ANSEL POV “So, how are things with Lady Karin?” Aron asked as he flicks a piece of lint from his jacket. “I know she must be happy that you’ve returned, though a little birdie told me that you haven’t asked her to the Blue Moon ball.” “You’ve been checking up on me?” “Absolutely. You two have more drama than a Telenovela.” He turned his face dramatically as if he was slapped. Holding his cheek, he rubbed it. “Que?!” he said with a gasp. Ansel shook his head. “You’re such an odd duck.” “Perhaps, but I happily quack amongst those who understand and adore me.” He adjusted himself in his seat. “Seriously, you need to ask her.” “Why? She already knows she will accompany me.” “How?” Ansel scrunched his face. “What do you mean, how? She’s my mate. We’re together. Why wouldn’t she know that?” “Oh, sweet mother goose,” Aron said, rubbing his forehead. “I’m going to change the topic because I can’t deal with this on a Friday. Overal
Arriving back at the manor, Ansel immediately felt the chill in the air. He took off his coat and handed it to the butler. “What’s going on around here?” he asked. “As of late, there always seems to be issues here.”“Everything is fine, sir,” Charles replied, hanging up the coat. “Is there anything else you need?”Ansel raised his eyebrow. “No, not right now. Are you alright—”“Charles,” Charles said, curtly. “My name is Charles, Sir Ansel.”“I know your name.”“Well, Sir, why is it you never call me it? You address everyone else by name except me. I wish not to be offensive, but it would mean a lot to me if you did.”“Goddammit,” Ansel muttered under his breath. “This has Karin written all over it. Fine. I will address you by your name from now on.”“Thank you, sir,” Charles said, beaming. “Will you be eating your lunch in the den?”“No, I think I’ll have something quick in the kitchen. I have a few meetings to attend, and I’m in a bit of a rush.”“Very well, sir.” Entering th
KARIN POV “It was the funniest thing I’ve ever witnessed,” Maggie says, chuckling. She leaned against my bedpost. “Sir Ansel grumbled from here to his next meeting of mutiny in his own home. And I do not know why he was so upset with Henry, but as soon as he saw him, it seemed to set his anger ablaze again.” I giggled. “Because Ansel cannot fathom someone outdoing him in something. Finding out Henry’s natural inclination is to be romantic was probably too much for him to bear. It reminds me of how competitive he was at the sanitorium. It didn’t matter what it was, he had to be the best at it. By the way, thank you for staging a mutiny for me even at the risk of your heads.” Joy tugged at the yellow tulle dress that hung in my closet. “Well, I, for one, am just glad that he asked you so you can stop pouting. It was starting to be very gloomy in the manor because of the dark cloud surrounding you.” “Oh hush it,” I say, chiding her. “I was not that bad.”
ANSEL POV Ansel tilted his head and waited patiently for whatever excuse Karin would give him. “I-I—” “You…” “I figured you were busy.” “I’m always busy.” “Yes, but you looked extremely busy. I didn’t want to be a distraction to you.” “Well, it’s a little hard for you not to be a distraction when your pheromones are floating through my nose during training.” He moved a piece of hair from her face. “You’re always welcomed into my space. It may be bloody and gory, but you’re still always welcomed.” She gave him a smile that left him fighting the urge to carry her off to bed. “I’ll let you get back to it. I’ll be inside if you need me.” “Actually,” he said, grabbing her hand. “This is perfect.” “What do you mean?” Not replying, Ansel led her back to the training grounds. He motioned for his men to join them. “You can all shift back. You’re on break.” The gammas cheered as they shifted. Ansel waved them off. “
KARIN POV “It was awful, Mags,” I say, hardly able to keep calm. “I’ve had no one be afraid of me before. I don’t remember everything that happened, but I know by the look on their faces and the blood in my mouth that it wasn’t good.” “Calm down, Lady Karin,” she says as she rubs my back. “I’m sure things will work out for the best. Sir Ansel will take care of things, but beyond that, I know you’ll figure out what’s going on with you.” The smell of gin and cedar enters my nose, and I instinctively look up. Ansel stood in the doorway with his arms folded over his broad chest. Though his training was over, he remained shirtless with light jogger pants on. “Maggie, I need to speak with Karin alone,” he said firmly. “Yes, sir,” Maggie replied and leaves the room. Ansel shut the door behind her. “Well, it has been an eventful day, to say the least,” he said. “I don’t know what to say,” I whispered. “I don’t know why Ada took control that way, kno
ANSEL POVThe Next Day: NighttimeAnsel dragged his feet against the long, regal carpet of the manor’s halls. It was almost midnight, and after training and all-day meetings. He was beyond ready for bed. Standing outside his bedroom door, he exhaled. I hope she slept in my room.He thought to himself. He’d grown accustomed to having Karin next to him in bed, especially after a long day. The few times she slept in her own room, by morning she was burrowed under him. Opening the door, through the dark and silence of the room, he could hear light snoring.She’s already sleeping.He couldn’t blame her. From what he’d been told by Charles and Doc, she was working hard on the training grounds with Maggie. Being pushed to her limits seemed to suit her well, and Maggie reported she was thriving, and through Jeff he could sense that her and Ada’s bond was slowly being repaired as well.Not wanting to wake her, he forgoed the lights and stumbled around in the darkness.Okay, there is stool ri
“It’s been you the entire time,” Ansel said, standing. “You were pretending to be Karin and my daughter.” She teetered her head back and forth. “Yes, and no. Every conversation has with Jemma is one that shows the personality she will have. She will be happy, bubbly, funny, and powerful. With a combination of your and Karin’s powers, she will definitely be a force to be reckoned with.” “By God,” Ansel muttered, then quickly gave her an apologetic look. “Slip of the tongue. This is a lot to take in at once.” “It’s all semantics, anyway. I’m as real as the earth, the stars and the sky as are many other things.” She stuck out her hand that still glowed. “Selene. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”&
The Night of the Ball KARIN POV “Lady Karin, will you please stop being such a shy thing and come out,” Maggie said with her hands on her hips. “I’ve dressed you plenty of times. I don’t get what the fuss is about.” “I don’t think I can pull this off,” I said through the bathroom door. “I’ve never worn anything so revealing.” “Which is all the more reason to wear it tonight,” Joy said as she sat at the vanity applying the finishing touches to her hair. “Besides, that’s only the top half. If you expect your hair make-up finished in time, you will have to come out of the bathroom.” “Okay…”