XADEN POV Patrolling the rest of the area went by well enough. Once Nicholas had said what he needed to say, he’d calmed down significantly and otherwise left me alone for the most part, unless to point out certain parts of the border that had been weakened during the attack. Nor did he bother
At one point, I heard some of the newer recruits engage excitedly with Henry. “What an honor to be in your presence, Your Highness! I’ve always been inspired by your ambition and courage, even when the going gets tough!” “That’s the only way to live,” Henry boasted. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t d
“Well, look who’s suddenly all interested in political affairs once again,” Henry sneered, leering closer to me. “Last I thought, all you could think about was that girl you brought in.” The way he talked about her made my blood boil. “She’s going to be my mate,” I spat. “She’s not just any girl
XADEN POV The moment I entered my bedroom that afternoon, I instantly gravitated towards my mate, who was seated near the open window overlooking the back gardens. Before she could even begin to greet me, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. Despite her initial surprise, she responded in ki
Maeve fidgeted under my gaze. “Um… actually, no. No, I… I haven’t,” she admitted, shocking me. “Sarah hasn’t either,” she added quickly once she saw surprise flicker across my face, “but she’s only just turned eighteen.” My inner conflict deepened in light of this new revelation. It was entirely
MAEVE POV Whenever Xaden kissed me, it was like I was enveloped by my own little slice of heaven. His touch, his voice, his scent… I couldn’t get enough of it. His hands roamed underneath my shirt, spreading across my bare lower back, digging gently into my skin. I shuddered, gasping against his
I let out a short laugh. Even I could hear how ridiculous that was. Of course, only Father could have been so dubious, so cruel to decide such a thing. Perhaps it really was just another tactic used to control me. To inspire fear inside my heart and to keep me from doing—and wearing—whatever I ple
XADEN POV “I must admit,” Burke said with mild distaste, taking in our surroundings, “I was not expecting to return to Moonstone for the foreseeable future. And I certainly did not expect you, of all people, Xaden, to want to come back, especially after how the last visit went.” “Believe me,” I
When his eyes found mine, his expression softened. “Maeve,” he said, staring around my face, his eyes wandering to my hair and then back to my eyes. “You look different.” “It’s her natural look, Daddy,” Charlotte said proudly, giving me an encouraging smile from across the table. He studied me f
Maeve’s POV I was nervous as we headed towards the palace. We were having dinner with Xaden’s family, and this would be the first time seeing them since I was in the hospital. Xaden didn’t seem as worried as I was, but so far, good experiences at family dinners with the royals have been limited. I
“I was on your team!” He growled, nearly shaking the entire dungeon. “I didn’t want you to continue making a fool out of yourself. Do you have any idea how important our image is right now, and you fucked it up, Isabelle! I’m in the running to be the next Alpha King. These next few months are crucia
Maeve’s POV I hadn’t noticed Charlotte slipping out of the room, but as soon as I turned around, I realized she was no longer standing at the doorway. I peeked up at Xaden who stared down at me with such sincerity that it made my heart skip a beat. “You love me?” I asked him, my heart thudding v
“You won’t need to worry about her going after Xaden,” she continued softly. “I know that’s why you left. You should know that Xaden doesn’t want her. He never did. It’s you he wants, Maeve.” I blushed at her words. “I want him too,” I admitted. “I shouldn’t have left like that. I should have st
“I took another paternity test,” I blurted, without giving him much of a warning. “Because I left… I took another test. I was going to show you the results but…” “I know,” he said, cutting off my words before I could say anything more. I furrowed my brows. “You know?” I asked him, confused.
Maeve’s POV “You’ve been dying your hair this whole time?” Xaden asked, his eyes wide as he studied me. I felt hot in the face under their scrutiny, and I hated that they were all staring at me like this. I knew I should have told Xaden the truth about me, but I couldn’t find it in me to do it. Tr
Xaden hugged me even tighter and kissed the top of my head. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “She can’t hurt you anymore. I won’t let that happen.” “What about Henry?” I asked. “He’s not going to be happy that his wife is in a dungeon. I’m assuming that’s where she is.” Xaden nodded. “That’s where
Maeve’s POV Once I was dressed, it was like a tornado of people flooding into the room. At first, I was a bit overwhelmed by the attention, but after a while, I started to relax. The first person who ran to me and wrapped her arms around me was Charlotte. She had tears in her eyes, and she hugged