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Chapter 24 - Pillow Talk
Last Updated:
2023-10-10 08:16:58
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The Alpha Queen's Deadly Secret Chapter 25 - Right Next Door
“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
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“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
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“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
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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The shift happens in an instant, as it does with all of us, but this wolf is particularly adept. The moment the flash subsides he is already in the air, taking advantage of the flare of light in his opponent’s eyes.Mahl cheers beside me, clapping hands at this bold move. After all, it’s a gamble – against a weaponed man, a wolf has only his teeth, his claws, and his wits. But in this case, as the wolf’s paws slam into his opponent’s shoulders, it seems to pay off.The wolf’s opponent goes sprawling, yelling as he hits the floor, his sword flying wide. The wolf bares his teeth, snarling down into the warrior’s face and snapping his teeth. The man hesitates and then sets his head back against the ground, clearly signaling his defeat.The crowd shouts with excitement as money changes hands and the wolf transforms back into his human body, his clothing and light armor preserved as they were before the change. He lifts a fist in victory, yelling with joy, and the crowd screams along with
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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
