When Amani woke the next morning, she found herself nestled in Malakai's arms, her head resting on his chest. As she stirred, she felt his fingers tracing the back of her shoulder, where her Alpha mark resided. Looking up, she met his gaze, their eyes locked in an intimate embrace."Good morning, beautiful," he greeted with a smile, his lips tenderly brushing against hers as his fingers continued their gentle exploration of her skin. When their lips finally parted, Amani kept her eyes closed, savoring the lingering taste of their kiss."Mmmm. I could definitely get used to those kisses," she murmured sweetly, her voice filled with contentment."You better," Malakai replied, smirking. However, his brow furrowed as he focused on Amani's Alpha mark, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes."What is it?" Amani asked, sensing his concern and wanting to know his thoughts."Your Alpha mark... it's larger than any I've seen before," he remarked, his gaze still fixed on the symbol."Hmm, perhaps it
Amani reluctantly got up from the bed, her body aching from the passionate encounters she had shared with Malakai. Sensing her discomfort, Penelope prepared a soothing bath infused with essential oils to ease Amani's sore muscles, until her Alpha blood could take over and hasten the healing process.As per Malakai's request, the servants swiftly moved Amani's belongings into his chambers. Just as Amani was gathering the last of her things, Maggie entered the room, her face beaming with excitement.Amani couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Don't give me that look," she said, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.Maggie's enthusiasm was hard to contain. "So, it's true! You and Kai are officially mating?" She exclaimed."Don't say it like that, Maggie," Amani quickly responded. "I'm simply going to be sharing his chambers.""Ah, that's what they call it these days, huh?" Maggie playfully winked at Amani. "I knew you'd eventually come around and give him a chance."Amani paused for a
It had been a long and exhausting day for Malakai. He had finally finished with all the heavy duties of the Royal Court in the late afternoon. Deep down, he wished he didn't have to attend any of them, but his father insisted that these experiences would shape him into a wise and capable ruler. To put his judgment to the test, the King would allow Malakai to make certain rulings. Malakai was always seeking his father’s approval, so the weight of such decisions would often make him anxious. However, no matter how well he performed, the King never gave him any praise or a reassuring pat on the back. Malakai couldn't read the man to save his life, but he clung to the hope that his father’s lack of words meant he agreed with his rulings and proposals.Following his court obligations, Malakai and his patrol were assigned the crucial task of securing the territory. Reports from the Border Patrol had alerted the king to the presence of rogues attempting to infiltrate their land. In their fo
Malakai woke up the next morning, fully aroused by the sensation of Amani's body pressed against his own. With selfless devotion, he pleasured her with his mouth, bringing her to climax before making love to her with gentle passion. Amani sensed that this was Malakai's way of apologizing for their heated argument the night before. She knew how much restraint he had to exercise in order to be this tender with her body.Yet, beneath the surface, she could sense the raw desire and tension in him, aching to take her vigorously as he had done the times before. And so, she encouraged him to give in to that longing. Like an untamed beast, he ravished her body until they simultaneously reached the pinnacle of pleasure. Afterwards, they lay intertwined, his head resting on her chest as she soothingly ran her fingers through his hair, basking in the afterglow of their intimate moment."I'm surprised you don't have a ton of young running around with that stamina of yours," Amani remarked, her t
Amani and Malakai enjoyed their breakfast together in the comfort of their chambers. Malakai was dressed in his regal attire, prepared for another long morning in court with his father. He exuded a captivating charm that Amani couldn't help but be drawn to. Her gaze lingered on him, and he couldn't help but smile, beaming under the warmth of her admiration."Can I go into the city and explore the markets with Maggie and Penelope today? I'd like to pick out some more paints and a few other supplies," Amani eagerly inquired."Absolutely not," Malakai immediately dismissed her request, his tone firm."What if we have a couple of guards accompany us?" Amani proposed, hoping to find a compromise."It's completely out of the question, Amani," he responded sternly. "It's not safe for you to roam outside these palace walls, especially without me. We will not discuss this matter any further."Sensing the sensitivity surrounding the topic, Amani chose not to push the issue. Gone were the days w
Over the next several days, Malakai noticed that Amani had fallen into a deep sadness. She barely ate and showed no desire to venture outside their chambers. Determined to lift her spirits, Malakai decided to whisk her away on another boat ride down the serene Blackclaw River, taking advantage of the beautiful weather.As soon as they set sail, Malakai noticed a remarkable shift in Amani's mood. It was as if the sunlit day and gentle breeze had breathed new life into her. Finding a suitable spot by the riverbank, he skillfully guided the boat to a stop and assisted Amani off the vessel. She marveled at the breathtaking beauty of their surroundings. The daylight illuminated a vibrant tapestry of verdant green, rolling hills, and majestic trees."There's something I want to show you," Malakai revealed, tying the boat to a nearby tree. "But we'll have to continue on foot from here."Amani's gaze shifted to her delicate sandals, adorned with a slight heel. They were hardly suitable for tr
Malakai rose early the following morning, before the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon. Amani was still sound asleep as he tenderly kissed her goodbye, his heart yearning to lay in bed and hold her a little longer. However, he knew he had an important task awaiting him. Accompanied by Archer and a select group of members from his patrol, they mounted their horses and set out on their journey. Although, he could have assigned someone else to carry out the mission, Malakai felt a deep personal responsibility to see it through.They maintained a steady pace, riding until the sun reached its zenith. As the midday heat bore down upon them, they decided to take a break, nourishing themselves with a much-needed meal. Despite his eagerness to return to Amani, Malakai found it unwise to push themselves by traveling all day and night without proper rest. Throughout the journey, he made a deliberate choice to conceal his true identity as the Prince, opting to blend in and maintain
When Amani woke up that first morning and discovered Malakai was gone, she couldn't quite understand the emotions stirring inside her. It was as if Malakai had taken all the warmth with him when he left. Amani had spent most of her life waking up alone in bed, until just over a week ago when she started sharing Malakai's chambers.In such a short time, had she already grown so accustomed to having him by her side? She closed her eyes and could vividly imagine every detail of falling asleep in his arms. The warmth of his breath on the back of her neck, or the sound of his heart beating as she nestled against his chest.She reminisced about the nights when she unconsciously drifted away from him in her sleep, only for him to pull her closer, determined to keep her near for all eternity. As she ate her breakfast alone, she couldn't help but think of the many moments they had sat together in silence, yet understood each other in ways words could not express.She retreated to her art room,