ERIC’S POV“You like what you see?” Hilton asks, sipping his champagne.“No,” I respond, knowing that's exactly what he wants to hear.“Good. I'm starting to think you're a good husband to my daughter.” He laughs so loudly, it rings in my ear despite the blaring club music.I chuckle, even though I’m disgusted as hell being in this place. My gaze shifts to the almost-naked women dancing on a pole while both men and women cheer, throwing money at them.I take a sip of my wine. Soon, all that money will be thrown my way. They’ll be too sick to waste it so carelessly.“Governor Antonio,” Hilton says, drawing my attention. He’s standing and shaking hands with Antonio Russo, a governor in Italy. Standing behind him are two huge men I assume are his bodyguards. Flanking him are two Irish-looking men holding briefcases.“And this is Eric Heart.”I stand and shake hands with him.“You must be the impotent son-in-law,” Antonio says, his face devoid of humor.I force a smile. “Impotent is a str
DIANA'S POV“We aren’t humans, love. Our hair grows faster,” Kael says as I watch him from the bathroom door.It’s six days left until what I’m guessing is the full mating moon. Kael said there’s a ceremony done on the sixth night. He said I’d enjoy it and that I should get prepared, but it seems like his little beard he said he’d shave off grew so much overnight.He looks so funny and I’m trying my best not to laugh.“You want to go out like this?” I ask. He looks at the mirror in confusion. “You don’t look like the meticulous Alpha I thought you were.”“It’s not that bad,” he says, arching his jaw. “A light brushing will surely do.”“Or… you could cut it off?”Kael looks at me like I said something ridiculous. “There’s barely enough time left.”“There is. You’re the Alpha, any judgment you make is right, remember?”“But you aren’t prepared yet. There would be no time for you to return to your room and get ready, so you’ll have to do it here.” I see the sly smirk creeping up his face
KAEL'S POVAs I throw punches at the tree before me, I twist my neck, glancing over at Carden, who's sitting on a fallen log.He immediately looks away. I sigh and continue punching the tree.I don't remember the last time we spoke properly except when I’m barking orders at him.I shake my head, dissolving the thoughts quickly. He had his hand wrapped around Diana's neck, fully knowing what she means to me. I don't care if he hates her, but I can't tolerate anyone causing her pain.Not. Not even him."You are still going to apologize," Jayden rolls his eyes.I throw faster punches, the wood bruising my flesh. "No, I'm not.""I give you five minutes before your conscience pricks you."Even if I were to speak to him, I'm not going to be the one who apologizes.When I decide my knuckles are bruised enough—and Jayden has managed to get on my nerves—I walk over to Carden, who's about to open a can of water. I snatch it from his hand and crash beside him.He looks at me, scowling, while I p
DIANA'S POVAdrenaline races through me at Kael's words. He looks more than serious about this.We are one now. I've accepted his bond. Vivian said there’s no such thing as marriages here. All it takes is to be marked, and for both parties to accept the bond.There’s nothing we should hide from each other. I want to see what lies beneath his clothes, if there are more tattoos resting there. I want to kiss each and every one of his scars until he forgets what caused them.I slowly grab the end of my gown and pull it off my body. I slip out of my undergarments. The cold hits me instantly, but the heat radiating in Kael’s eyes is enough to warm me.His gaze trails over my naked body, from my breasts to my toes. The dim light is just enough for him to see me clearly.His thumb brushes against my hips, where my tattoo is and Goddess, my thighs clench.“You are a dove: white, pure, and free, love. I cannot describe how beautiful you are.” He looks into my eyes, frowning deeply. “He saw all
DIANA'S POV I stare at Kael as he sleeps. His legs are wrapped around mine, and his strong arms have refused to leave my waist. He looks like a dove while he sleeps, even though he’s so tense. I resist the urge to push away the hair blocking his face. The birthmark on his lips just adds a layer of beauty to him. I know I’m letting myself in too deep, but everything about him, from his body to his soul and his scent, intoxicates me. I don’t know how long I’ve been sleeping, but I guess it’s probably night. I have to put Xiana to bed. I grab his hand and try to pull it away, but instead, his grip tightens. I try again, but he still isn’t willing to let go. He groans, adjusts his position on the bed, and pulls me on top of him. “Kael,” a gasp escapes my lips. His eyes slowly open. He looks at me, confused, then pushes his hair backward with one hand as he groans. “I need to go to Xiana,” I say, blushing at the sight of him. “She won’t sleep unless I read her to sleep. I’ll come b
DIANA'S POV‘You are treading the wrong path, Diana,’ the Darkness whispers to me as I suck it in.‘You are not supposed to be with him. It's an abomination to the gods and goddesses.’My eyes are closed, but I can see it—dark dust swirling, taking a form. We are no longer in the room, but in a desert, with the sun scorching my skin.I watch as it materializes until it fully becomes the same female from my dream—Karolyn.This isn't real, Diana."You have no idea what you're doing to yourself," she says, smiling. "How dare you take what is mine?!""He doesn't belong to you," I say, clenching my fist. The memory of the dream with her on Kael spirals through my mind. It plagues every one of my senses.Doubt.What if he—no, he isn't like that."What did he tell you, Diana?" She walks toward me, and the wind suddenly begins to howl fiercely. "That he never loved me? Huh?" She laughs. "I could show you, you know—the parts of our lives we lived together, even after he met you. I was everythi