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
I actively dismiss the idea that he could know anything, not wanting any of my doubts and fears to show on my face. Instead, I raise my chin and glare evenly at the Duke.“You are welcome in our Kingdom,” I say to the Duke who still smirks at me. I allow a little challenge to come into my eyes to let him know I won’t cow before him. After all, as Auden pointed out this morning, I outrank him. I outrank…pretty much everyone.“Though,” I continue, my expression cold, “I would warn you against making claims on things that are not yours. Vivianna, Niall,” I say sharply, turning my head to look at them. “Come with me now. We’ll get you something to eat.”And as I move away my children trail behind me, following eagerly in my footsteps as we move towards a refreshment table on the far side of the tent.“Believe me, my Queen,” the Duke calls after me. I stop in my tracks and turn to listen as my children come to my side, my chin still held high. His smirk deepens as he raises his goblet in m
I look at him wide-eyed and then down at my leg, which is perfectly smooth.“How did you do that?” I whisper.He shrugs. “It’s just a dream. Things are…the way I want them to be here.”I smile at him, liking that, even though it’s the opposite – things are as I want them to be. But I suppose that it’s not much of a surprise that the Auden in my dream world fixes things for me. “Come here,” I whisper, opening my arms to him, wanting him close.Auden complies, crawling over me again until our faces are even, his body above mine. To my delight, he moves a hand behind my back, lifting me slightly and dragging me down on the bed until I’m fully beneath him, lying flat. Then he lays his long body out against mine, every inch of him against me warm and delicious.I hum, slinging my arms around his neck, terribly pleased as he brushes his stubbled cheek along the length of my shoulder, nuzzling me softly, tingles starting where he touches and spreading out all over my skin.“You have no idea
I sigh and take a tiny cake off the edge of the plate – a pale green one – and pop it in my mouth. I smile when I discover that it’s pistachio, the flavors rich and complicated on my tongue.“There’s cake?” Vivi gasps, leaping up onto the bed. “Nobody told me there was cake!”Niall gasps and jumps to his feet.“No no,” Auden says, laughing and putting the cake back in its drawer. “This is adult cake. It helps mom sleep.”“Mom, you have a secret cake drawer!?” Niall asks, looking between me and the bedside table, appalled.“I want one,” Vivi whispers, eyes wide.“You’ve created monsters,” I say, laughing and looking up at Auden.“You’re the one with a secret cake drawer,” he murmurs, shrugging and licking the last remnant of frosting from his finger. I laugh a little harder.“All right, come on, pups,” he says, turning to the kids. “Let your mother sleep – I’ll pack you into your beds tonight.”“Night, mommy!” Vivi says, crawling across the bed and throwing herself into my arms. Niall
“I win!” Niall shouts, smacking his hand down hard on a big pile of cards between him and Vivi. Coco squawks, rustled out of his nap by the sharp sound.“No!” Vivi shouts, appalled. “Niall! You cheat!”“I’m not a cheat I’m just fast –““I’m way faster!”Niall just laughs, victorious, leaning towards his sister and picking up all the cards, pressing them tight to his chest in a messy, triumphant bundle. Vivi groans and falls snarling to the carpet, anguished.“Rematch!” she shouts. “We have to play again! You can’t win!”“I can and I did and I will win again – I’ll win six hundred times!”“Deal!” Vivi shouts, whipping herself up again and pointing vehemently at the floor. “Deal again, Niall! I hate you! This was a mistak
My eyes move over Auden as I frown, taking in the muscled length of his body, all steady and strong stretched across my bed. “Why?” I ask, words tense. “Should I not be worried about the Night of the Stag? Did you do something?”He frowns. “No, Everleigh, I didn’t do anything –“I huff a sigh, turning my face back towards the children, who ignore us.“Seriously, Everleigh!” Auden says, stuck somewhere between frustration and humor. “Why do you care so much – it doesn’t have anything to do with you!”I gape at him and he laughs lightly like it’s no big deal.“It’s just going to be Mahl, and his buddies –““And you!”“Because I am obliged to be there,” he says, leaning towards me, his humor dropping a little. “And like, a bunch
To my surprise, no summons to dinner and festivities comes from Mahl that evening. Instead, I’m brought a sensible little supper in my rooms alongside a note from the King saying that his war council is running late. I gleefully pack up the little dinner, taking it with me across the rooftop to the children’s suite where I cuddle Niall and Vivi in my lap and hear all about their trials and victories on their first day at school.The same happens the next night, and the night after – to the point where I’m starting to wonder if Mahl has gotten sick of me. I mean, a pleasant turn but…One which I’m not sure I fully believe. Margot has been coming to breakfast, after all, filling me in on her activities. Apparently, Mahl has been calling for her at midnight and beyond after long days in meetings – wanting someone willing in his bed, I suppose, instead of a reluctant bride whom he has to coax and seduce.She told me that their meetings have been consis
I stare up at Auden, because he can’t possibly mean that he wants me to come to him tonight -But he frowns a me, confused, and my wolf slumps to the ground of my soul with a wolfish little moan of mortification. Because yeah! He can’t possibly mean that! It’s just me, with my filthy dream-addled little mind that was thinking that he could have wanted that.I clench my teeth against a groan.“Are you all right?” Auden asks, stepping forward, reaching out a hand to support me.“I’m fine,” I sigh, stepping away and turning towards the center of the children’s room, walking unsteadily over to Vivianna’s little bookshelf and placing the tiara on top. I take the opportunity of my turned back to pull myself together, my wolf regaining her feet and shaking out her fur, newly determined not to be such a mess.“So…” Auden says. I turn to see him watching me, still leaning against the wall, expression bemused. “Are you com
“Mom won’t let me wear my tiara!” Viv shouts, stepping towards her papa, knowing he’s the easier mark. She lifts a hand to her head as she goes, holding the too-large diamond-encrusted headpiece on her blonde hair. I sigh as I watch, thinking that such an incredible piece of jewelry is far too fine for a little girl who is definitely going to drop it on the floor at any moment.Honestly, she should just give it to me. You know. For safekeeping.“Why on earth do you want to wear a tiara, Viv,” Auden murmurs, looking behind him and tossing the hand towel onto the table by his own room. “You’ll be playing and learning –““Because it is pretty!” she snaps. “And mine!”Auden grimaces, looking first at the clock and then at me, opening his mouth. I step forward, my jaw dropping, because I can see the concession on his lips.“Don’t you dare, Auden!” I snap, pointing a finger at him and glaring hard. “She ca
I blink awake, staring at the ceiling of my castle room in the dark, grief rushing through me alongside awe.Because that dream…it was so vivid. Like I was…there, feeling everything in the moment like it had been real. The feel of his skin against mine, god damn it, I felt it. It was like…a memory relived, more than a dream.I sigh, turning my face to the side, looking over at Margot’s good-dream cakes, wondering if the name is a lie. Because while the events of that dream were fairly fantastic and I have woken all limp and languid as if I really did just have the best sex of my life…God, but that’s cruel. To give me an experience that was so real, to which my actual life will never, ever live up. My wolf howls, wanting me to close my eyes so I can go back to that dream – but I shake my head, knowing that I can’t.How had the little cake
He snarls, pleased, a predator now as he thrusts himself hard into me, claiming me with every stroke. My entire body shakes as I gasp again and again, what’s left of my mind ringing with the truth of it – with how fucking good and right it feels to make myself his, to give myself completely to him, to his pleasure –I feel it, somehow, building in him as it builds in me. My breath is nothing but fervid little gasps as he pounds me harder, his hand wrapped in my hair, pain mingling with pleasure as I dig my nails into the flesh of his back, begging him for more. I curl against him, my entire body tensing with every stroke, and I feel him watching me – taking pleasure in my helpless gasps as he strokes again and again –He growls, a command as I come to the end of it and I moan – heavy and true, my eyes pressed shut, my teeth finding his shoulder as that tension winds so tight –His fingers press