Auden stares at the floor for a moment, not really knowing how to answer Everleigh’s question. Because he is shaken up by what happened last night – more than he wants to admit. Not so much his father’s violence – that he’s seen before.But her response to it – and…And how right she was, asking that question about whether his violence was part of his nature or just something he’s chosen to believe his whole life because it’s easier.God, he’d been up half the night turning it over in his mind.“Auden?” she asks, and he clenches his jaw, realizing that he’s been staring at the floor for too long.“I’m all right,” he says, raising his eyes and meeting hers, willing her to believe it. Because he is, really – he’s been shaken up before, he’ll be shaken up again. But what matters is that he’s…steady. That he’ll hold it together, for the kingdom, for the children…For her, if she’ll let him.But the way she stares at him now, her hands in fists at her side…He sighs, not knowing…what he wa
I don’t let myself hesitate, though. It won’t be good for Mahl to see me as someone who is trying to work around him, picking the best answer.I want to present to him what he thinks the perfect Luna and queen should be: simple, pure – generous of spirit and always, always supporting her Alpha’s choices, whatever they may be.Complete bullshit, of course – but a role I’m well accustomed to playing. I’ve been doing it most of my life.“I think,” I say, looking down at my plate and picking up a fork, poking around at a few pieces of melon. “That you are sorry for scaring me a little last night. Which you did.”“I am sorry, little wife,” he murmurs, leaning forward, his voice soft. I turn my face back towards him, letting him see a little sadness there. “Tell me,” he urges. “What did you think of it?”“I think it was more violent than I’m used to, but I think the man deserved to die,” I lie softly. “I think the people saw that you take a hard line when it comes to your family, the things
My mouth goes a little dry as I panic –Because this is absolutely what I did not want –I do not want, in any way, Mahl drawing lines between Auden and me. Perhaps if enough time passes I can pretend that our friendship and my relationship with the children grew naturally over time –But it looks like that plan has been neatly foiled, doesn’t it?Working hard to not let my panic show, I force a smile onto my face and take a step toward the King without any idea what the hell I’m going to say.But Vivi – thank goodness – saves me.“Grandpapa!” she shouts, dashing away from the gigantic horse and throwing herself at her equally gigantic grandfather, Coco flapping to keep his balance on her shoulder. Vivi wraps her arms around Mahl’s leg and beams up at him while Niall works to hide behind me, still afraid. “Make daddy let me have the horse! He says it’s too big, but it’s not!”Mahl laughs down at Vivi and then bends to scoop her up into his arms. “Really?” Mahl says, considering Vivi c
“I was surprised to find you here,” Mahl says softly, his heavy arm still wrapped around my shoulder as we walk back to the palace. “I had heard Auden ordered horses to be brought and assumed he was selecting for the Betas. I hadn’t expected the children, but your presence was the true surprise.” “I met them in the hall in the children’s wing,” I say casually, which was not a lie. I don’t bother to mention that I went to the children’s wing looking for them. “Vivianna mentioned they were choosing horses; Auden invited me along.” “You know,” Mahl says, pitching his voice low and raising a hand to hook a finger beneath my chin. “If you like children that much, we can give you one of your own.” I blush then, genuinely. Because the last thing I want, honestly, is to give Vivi and Niall a new sibling that’s both brother and uncle. And I do not want, at all, to participate in any activities that would allow me to get pregnant with that child. Mahl laughs at what he perceives to be my co
Mahl laughs a little. “Now you know all our secrets,” he murmurs to me. “Though we’d appreciate it if you kept this one discreet.”I tear my eyes from the fascinating women who have entered the room, not bothering to point out to Mahl the irony of what he just said – because, of course, I am a Luna, or am about to be. What sort of secrets will he be keeping from me?But, well. I guess I’m not one to talk.The women who enter the room now are people who have no rank at all, or are Deltas at best, and I find myself utterly fascinated by them. These women who mingle with the most powerful men in the kingdom - what on earth are their lives really like?The courtesans quickly make themselves at home, many moving to the sides of their favorite Alphas who greet them warmly and wrap arms around their waists. Some courtesans, I note, decline to make the first move, instead settling themselves mysteriously by the fire or on couches, waiting to be approached.My eyes brighten in particular when
Twenty minutes later, I’m anxiously pacing back and forth in my room when a knock comes at the main door. I laugh a little, darting over to it, glad it’s this door and not the private one leading to the Royal passages.I whip the door open and give a little squeal of joy to see Margot standing there, a bunch of papers under her arm, a bottle of red wine dangling from her hand.“Readyyy?” Margot asks, lifting the bottle with a wink.“Margot!” I say, laughing and reaching for her, pulling her into the room. “You didn’t have to bring anything – obviously, I have wine here.”“Oh god, Ev,” she says, laughing a little. “Not nearly enough for what I’ve got to show you.”“Really?” I gasp, reaching for the papers. “What is there –““Ah ah!” she says, turning half away with a smirk so I can’t reach the papers and holding the bottle of wine out towards me. “Drinks first. Pornography second.”I laugh, grinning at her and taking the bottle over to my little cart of liquor and wine, quickly un-cork
I purse my lips, considering Margot’s offer to answer the inner door to the Royal passages of the palace long enough that she jumps out of her seat, turning towards it.“Oh, sit down!” I scold, laughing as I get up myself and give her a mock little shove back towards the chaise. Margot grins as she takes her seat again, gathering up the pornography into a single stack as I hurry towards the door, knowing that it must be answered – and that it must be me that answers it.As I pull the door open, I sweep into a curtsey before my intended husband, masterfully managing not to spill my red wine as I do. “My King,” I murmur.“My Queen,” he says, and when I straighten up I’m pleased to see him smiling down at me – in a good mood, apparently. “It is good to see you in high spirits.”“Please, come in if you would,” I say, gesturing towards the room, wanting to ensure that he sees that I have company before he says anything that I wouldn’t want her to hear.But, of course, being who he is, Mahl
“I propose that you…offer me to him,” Margot whispers, a little scandalously, “as a gift. Until the wedding. To save your chastity or whatever,” she says, flipping a hand in the air like the details of my reasons don’t matter.“How on earth would we do that?” I whisper.“Easy. The next time he insists you come to bed, just…bring me along. We’ll go from there.”“Margot…” I say, still staring at her in disbelief that this could be…a real offer.“This is what I do, Everleigh,” she says quietly, reaching out and cupping my cheek in her palm. “I give people what they want. What do you think?”I take a long moment to think about my response, about the stakes of this.But really – what could it hurt to try? The worst he can do is refuse the “gift” and then I am precisely where I am. Besides, I’m still planning to leave as soon as I can – perhaps all I need is a distraction to buy me a little more time.“If you’re honestly willing?” I say quietly, hoping my expression honestly conveys that sh
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
**Midwinter, Five and a Half Years Ago**I move my hand slowly up and down Auden’s cock, reveling a little at the feel of it thick and heavy against my palm even has half of my attention is on his mouth, moving fervidly over mine. I moan – just a soft, throaty noise - completely overwhelmed by him. The size and sheer power of this Alpha –God damn it but I want him. Heat builds low in my body, a fluttering tension growing in my core.Auden’s hips flex, pressing himself tighter against my palm, stroking the length of that fantastic cock against my hand as he leverages himself above me, his weight held up on his forearms as he finishes kicking his pants off, leaving them in a heap at the other end of the couch.He pulls his mouth away from me for a moment, panting, looking down into my face. And I see him hesitate, even as I continue to stroke him. His eyes flutter shut for a moment as I move
Auden kiss Everleigh fiercely, intent as his hand moves over the bodice of her dress, feeling the shape of her beneath the fabric. His hand slips around to her back, fumbling with the laces there as Evie kisses him back, their tongues pressing against each other in a way that makes him…absolutely insane.All the thoughts slip from Auden mind as Everleigh shifts in his lap, sliding her thigh over his so that she’s again straddling his hips, her face leveled slightly above Auden’s so that his head tilts back just as she kisses him. Somehow his fingers fumble with the strings, pulling at them, feeling them loosen –But he’s not sure how his hands manage that – because all of his thoughts are entirely overwhelmed by the scent of her filling his nostrils, the need he has to touch her skin, to get these stupid clothes off her, to see her – his mate – bare for him –Naked, entire
**Midwinter, Five-and-a-Half Years Ago**Auden just stares at her for a long, long moment. The most beautiful girl he’s ever seen, without a doubt. Here, in his arms, looking up at him with her clear blue eyes.Then, to his shock, her hands keep moving. He looks around for the mask – where did she toss it? But it’s nowhere. He’s distracted by the thought as her hands move over her hair, his eyes going wide as –As the color leeches out of it –Auden’s jaw is hanging open by the time she lowers her hands to her lap, grimacing a little. “Blonde,” she says, glancing upwards like she can see it – all the lovely sunshine hair tumbling from her head, landing halfway down her back.“What…the hell…” Auden whispers, completely rigid with shock.She grimaces. “You don’t like blondes?&
He shakes his head. “I don’t even know Angeline. She seems very nice – and fun. I think I will like her, I just…I can’t believe they’re having a kid.” He exhales, running a hand through his hair, staring off into the distance as he processes it.“Your first sibling,” I murmur, my brows rising as I sip the last of my whiskey and put the cup on the floor. “Do you want a brother or a sister?”He smirks and turns his eyes back to me. “I want you to stop distracting me.”I grin, caught. “But it’s such a fun distraction.”He laughs, leaning towards me and reaching out, wrapping his wide hand around one of my ankles. “Fun for you. I’m still tortured.”“Oh, come on,” I say, shaking my head and letting my red hair fall around my face. “We can discuss baby names. They could name your new sibling after