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71b - Voice
Last Updated:
2025-01-16 02:45:48
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The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 73 - Ice
“Are you…are you serious,” I whisper, snatching the pamphlet up and holding it close to my face like getting a better look is going to change the words or something. “He’s…is this true!? Is he coming here!?”“Looks like it,” Margot says. I lower the pamphlet to see her grimacing a little. “I can take it that…you and your ex didn’t leave things on pleasant terms?”I groan, dropping the pamphlet and again burying my face against the blankets. Because…bad terms is not an adequate phrase to encapsulate what happened when I called off my engagement to Alpha Wood.Catastrophe would be better. Brink of war? Threats of eternal damnation and the destruction of my family? Each of those is…closer to the point.“Oh, baby,” Margot murmurs, patting me softly on the back. “What could it possibly matter? You’re going to be a Queen now, and you’ve got Mahl behind you. No one can say a word against you. No matter what Wood says or does, you’re coming out with the upper hand.”I take a deep breath, real
Last Updated : 2025-01-16The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 74 - Wood
I grin, thinking that they very much would. And that I’d die of anxiety watching them hurl themselves around on it, worried about them falling and breaking their bones.“Does it really get cold enough to freeze it solid like that?” After all, Mahl and his court come south to this winter palace because it’s more temperate than the north.“Oh, I’ve got methods to help it along,” Margot says. I turn back to her and she gives a little wink. “I’m a poor little winter girl at heart. I’ve got my methods of having fun.”I tilt my head, smiling at her, betting that she’s right.“So!” Margot says, giving me a bright smile. “How are you feeling about the Night of the Stag?”I groan again and she laughs.“Honestly, Everleigh,” she murmurs. “Don’t you enjoy anything?”“I enjoy peace, quiet, and…predict
Last Updated : 2025-01-17The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 75 - Melt
Vivi’s eyes are wide as she watches the chocolate melt slowly in the little copper bowl that Auden holds out over the fire. He uses long tongs to keep the bowl suspended so that the flames just barely lick the bottom. Niall watches closely, his eyes moving between his father’s steady hand and the bowl itself.My daughter stays concentrated on the treat. “Can we eat it yet?”“No!” I say, laughing as I kneel next to Auden, likewise watching, loving this. “It has to get all melty, and then we can add some cream, and then dip the fruit into it –“I gesture over to the plate of fruits that I ordered up to the room, ready and waiting on a towel spread on the floor. Coco lays next to it on a pillow that Vivi set there for him, innocently pretending that he’s not sneaking a strawberry every time we turn our eyes to the fire.“Nooo!” Vivi moans, her hands balled into lit
Last Updated : 2025-01-18The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 76 - Plans
I settle in next to Auden, handing him the glasses of wine we set on the bedside table forever ago and promptly forgot about.“This is nice,” Auden murmurs, glancing at me before taking a sip of his wine. “I used to do this with my mom. It’s…nice to do this again with them.”Warmth spreads through me at that idea – I love that this little activity lets him relive such a pleasant memory. And again, I wish quite desperately that I could tell him the truth…But. I don’t know. Even after my failure, a big part of me realized that opening that secret to Auden would be very complicated. How would I even convince him that my words were true – that he is their father – if he has absolutely no memory of that night?Would he just…write me off as some kind of madwoman? Or my attempt to convince him of his paternity as some kind of new scheme?I would
Last Updated : 2025-01-18The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 77 - Trust
Auden narrows his eyes, turning fully to me, his hand tightening on his wine glass. “You can’t seriously think I’d change my mind about this, Everleigh.”I just stare up at him, anger starting to stir in me. “You haven’t let me in on anything –““And the first thing you jump to is that I’ve quit? That says much more about you than about me –““Hey,” I growl, stepping closer, lifting my chin. “There is no reason to make this personal, Auden –““You did that!”“I asked a question! You’re the one who got mean!”He snaps his mouth shut and turns away from me for a moment, looking down at the ground. I exhale slowly, glancing inside, not wanting the kids to have noticed mom and dad fighting. But luckily, they’re still distracted by their treat.Even if Co
Last Updated : 2025-01-19The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 78 - Engaged
Auden looks down at me with a frown. “Seriously?”I frown too, shaking my head. “Yeah, Auden. Seriously.”His confusion increases. “What the hell does that old man have to do with anything?”I laugh. “Auden, he’s younger than your father –““Yeah, but he acts like he’s about eighty. Eighty and content to sit in his tower all day, counting his coins. He’s not a threat, Everleigh – why on earth would we need to talk about him in secret?”“He’s…not a threat?”Auden shrugs. “Wood’s desires always lean towards the largest profit. He’s predictable and easy to appease. Why would you care that he’s here?”A slow smile spreads across my mouth when I realize that…Auden has no idea. But even as I grin my heart sinks because…those first three months of my pregnancy being h
Last Updated : 2025-01-19The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 79 - Pleasant Dreams
I study Auden, considering that there are many things I regret in my life. But that night? And the children that resulted from it? It’s not one of them.Auden hums, considering, his eyes moving over me. But his expression has no true judgment, no disdain. Just some pleasure, I think, in getting another piece of my story. And, clearly, a piece that I don’t share with many.“Good,” he murmurs, meeting my eyes. “I’m glad you didn’t go forward with the wedding. Business and marriage don’t mix.”I tilt my head to the side. “A very romantic consideration for a Prince.”“If anyone’s the romantic here, Everleigh, it’s you,” he murmurs, his eyes slipping over me again. “Breaking an engagement and raising your lover’s secret children in a cottage by the sea rather than being unfaithful?”“It wasn’t about being faithful,” I whisper, utterly serious.He raises his blue eyes again to mine. “Have you been unfaithful to him, then?”“He’s dead. You know this.”“Then to his memory.”I still for a mome
Last Updated : 2025-01-23The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 80 - Memory
For half a second I consider finding my way across the roof. Surely I can catch the end of bath time. But…then I will almost surely find a way to mess it up and plummet to my death.Which is…nonpreferred.I sigh, turning over on my side, hoping for sleep. I stare at the little cakes Margot left me for a moment, wondering if I should…“Ah, screw it,” I murmur, reaching out and taking a tiny cake, popping it in my mouth. It’s just a bite, and if it helps to send me off to sleep quickly so that my mind doesn’t curl down into a doom spiral of all the things I’m worried about…so much the better.I exhale, close my eyes, and pray for sleep. It comes quickly, even as I sort through my memories, some of which are more vivid tonight than they’ve been before…_ _ _**Midwinter, 5 and a half years ago**“What…what are you talking about?” Auden whispers, still shaking his head. “You’re not getting married.”I bite my lip, guilt racing through me. “I am.”“To whom!?”A smile starts but then fades
Last Updated : 2025-01-23
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The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret 110 - Eat
I nod, pushing myself up and not letting my mind turn too much on the idea that Auden is inviting me to bed. We do this sort of thing all the time – let the children sit and entertain themselves by the fire while we move back here to have our own chat. The kids only glance at us before turning back to their books, not noticing anything amiss.I settle back against my pillows as Auden stretches his long body out over his side of the bed –God. I’ve got to stop thinking of it that way. None of it is his side.But then he glances at me, looking toward my pocket. “What’s that?”“Note from Mahl,” I murmur, patting it.“Do you need to read it?”I turn toward him, frowning a little. “Do you…want to see it?”He hesitates for a second and then shrugs, declining the offer but I think a little pleased that I made it. I study him for a second
The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret 109 - Sincere Apologies
“Auden,” I whisper, starting to tremble a little as he looms above me. Slowly, I lift my hands from the door, my heart pounding as I reach for his face. But I hesitate – not daring to touch. “I – I’m fine! Nothing happened! I’m fine – we were fine!”Auden groans, his shoulders starting to tremble now as he turns his head sharply to the side, pressing his eyes shut and swallowing hard, clearly pulling himself together. “Foolish and reckless, Everleigh. As usual.”“I’m sorry,” I whisper, shaking my head, meaning it. “I’m sorry – I didn’t think! I…wanted to spend a day with my friend – like I used to. Angeline and I used to go riding in the woods all the time! It was –““Unguarded? You went riding unguarded with Angeline?”I hesitate, dropping my han
The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 108 - Reckless
“Oh, my apologies for the profligate waste of your youth,” I return, rolling my eyes at her.“Thank you,” she says, nodding sharply.Niall hesitates, glancing back at the books, clearly liking the homework and not wanting to let Vivi know.I sigh, glancing at Auden and then back at the kids. “All right, all right,” I say, shooing them back toward the fire. “If your instructor wants you to do it you’d better listen.”They both turn – Niall pausing to give me another hug before he darts back to the books and Coco. Coco nudges Vivi’s page, looking at it curiously and wanting it turned, almost as if he’s reading along with her.“What do you think about this?” I murmur, frowning and leaning closer to Auden as I watch my children turn their focus on what looks like quite large and serious set of books for two small children on their first week of school. “Is this really the best –““Everleigh.”The words fade from my lips as I turn my face up to his. I’m proud of myself for going only a lit
The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 107 - Pleasant Surprise
“That little bag of powders and potions is an arsenal in the right hands,” Margot says with a sigh, rolling her eyes a bit. “But whatever, Everleigh, you’re the Queen and you get to do whatever you want -”“Margot.” My voice is solid as I stop my horse, reaching for her and wrapping my hand around her wrist. She stops her horse too, turning to me in the saddle, curious but wary. “I have nothing,” I whisper. “Nothing in this world to protect me – Mahl has taken it all away. Except for gold and jewels. And it might seem like that is a resource – but Mahl has largely closed my lines of contact so that even if I have gold at my fingertips I have nowhere to spend it. So if I can trade a bit of that, and better your mother’s life, and build myself a tiny arsenal of minor spells that maybe – maybe I can begin to use to protect myself…would you really deny me that?”Margot’s shoulders slump as she looks at me, a sad frown taking her lips. Then she shakes her head. “No, Everleigh. I’m sorry. I
The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 106 - In Service of the Queen
“Whatever my rich old Alpha wants,” Margot says with a happy sigh. I shift my stare to my friend, my hands wrapped around my cup, because…Honestly, I’ve never heard her say before that she expected to marry. And an Alpha? I mean, it’s not completely unheard of – there are stories of Alphas who as a last act of defiance to their greedy families take a low-born wife far too young and pretty for them.But is that really Margot’s plan?She grins at me, perhaps seeing me put it all together, and gives a saucy wink – letting me know that it is.But Mindy lets out a wolfish little growl, shaking her head. “You need more than that, girl. Your potential –““Is fine,” Margot says, rolling her eyes. “Let me live my life, mother.”“I wish you’d listen to me.”“I wish you’d listen to me.
The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 105 - Tea
“Oh my god,” I whisper, leaning across the table to get a better look at Margot’s mother’s face. She grins at me again, showing a set of straight white teeth. “You’re…you’re the woman, from the cart…”She laughs, her eyes crinkling in the corners, blending in with the wrinkles that otherwise crease her face. “The woman from the cart – yes, my finest moniker, the name my mother dreamed I would bear –“I laugh a little, sitting back, my cheeks flushing – because that was rude – but Margot laughs too, harder than me, and a glance at her happy face lets me know that it’s all right – I haven’t truly offended anyone.My friend looks between me and her mother, interested. “Wait, so really? My surprise introduction isn’t so much of a surprise?”“You tell her,” the woman says, gesturing to Margot a
The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 104 - Recognition
My eyebrows raise as a rough little laugh sounds, echoing around the grove as my horse walks away from me, revealing a very small grey-haired woman standing before her door, her hand fisted on her hips. I blink for a second because…do I…But a wide grin stretches her features as she looks me up and down, disrupting the thought. “So,” she says, quite cheerful. “Are you one of my fancy daughter’s fancy friends?”I laugh and dip into a little curtsy. “I suppose I am.”The woman steps closer to me – peering up into my face. I am not particularly tall but she is particularly short. One corner of my mind considers that Margot’s father must have been a giant to get a daughter so tall –But there’s no time to think about that as the woman steps forward, sniffing the air, reaching for me. “Hands, please,” the woman orders, her own held out palm up. I barely hesitate before slipping my hands against hers, but she hastily turns them over and brings her face close, studying my palms. “I see, I se
The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 103 - Home Visit
I push back the hood of my cloak a little, looking around the shady grove into which we ride.“Just ahead!” Margot says, laughing a little, clearly pleased to be home.But…home.God, I knew Margot came from humble beginnings but I didn’t think she honestly lived in the wilderness like this. Everything around us is just wild - woods and trees – a pretty brook with waters tumbling over its rocks in a lively, cheerful way – sunlight falling through the leaves and dappling the floor. Not a sign of civilization anywhere – not even a road leading to this little clearing.But it’s…beautiful.Honestly nearly the entire ride here I've just been worrying so much about Auden - what to do, how to fix this - but now that we're here -God, all I can do is just...stare at the beauty all around.As I nudge my horse further forward, following Margot’s own mare, I wonder if I would have liked to have grown up in a place like this. Such freedom but also such…boredom. I don’t think I would have made it w
The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 102 - Kitchen Witch
I lean towards her, studying her face. “I’ve never even heard of something like that – a substance that makes you able to sleep and dream so vividly – and then to share dreams. It’s like something out of a fairy tale!”“Just like me!” she says, fluffing her hair and giving me a smug, joking smile before she laughs. I laugh too, unable to help it. But then she leans towards me, her face sweet and a little conspiratorial. “Look, Everleigh…Mahl forbid little tricks like this years ago, but that doesn’t mean that everyone stopped using them. And the women in my family have been doing this sort of thing for years – we didn’t just give it up because some big bully king told us to.”My eyes widen as I realize what Margot is truly telling me – that she comes from a tradition of magic users and makers – the sorts of women whom Mahl would mark as witches an
