he had Kurkan blood in his veins. The boy could not be judged by normal human standards. Leah bent to congratulate the little Kurkan on his first successful hunt. “Well done,” she said. “You are a true Kurkan.” When his mother stroked his head, Lesha’s eyes grew large, and he shoved the dead bird onto her desk with both hands. “Mama! For Mama’s pre, pre, present!” He exclaimed. He was so excited, it took him a few tries to get the words out. “Thank you, Lesha,” Leah replied, as Mura nudged the little boy. Even though the animal wasn’t actively bleeding, it wasn’t good manners to put dead animals on the Queen’s desk. “Lesha, that’s not nice,” she began, but Lesha looked up at her and puffed out his cheeks. He liked it when Morga squeezed his cheeks like that, it made a funny noise come out of his mouth. “Why don’t we have it for dinner tonight?” Leah intervened quickly. “We can eat the animal you hunted, Lesha.” “I will cook it well,” Mura agreed. “I’ll also tell everyone about his kill, so everyone in the palace will know he is a brave hunter.” “Yes,” Lesha agreed at once, handing the bird to Mura. She took the bird in one hand and Lesha’s hand in the other. “You need a bath, my prince,” Mura said. Lesha was smeared all over with dirt. As the two left the room, Leah was surprised to see Ishakan leaning against the door frame. “Ishakan. When did you get here?” Ishakan gave a slightly crooked smile as Mura quickly slipped past him with Lesha, shutting the door. It left Leah and Ishakan alone in her office. Normally, he would have come over at once to kiss her and tell her all about his day. But now he just stared at her, silent. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” Leah asked, rising cautiously. “Sit down.” Leah sat back down in her chair instantly, and Ishakan strode toward her, placing his large hands on the desk on either side of her. His shadow fell over her as he leaned forward, looming, and Leah had to tilt her head back to look up at him. His head bent, nuzzling his face in her neck. The tip of his nose brushed against her skin, and her shoulders twitched. Ishakan inhaled thoughtfully, and a strange nervousness swept over Leah. She stiffened. Suddenly, she felt like a cornered prey animal. Ishakan’s voice was deep when he spoke. “You smell like tobacco,” he said, lifting half-lidded eyes to look at her. His eyes were filled with a bright golden glow, and he smiled, showing his teeth. “It’s not mine.”