25

Livia POV

“Thank goodness for that sea salt remedy, Amelia,” I breathed out, leaning on the wall in the quiet hallway as the resort delta guards stepped out of the master suite. “The moment he drank that warm salt water, the swelling went down. You literally saved my life.”

Amelia offered a small, shy smile, wiping her hands on her apron. “It was my mother who taught me about that remedy back home, Luna. I am just glad it worked so quickly.”

“I thank the Moon Goddess the Alpha King did not die on me for the second time in like …how many days,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples. “I swear his life has more plot twists than a bad web novel.”

Amelia blinked, her eyes widening with sudden guilt. “I am so, so sorry, Luna! I truly had no idea you weren’t aware... I just assumed Maris had properly prepped you regarding the King’s meals before we left May Town.”

I would stay staring at her for a few seconds, dropping my hand from my forehead. “Wait. What? Aware of what? Maris was supposed to do what?”

“The King is severely allergic to too much spice, Luna,” Amelia explained softly, looking terrified. “I assumed Maris told you the strict dietary rules. I even cooked entirely separate meals for the two of you! Your meal was in the upper segment of the mini-fridge—I even labeled the container ‘For the Luna’.”

I stared at her, the memory of grabbing the bottom container flashing violently across my brain. I pinched the bridge of my nose, groaning internally. Damn it, Livia! You grabbed his bland-ass food by mistake!

“So... you mean I added a mountain of scotch bonnet peppers to a meal specifically prepared for the King?” I asked weakly.

Amelia nodded sheepishly. “Yes, Luna.”

“I am going to deal with Maris the very second we get back to May Town,” I growled, making a mental note to burn the head housekeeper’s timetable. I turned back to Amelia, forcing a soft smile. “Do you need anything before you go, Amelia?”

“No, Your Majesty. Are you sure you don’t need me to stay?”

“No, go ahead and retire for the night,” I sighed. “By morning, we are going sightseeing around Geneva, just you and me. I need a break from royal drama.”

“Thank you, Luna! Good night,” Amelia bowed politely and scurried down the hall.

The moment she disappeared, I snatched my phone from my towel pocket, opened HiWolf Messenger, and furiously typed a message to Livyana:

Livy, I literally almost killed your husband tonight. AGAIN. With pepper. If I never come back from this journey of pretense, just be prepared to bury me. Lying is so hard I am developing actual body pains from trying to walk and talk like your fragile self! ANSWER YOUR PHONE!

Hitting send on another unread message, I let out a long breath. I decided to sneak back into the master bedroom just to check if the giant beast was still breathing before I retired to my guest room.

I quietly pushed the door open, creeping toward the edge of the mattress.

“Tarian?” I whispered into the dark. “Are you still—”

Before I could even finish the sentence, a massive, stone-hard hand shot out from the shadows, clamping directly around my throat!

I gasped as I was violently yanked forward, my back slamming against the bedpost. Tarian towered over me, his dark eyes glowing with anger, his chest heaving as his fingers tightened around my windpipe.

“You are trying to kill me, aren’t you?!” he gritted out through clenched teeth, his voice a raspy growl. “First the perfume, now this?! You are deliberately trying to assassinate me!”

I squirmed, grabbing at his thick wrist, my feet barely touching the floor. Is this man a complete psycho?! He was literally on the verge of meeting the Moon Goddess thirty minutes ago, and now he has enough strength to snap my neck?!

“T—Tarian...” I choked out, my air supply cutting off fast.

“Why did you put too much spice in my food?!” he barked, leaning closer, his face inches from mine. “You knew fully well I am allergic to spicy food! Answer me, Livyana!”

I tried to fight back, clawing at his iron grip, but his Alpha strength was completely overwhelming. Panic flared in my chest, but as his fingers pressed tighter against my throat, a strange, forgotten memory flashed through my head.

Wait a minute...

Back in the day, whenever my ex-boyfriend Taylor used to get overly passionate during our heavy kissing sessions, he’d pin me down and grip my neck just like this. And as toxic as Taylor was... I kind of secretly loved the rough, breath-stealing sensation.

My brain completely rewired itself in a split second. If this brute wanted to play rough, two could play the game.

Instead of fighting him, I completely relaxed my body against his grip. I tilted my head back, letting my eyes flutter half-shut, and let out a long, low, exaggerated moan right into his face.

“Ah... mmph...” I purred, a dark, seductive laugh bubbling out of my chest.

Tarian’s grip loosened by a fraction, his brows furrowing in utter shock. “What the hell are you doing?!”

“Oh, keep going, big daddy...” I rasped out, flashing him a wicked, breathless smirk as I wrapped my hands over his wrist, pulling his hand tighter against my neck. “Choke me, daddy! Please... choke me harder!”

Tarian froze as if he had just touched a hot iron.

“You should have just told me you wanted a piece of me,” I giggled, batting my eyelashes at him playfully while wiggling my hips against his thigh. “You don’t have to pretend to be angry just to get your hands on me, my darling husband...”

Tarian recoiled instantly. He dropped his hand off my neck as if I were a venomous snake.

“You... you are completely out of your mind!” he roared, his face flushing bright red.

I think I was unconsciously beginning to enjoy tormenting this man.

Before I could even catch my breath, he grabbed me by the shoulders, yanked open the suite door, and shoved me out into the corridor.

The door slammed shut in my face, followed by the loud click of the lock.

I stood alone in the hallway, clutching my white towel to my chest, my neck throbbing slightly where his fingers had been. I burst into a fit of silent laughter.

“Works every time,” I smirked, turning on my heel and heading to my room.