59

Well, if he thought I would debase myself like that before the commitment of marriage, he was a fool.

I squared my shoulders. It was only dinner. If the king tried for more, I’d simply stop him. Whatever strangeness had happened between us in the privacy of the woods would not be repeated— especially not in a context like this.

“Are you ready, milady?” Rue asked.

I nodded. Amity opened the door, then the girls shifted into their wolf forms to escort me through the halls to the king’s private quarters. His quarters were near the center of the manor, on the top floor, away from the hustle and bustle of the court’s daily activities. The wolves led me up a gorgeous staircase to a small private landing, which led to a plain wooden door.

As I stood in front of the door, my palms began to sweat.

This was really happening. The last time I’d been alone with the king—that kiss—

No, I couldn’t think about that now. If everything went as planned, this would be the last time I’d spend any time alone with the king. Just dinner. Once he spent time with Adora one-on-one, he’d fall for her. She was the right choice. I swallowed, ignoring the way my wolf whined internally at the thought.

Amity bumped her nose into my palm, then tipped her head at the door.

Right. I couldn’t stand here all night.

I knocked on the door. The wolves turned and trotted away, leaving me alone for the space of a breath.

And then the king opened the door.

He was dressed in slightly more finery than I was used to seeing him in: fine black slacks, with a deep purple shirt open at the collar. His dark hair was loose around his handsome face, and he had the delicate gold crown on, as if I could forget his standing in this court. Despite his fine clothes, his feet were still bare on the floor, as if part of him could never commit to being completely refined.

Some part of him always wanted to be physical, animal.

“Good evening, Lady Reyna,” he said, his voice low.

My wolf was alert and overjoyed to see him. Despite my worries, the draw was still there. I couldn’t help but remember the way his hands had felt on my waist, and the heat of all that muscle pressed against me.

His eyes flashed gold briefly before settling back into their usual deep chocolate-brown. Was he thinking about it, too?

“Good evening,” I murmured. The king stepped out of the way and welcomed me into his quarters. The space wasn’t too large, but it was luxurious, with a dining table set up in the center of the room, a sitting area by the roaring hearth, and big windows with the curtains half-opened so the light of the full moon shone in. From the top floor, the snow-dusted trees of the forest were visible.

It was so quiet, the sound of the crackling fire was all I could hear. The king set his hand at my bare lower back. The contact burned. “Please,” he said. “Take a seat.”

I took my seat at the dining table, which was laden with tasting plates and low candles. It was different than the meals I’d had so far: smaller portions, different meats, spices that smelled more exotic and curious than the fare the Nightfall Court usually served. Immediately, my interest was piqued.

“You look lovely this evening,” the king said in his low rumbling voice.

“Thank you,” I said. “Can’t say I had much to do with the choice.”

A wolfish grin flashed across his features. “Not what you would’ve chosen for yourself?”

“I don’t know what I would’ve chosen,” I admitted. “I’ve never worn anything like this.”

“Well, it suits you,” he said. “A she-wolf of Nightfall should always look so elegant.”

I nodded, then cut my gaze down to the floor. My wolf preened from the compliment, even though I wasn’t a wolf of Nightfall. Not yet. Hopefully not ever. And yet the possibility made my wolf shiver in delight.

“I hope having dinner with me isn’t too much of a hassle,” the king said easily. He ambled over to the small bar at the wall and pulled a bottle from beneath it. “I know the council wanted me to have my decision made, but I find it’s easier to get to know someone in private.” “I see,” I said. Our encounter in the woods wasn’t enough?

“And,” he continued as he opened the bottle of wine, “I wanted to see you again, after you ran off yesterday morning.” He decanted the bottle.

My cheeks burned. I wasn’t going to let him make me feel bad about what had happened, though— since I was the one who had been drugged in his court. I straightened up in my chair and said nothing.

The king stepped back toward the table with the decanter in hand. Delicately, he poured me a fine glass of red wine, then smoothed his hand over the bare skin of my back.

How was such a gentle touch making my wolf go so wild? She’d been so quiet all day, and now suddenly in the king’s presence, she wanted more, more, more. And having the king serve me—pour me wine, like I was the one in higher standing! I set my teeth into my lower lip gently as he poured his own glass, too, an elegant motion made more beautiful by the shifting of his biceps and forearms.

“Please,” he said as he sat down across from me. “Let’s eat.”

I took a sip of my wine. At least this one I’d seen opened and poured. No funny business. It was a rich red wine, deliciously smooth over my tongue, running warm through my veins.

“I didn’t intend to shift,” I admitted.

“I could tell,” the king said. “But you are a beautiful wolf. I’ve never seen a pelt so pure white.”

Again my wolf preened. My cheeks heated under the praise. So few people had seen my wolf at all—the only person I’d ever run with was Griffin. In some ways, the run felt more intimate than the way we’d woken up in our human forms.