“What?” I breathe, fascinated and delighted. “Since when do courtesans come to court!?”“They’ve always been here, Everleigh,” Mahl murmurs, not minding, apparently, that I’m not appalled at Margot’s occupation and am, instead, clearly curious. “They just…didn’t come into the circles of Lunas in the years that you were present at court. Things have changed a bit since you have been gone.”“Oh,” I say, looking up at him again. “Why?”And I regret the question immediately when Mahl looks away.I stutter a moment, making awkward noises in my attempt to apologize or find something to say, but Mahl just looks calmly down at me. “A story for another time,” he murmurs as we arrive at the back door to my chambers, the same door through which Tara traveled this afternoon to bring me my coffee.I take a deep breath and try to settle my emotions – my still-burning curiosity, my embarrassment at blatantly asking Mahl why he lets courtesans mingle with his best friends’ wives – before going into m
I roll my eyes at Auden, annoyed by his idea that he can come into my room and dismiss my servants at will. I don’t know what he’s getting at with this power move, but two can certainly play this game.“Great,” I say breezily, pushing past him and heading directly for my wardrobe, thinking about getting into some more comfortable clothes. As I pass through the door, I call casually over my shoulder. “Will you come and help me unlace this dress? Since you sent all my servants away, it’s either that or I sleep in it.”Auden laughs lightly, seeing what I’m doing, but I hear him follow after me. I quickly sit down on a comfortable poufy ottoman in the wardrobe and pull my silk stockings from my legs before Auden walks into the room. Then I stand, turning my back to him and putting my hands on my hips.“You start from the top,” I say, “and work your way down –““I know how to unlace a dress, Everleigh,” Auden murmurs, his voice a little annoyed but not without humor.I laugh a little too a
“Mama!”I gasp as Niall comes barreling into the room. My eyes instantly fill with tears as he leaps for the bed and begins to climb across it towards me. I barely have time to put my wine glass down before my little boy throws himself into my arms, making me reel backward a little bit. Vivi runs into the room as I clasp Niall to my chest, Coco flying after her.“Mommy!” Vivi shouts, likewise running for the bed. “Where have you been all day!”I’m still gasping with surprise and laughter, brushing stray tears from my cheeks as Vivi clambers onto the bed as well. I reach out one arm to her, wrapping her up with it and using my other arm to hold Niall close. “Babies,” I murmur, pulling them close and kissing them each on the head before closing my eyes and taking a deep breath of their scents. “Oh, babies, I missed you!”“We are not babies,” Niall murmurs into my shoulder, “but we missed you too.” I laugh and turn my head again to nuzzle Niall for a moment as Vivi pulls away to settle c
“You can name the horses whatever you want, Vivianna,” Auden says, grinning at her. “Two days from now I’ll send for all of the horse dealers in the city to bring their best and you can pick.”Niall wiggles disconsolately in my lap. I can tell that he is jealous.“Perhaps,” I murmur, loud enough to get Auden’s attention. He looks at us. “Perhaps Niall could go with you, when Vivi picks,” I say softly, hoping he takes my meaning. “Maybe he will change his mind.”“I won’t,” Niall murmurs, his face still tucked against me, but I smile at Auden and nod a little to let him know that he will.We continue like this for a good little while, talking through what their new lives might be like, and Auden and I tell Vivi and Niall all about where they will go to school, and the new children they will meet – including two uncles and an aunt just around their age, which the children find very funny. But before long, I can sense that they’re getting tired.“All right,” I say, working to stand up and
“So,” Auden says, seating himself on the wide balustrade that marks the far side of my little terrace. I move to stand next to him, handing him a glass and then pouring the wine for both of us. “They’re smart. You didn’t tell me that they’re smart.”I take a moment to look Auden over, noting the way he tucks one leg beneath him and lets his other leg dangle, the way he smirks at me when he talks about our kids.I can’t hide my own smirk in response. “Are they?” I ask, playing dumb because I want to hear what he’s thinking.“They can read, Everleigh?” he asks, grinning at me before taking a sip of his wine. “Seriously? At five? I mean, are you exaggerating? Do they just know their letters –“I laugh and shake my head, taking a drink of my wine before I answer. “Test them, if you want,” I say, giving a nonchalant shrug before taking the bottle with me over to a little stone bench across from Auden and settling myself on it. “But they can read - really read. I mean, they’re not going to
I frown, not understanding how whether or not Vivi and Niall are a Prince and Princess is my decision. I lean back on the stone banister, my silence an invitation for him to continue.“Well,” he says, taking a deep breath and running a hand through his hair – a gesture I’m beginning to understand is him working through a problem. “I’ve claimed them as my natural children, which is…fine. They will have Alpha status. But I have not yet marked them as heirs to the realm, which would be necessary,” he says, watching my face closely for a reaction, “for them to be, officially, a Prince and a Princess.”I turn my head to the side, considering this.“My father,” Auden continues, hesitating a little, “would…want to have a say in this. He told me so when I informed him, today, about my plans to claim them.”“Oh yeah!” I say, turning to glare and swat him on the arm, suddenly remembering that little surprise. “Thanks so much for the update on that, by the way! I almost had a heart attack when y
“No, we don’t scent mark mama,” Auden says, turning his smile on Vivi now. “Just you and Niall, because you are special. Yes?”“Mama is also special,” Vivi says, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at him. My lips quirk at the corners to see her defend me, but I just stand up with a pretend sigh, grateful to her for giving me a moment to collect myself.“Mama,” I add, “has a whole shelf of new perfumes. And I don’t want any stinky Auden smells messing with them,” I add, leaning over and wrinkling my nose at my daughter, who laughs.“Dad isn’t stinky,” Niall says, frowning at me. “He smells nice. Like the woods.”I smile at my little boy and don’t bother informing him that I know precisely how nice Auden smells. And that it’s not just balsam he’s detecting in Auden’s scent, but also cloves and sweet orange as well - a combination that’s so warm and rich and delicious that it makes me want to spend my entire day curled up next to -“I’m going to go pick out my perfume now!” I say s
I turn my face away from the Duke and towards the horns that begin to blast in the open field before us, already exhausted by the fact that I have to wonder about international politics before I’m even Queen. But now, with my children potentially in the line of succession, and Auden…But before I can think further on it, the King interrupts.“You look very beautiful today, Everleigh,” he murmurs, dipping his head close to mine so that I alone can hear his words. “The dress suits you well.”I blush a little and look down at the green and gold gown that the seamstresses have made for me today. It really is lovely – less formal than what they dressed me in yesterday, with yards and yards of airy fabric that floats in the wind on the slightest breeze.“Thank you,” I reply, turning my face up to Mahl with a smile. “The seamstresses have really crafted a piece of art with this one. I’m very grateful to be able to wear it.” “It is good to see you smile, little doe,” Mahl murmurs.I look up
“It went off without a hitch, Ev!” she says, laughing and smacking my shoulder, delighted. “Seriously, you are a skilled woman – both in terms of using that powder and…what I convinced Mahl you could do in the bedroom, when properly incentivized.”I burst out laughing, letting my head tilt back with it, relief rushing through me as much as humor. I mean, I figured everything went okay when I didn’t receive any drastic summons this morning. But hearing it from Margot’s own lips is its own relief.“The powder lasted all night?” I whisper, leaning closer.She nods eagerly. “I had to scrub it, Ev, you put it on good. Honestly, do you think my hair still has a bit of a blonde sheen?”I glance at it and then give her a playful shove on the shoulder as I laugh, realizing that she’s kidding. “Don’t be silly.”“Oh, I’ll be as silly
I yawn as I walk slowly through the halls, heading for the great hall where the majority of the Lunas of this castle will be gathered, alongside their children, as is traditional after the Night of the Stag. Some Alphas will come too, but most will stay in bed.And it’s not that I’m necessarily dragging my feet to get there because I’m dreading it or something. I’m just still quite tired after an eventful night.Luckily for me, the day after the Night of the Stag is a long and lazy day where everyone in the palace takes it easy. The children play with their toys together in the hall, Lunas hang out and lounge around gossiping, and Alphas take the time to sleep off their drug-fueled orgy.Everyone just takes the day to do what they need, which is very nice.Viv and I took a long cozy nap after our extended chat about why kindness matters even when it doesn’t reflect your inner feelings. It wasn’t enough, c
I laugh, looking around at my family, eyebrows raised. “Finally?”“Yes,” she murmurs, Niall nodding in agreement. “You finally let daddy scent mark you and you smell much better.”I straighten in my chair, my eyes flashing to Auden, who laughs low and rich, shaking his head at me.Shit. I – I didn’t even put together that of course the kids were going to notice that I smell all over of Auden now until I get a chance to wash it off.God, thank heavens the children are the only ones I’ve seen so far.I laugh too, shaking my head, suddenly anxious to get in the tub even as I lay my cheek on my daughter’s hair. “I didn’t realize I smelled so objectionable before.”“Not ob-jection-bul,” she murmurs, taking a deep and happy breath, turning her face to bring her nose closer to me. “Just better. Daddy s
“And then,” Vivi murmurs, sitting on my lap with her mouth full of toast and butter and jam, reaching for her glass of juice. “Aurora’s mother took my bow away and said I wasn’t allowed to play with it anymore if I was going to keep scaring Aurora –“I grimace and look over at Auden, who sighs and cocks his head to the side, clearly regretting his choice of gifts for the Night of the Stag.Niall stares daggers at his sister from his chair, shaking his head at her. “You were so mean to Aurora and now we won’t be invited back!”“Even if they invite me back, I won’t go,” Vivi murmurs, turning to offer Coco a whole sausage from her fork. “It’s boring there.”“Vivs,” I murmur, reaching out to stop her from giving him so much food at once – but Coco gobbles the sausage down fast, the meat folding in half and going
Auden glances at me one last time as he reaches the door and I pull the dress over my head, hastily standing and tugging at my laces. I duck down next to his bed, ready to hide as instructed, and he nods to me, pulling his bedroom door open and then heading for the main door.I sit down hard on the floor on the far side of the bed, ducking my head so that I can’t be seen above the mattress, my arms twisted behind my back and tugging as best as I can at the stupid strings that will tighten my bodice.When? When will they invent dresses that women can put on without aid so that they can keep their clandestine night adventures to themselves!? “Papa!” Vivi cries. Auden laughs and says something back as Niall likewise shouts his hellos. I smile – I can’t help it – the sound of their voices going right to my heart.My sweethearts, my cuties. God, I haven’t thought about them in…hours.I
Auden lifts his hips fast and rough, pressing his cock up into me one final time. I moan, grinding myself down, my hands pressed to his chest beneath me, my arms trembling as I go to pieces around him, my inner muscles clenching hard as the tension within me comes to its breaking point and begins to unspool.I gasp again and again as that heat pounds through me, my arms giving out and my body pitching forward as my eyes fall shut. Auden’s there in a moment, catching me against his chest and turning me slightly so that I lay on my side. He murmurs something soft but I don’t hear it – or can’t comprehend it – or something - whatever. My brain is again mush and I can’t find the energy to care.Auden shifts behind me for better leverage, his hips slapping hard against my ass a dozen more times before he, too, groans and stills, coming to his end as a few curses slip from his lips. My body responds, my back arching painfully as I press my ass more ti
We lay there for a long few moments in silence, I think just letting our bodies learn the feel of each other in repose, basking in this new warmth. He ducks his head slightly, rubbing his stubbled cheek against my hair in a very fond, wolfish gesture. I can’t help my growing smile, raising a hand to his chest and letting my fingers spread out over his soft skin.God, who knew it would be this soft?Or maybe I did.Maybe I dreamed it.My wolf gives a scanty little howl of joy, curling up in a little crescent shape with her nose tucked under the edge of her tail, completely content.“I’ve thought about this,” he murmurs, letting his body curl around me more completely, pressing a kiss to my hair.“Really?” I whisper, lifting my face a bit to look up at him, grinning.He stills for a moment, frowning down at me. “You’re going to break my heart if you say you haven’t.”I laugh, smacking him lightly on the chest and lowering my face to press my cheek again to his nice warm skin. “So, what
My breath deepens as I keep my eyes on Auden, my fingers deftly working at the leather of his belt, sliding the end through the metal clasp and then tugging it, working it free of the pin. When I slide the buckle free, my hand moves to the button beneath, quickly popping it free of the fabric.Auden watches my face as my hand works, his expression very serious, very…solemn.Like this is some kind of great ceremony.Like this is…a point which when crossed we cannot go back. Which, I suppose it kind of is.But we’ve already crossed at least three of those points already. Honestly, I’m so far in with this man that…this tiny step? This last little leap?It just feels inevitable. Natural and right.Auden’s hand moves slowly up my arm as my fingers work at the series of little buttons on his fly, slipping each one free. He keeps his eyes on mine, even as my hand slips around to his side, my thumb again running along the waistline of his pants. When I reach his hip, I press the fabric down.
“What are you doing?” I gasp.“It’s easier this way,” he murmurs, settling down on top of my legs. He pauses for a second, but then his fingers wrap again around the edges of my dress, pulling it down a little lower so that half of my booty is exposed.“Auden!” I gasp, my head flying up.“Calm down, Everleigh, this is strictly medical. I just need to see the extent of the bruise.” His voice is low, entertained.“Oh, I hate you,” I murmur, tucking my head back down against my arms, my cheeks flaming.“No, you don’t,” he murmurs, making me smile. A soft scraping sounds, the lid of a jar being unscrewed, and the balmy scent of mint and eucalyptus fills my nose. “This will be cold.”I sigh and nod, consenting to it, thinking that sounds quite nice against the hot ache growing in my lower back. But I still gasp at the first t