Claudius' perspective With Caspian standing behind me, both of us looked up at the chopper that the realm sent to pick us up. “You can still change your mind, Alpha. If you come to this event, swear your loyalty and bow your head to his heir, every influential family who'd be at the party will make you a laughingstock.” I glanced at him and lightly patted his shoulder. “This is why I am bringing you with me.” “Because you want me to do what?” “I need you to memorize every single person who'll laugh at me while I am struggling to make it on top. When I am their King, I'll punish them all.” My jaw clenched. “Did you really think that I wholeheartedly wanted to do this? I don't. Do I have a choice? None.” My eyes trailed the chopper that finally landed on the helipad, and the sigil of the Regulus made my jaw clenched. “The old saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemy closer and this is me doing that. Our warriors and deltas wouldn't be enough to fight them face
Claudius' perspectiveCodrus chuckled at me while my eyes remained serious.“What a bizarre choice of words.”“Bizarre it may sound, but that is the truth.” Codrus shifted in his seat and slightly bent his upper body forward to the table.“To your eyes, it may seem like I am treating you like a pathetic dog, but it doesn't change the fact that being my pathetic dog gives you power and a slight control over the realm.”
Eero's perspectiveA pair of ladies in waiting were flocking at my head, ensuring that they were perfect for occasion.I breathed deeply, and my world stopped spinning for a moment.“Claudius?” I whispered my mate's name. Standing up from my chair, the shifters halted their hands.“What's wrong, Princess Eero?” They asked.“Did you smell it?”
Eero's perspective“Claudius won't harm you nor your claim. A deal between us has been made. You'll be fine, sweetling.”“And you believe him? Are you believe that the son of the shifter that you killed in order for you to acquire all of this will easily make peace with you?” I asked him to knock some senses off his head.The Alpha King glanced at where Claudius was, and my eyes remained on him.“He didn't make peace with me. He struck a deal. I had to lose big things to
Eero's perspectiveIf only I could roll my eyes at him, I would have done it already. I sighed and maintained my composure.“Please tell me that you didn't give him every single thing that he asked from you,” I said and opened my eyes. Codrus looked away from him to devour his steak, and I knew what his silence meant.“The shares. How much did he ask from you?”“Twenty percent.”&ldqu
Eero's perspective Claudius simpered as I sloped my head, because he just got easier access to my lips this way.His hands were busy undoing the ribbons at the back of my dress while he nibbled my lower lip mercilessly. “Turn around!” Claudius commanded. Although I wanted to establish my dominance towards him, my wolf picked up his side.“Good girl, Eero.” He was satisfied as my body obeyed his order honestly.I shut my eyes closed and swallowed a lump in my throat, my body squirming with his goaded touches.“I wonder what the Alpha King will do once he finds out that his precious heir is my little whore.” Claudius hauled my hair, whispering to my ear.His rough tongue then kissed and wetted my neck.“Claudius...” I moaned his name in need of something that I couldn't find the right word for.“Yes, your grace?” Claudius mocked at me playfully as his lips and tongue marked my neck up to my jaw.“What do you want, baby? Tell me. I'll be glad to meet your every need.” He stopped kissing
Eero's perspective“Let's go and meet the Alpha King. He must be very worried about my safety,” I initiated, dragging Aelice away from Claudius.For a short period of time, it was just the clacking of our heels echoing in the empty, silent corridors, until she halted and turned to me, giving into her curiosity.“Claudius Cormac was the one who brought you to safety?” Aelice inquired in disbelief."Yes, it's him." I admitted honestly as she had saw me and Claudius coming out of the same room. There was no point lying to her now.“We were dancing when the attack happened. Everything just happened in a blur, and the next thing I knew was that I was in the study with him.”"Oh, how lucky! This is really gentlemanlike of him!" Aelice nodded her head, smiling. But from Aelice's eyes, I could tell that she didn't buy my story completely.After meeting the Alpha King and assuring him that everything was all right with me, I excused myself and retreated to my room.*****On my way to the dinin
Eero's perspectiveI nodded numbly as Claudius' eyes shot dagger at me.“I know a dignified shifter from a prominent family. His name is Miguel. I see the two of you will make a good pair. Also, he'll be a sure help to ensure your smooth ascendence to the throne.” The Alpha King put down his knife and forks, proposing seriously.I stopped cutting the pancake on my plate, my eyes fluttering up to Claudius and then bouncing to my expectant father."Tell me when you feel ready about it. I'll hook you up with him.” He continued, not intending to drop the topic unless I voiced out a positive response.Left without a choice, I wetted my lower lip and beamed."I'm fine with it. I'd like to meet him and see if I want him as a second chance mate.”I gripped on my knife as my heart thudded loudly. After breathing out slowly to keep myself composed, I chose to fix my eyes on my plate when Claudius stormed out from the dining hall.“You'll see if you want him as a second chance mate? Liar! You ca