For a moment, Candace thought Jana was joking.

But no. The cat was serious!

“Ummm. Haha!” Candace gave a nervous laugh. “I’ve never thought about that before. I’m actually quite happy with my husbands though.”

Jenna leaned back, her eyes crinkling in amusement.

“Well, if it makes any difference, I only said it to disqualify myself so the Emperor wouldn’t continue to pressure me into marrying your husband Jared.”

“In the same way you disqualified yourself at the final Avgo event?”

Jenna’s tail twitched. “By that point, I had realized that the Crown Prince was completely yours from the top of his hair to the soles of his feet. The grand prize no longer appealed to me.”

She waved a hand with a regal air. “And besides, we’ve fought together against a common enemy. In my world, where jungle rules are abided by, we’re now comrades.”

Candace nodded, remember the time when they had chased after the man who had tried to assassinate her.

“I wanted to thank you for helping me that day, Jenna.” She indicated at the present that was on the table next to the cat.

“Please accept this gift as a sign of my gratitude.”

Jenna looked down at the gift box.

“You’re the bride. I should be gifting you something.”

“Please open it.” Candace gestured again.

Jenna reached out for the small box and tugged on the bow, undoing the ribbon around it.

As soon as she pulled the lid off, Jenna’s eyes teared up.

Nestled within the black velvet of the box was a yellow topaz replica of the Avgo gemstone that had disappeared the day the Prime Avgo Female had been announced.

It was now once again in her hands.

“I took the liberty of having Jason create a replica of the Avgo gemstone you possessed. I hope you’re—”

Jenna jumped up and grabbed hold of Candace in a fierce hug.

“I retract what I said. We are not comrades. We are sisters!”

Candace smiled into Jenna’s furry shoulder.

“We’re sisters.” She concurred.

Jenna pulled back. “Were you able to keep your Avgo since you won?”

Candace laughed. “The Avgo split itself into seven shards and embedded itself into my seven husbands.”

“What?” Jenna gasped. “So what will happen next?”

Candace shrugged. “I started sleeping with each of them and the shards came back to me.”

“Oh my Lord!” Jenna breathed. “And have you collected all of them yet?”

Candace shook her head. “I have one more to collect.”

“Well then what are you waiting for, Woman? That’s the most important thing you have to do, and you need to do it NOW!!!”

Jenna sprang up. “Who is the missing Prince?”

“Leo—Leonardo.”

“You need to call him here now. Do it!” Jenna insisted.

“But—But we’re sisters having a pleasant lunch…”

“Call him now. I will stand on guard while you collect the final shard.”

“But our food hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Forget the food, Candace. You need to collect that shard and you needed to have done it weeks ago!” Jenna shook her head.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking and why you waited so long. There is nothing more important than this. I mean…what if he loses that shard?”

“How can he lose—”

“I don’t know!” Jenna threw up her hand. “Off the top of my head, I can think of a few scenarios. Want to hear them?”

Without waiting for Candace to respond, she began listing them on her long carmine clawed finger.

“He could have a wet dream in the middle of the night and accidentally expel it onto his bedding. He could get too horny and can’t wait till the wedding and decide to jack off in the shower.”

Jenna’s eyes lit up. She was on a roll.

“He could be accosted by some girl who wants to be his next concubine and be forced into having sex with her. He could even just be in physical need and grab some random pussy and kitty-style her for sexual release.”

Candace stared at Jenna with a horrified expression on her face.

“I need to call him.”

“Yes!!!” Jenna agreed.

With a trembling hand, Candace pulled out her command pad and called up Leonardo. She could not contact him with her mind because he had not shared the mind link with her yet.

His breathtaking handsome face appeared on visuals immediately upon her call.

“Sweetheart. What are you doing?”

Candace smiled. “I’m having lunch with my sister, Jenna. I need to talk to you about something.”

Leonardo’s aqua blue eyes warmed. “I’m listening, Love.”

“Leo. Can you meet up with me?”

Leonardo nodded. “Where and when?”

“Now. In my bedroom.” She took a deep breath.

Leonardo blinked. “Aren’t you and Jenna having lunch right now? Wouldn’t I be—intruding?”

Jenna shook her head and bared her fangs. She waved her hand in protest.

“Not at all!” Candace gave a forced laugh. “She and I are almost finished.” She lied, even as Jenna nodded and gave a thumbs up.

Leonardo did not look convinced but he nodded.

“Okay then. I’m finishing up with one small thing. I’ll be at your door in…” he glanced his time piece. “About fifteen minutes.”

“Hurry!” She prodded before finishing the call.

“Now, quickly.” Jenna ushered Candace back into her bedroom. “Go in there and wait for him. I will be on guard and take care of all the attendants and the servants so they don’t bother you.”

“But you just got here and—”

“Hush.” She placed a hand on her lips. “Get your last shard and then we’ll do something fun together to celebrate you getting your Avgo gemstone back together.”

As Candace disappeared into her bedroom, Jenna turned back to all the attendants who were still setting up the first course of the lunch.

“The Imperial Princess is going to be busy with one of her husbands in their room.” She announced with regal authority.

“If any one of you value your heads,” her red-tipped claws sprang out with deadly intent. “You will stay away from Princess Candace’s room and you will tell all your staff to stay away until further notice.”

Jenna swept her hand in a grand gesture.

“Go!”