8

I study her. The possessive way she’s talking about my mate makes me wonder if there’s more between them than just loyalty. Not that I’m going to voice my concerns.

When I don’t react, she frowns. “What, you’re not going to say anything?”

“You’ve made your position clear. Would you like me to say something?” I ask politely.

She walks over to me, grabs my chin, and lifts my head. “I’ve met the real Princess Vivian, you know. You don’t do her justice.”

This makes me smile, amusement a flitting emotion. I gently remove her hand. “There were several occasions when I stood in front of the king of the East and he was not able to distinguish between his daughter and me. You don’t like me, and I understand that. You don’t need to say anything further. I understand my position in this kingdom quite well, Miss Asher. I’m not here to make enemies. I am simply trying to survive.”

Bella gives me a mocking smile. “Sure.”

I meet her gaze and realize that I’m tired. I’m just so tired of it all. Of this constant battle for survival. Is this existence even worth fighting for?

“I’m going to wait outside, if it’s quite alright with you.” I turn around and head toward the door.

“If you think you will win Cedric’s heart by acting all meek and shy, you don’t know the first thing about him,” Bella calls after me.

“Are you his lover?” I ask bluntly, pausing to look back over my shoulder at her.

Her eyes widen at my question, and then a small smile forms on her lips. “And what if I am?”

I stare at her, feeling my wolf howl in misery inside me.

Hush, I comfort it. You’ve got me, don’t you?

No wonder the king is so cold to me.

He already has a woman he loves.

Chapter 4

Cedric Raine

“Any word from the Eastern royal family?” I lean back in my chair, looking at Derrick.

My friend has been very withdrawn over the past few days. It’s been a week since we returned from the East, and we’re still working on rounding up the remaining members of the royal family whose lives were spared.

“We heard from King Akmar’s brother. He was traveling during the attack and is currently returning from the wolf kingdom in the human world. He wants to secure Vivian’s release.”

“Well, that’s not going to happen.” I tap my fingers on my desk. “Make sure that if he shows up here, they never meet.”

“Bella told me the queen said that even Vivian’s father was not able to distinguish between them. Are you sure her uncle could? Maybe we should let them see each other so they have proof that we have Vivian, no matter who she really is.”

Derrick’s words make sense. Allowing a single, supervised meeting might be in our favor. However, I intend to be there. I don’t trust my mate not to run her mouth.

The mere thought of her puts a scowl on my face. I don’t understand the woman. Whatever I say to her, however I treat her, she accepts it all without a single complaint. When she looks at me, her eyes are always empty. No anger, no distress, nothing in them at all.

My body brimming with a strange emotion, I jump to my feet and go over to the window to look outside. To my irritation, she’s there.

Vivian—No, that woman is walking in the garden by herself. My mother always maintained the castle’s gardens, but after she passed, no one else bothered. I follow my mate with my eyes. She sits down on one of the broken benches, stretching her legs and rubbing them.

Are her legs hurting?

She suddenly jerks and stands up to examine the bench. Her hand runs over the wood, and she pauses at the spot where she was sitting. I know the bench has a crack. Foolish woman. She didn’t even check before sitting down.

She wraps her coat around herself and crosses her arms as if trying to keep warm. My brows knit in irritation. If she’s chilly, why not wear something warmer? That coat looks too thin. Then again, isn’t the weather in the East warm all the time? She’s probably not accustomed to the cold.

I lean against the window, my arms folded.

Why is she so thin?

I don’t spend any time with her. It’s been a week, and I haven’t shared a single meal with the woman. I prefer to eat in my office or while working. Her food is delivered to her room. What is she eating?

Just then, I see a familiar figure hurrying after her. It’s Harriet. From her body language, Harriet is clearly scolding her. The woman bows her head and nods along. Then she follows Harriet back inside the castle.

“Are you listening, Cedric?”

Derrick’s voice pulls my attention back into the room. “Did you say something?”

“I was asking what her name is.”

I stare at him. “Whose name?”

“Your mate, the queen. She’s not Vivian, so who is she?”

“Does it matter?” I shrug, recalling those thin shoulders and that thick, luscious hair piled on top of her head. She walks with elegance, each stride measured and sure. But there’s an emptiness in those soft, brown eyes of hers.

The perfect doll.

The thought makes me uncomfortable.

Derrick frowns before exchanging a look with Edgar. “What do you mean, does it matter? Of course it matters. She’s your mate. And she’s not Vivian. We have no bone to pick with her. She’s innocent.”

“She’s from the East.” I straighten up and head back to my desk. “She’s hardly what I would call innocent. The East is responsible for shielding the rebels that killed our parents, remember?”

Derrick’s face grows dark. “I will never forget.”

My mother and father had been visiting the Eastern Wolf Kingdom on a diplomatic mission. Derrick’s parents had accompanied them. All four of them were assassinated within the palace grounds. Instead of trying to take responsibility, the Eastern royal family tried to seize control of the North. They failed terribly, and had I not been so young, I would have made them pay tenfold.

Derrick takes a breath before continuing. “But this woman isn’t responsible for any of that. And she’s your fated mate, Cedric. Don’t take that so lightly. Your wolves are connected. Have you given her the mark?”

“No, and I don’t plan on it. She’s a political prisoner before anything else.”

Edgar chooses this moment to speak up. “Without the mating mark, your bond will suffer.”

“That’s my business.”

Rothan approaches the desk. “Cedric, this wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that she doesn’t have pure, royal blood, would it?”

As always, Rothan hits the nail on the head.