Blair’s POVThe gasps that followed when Kade accused Carlton and Wesley of trying to sabotage the test made my stomach tighten. My heart hammered in apprehension as everything unfolded before my eyes. I was glad that the worst was over and the results were now in our favor, but I couldn’t help but wonder how this sudden conflict would end. “I think it’s time the council saw the truth,” Robert’s voice boomed from where he stood.From where I sat, I could see him pull something from his coat and when I looked closely, they looked like photographs. He held them up high enough for everyone to see and my breath caught as whispers stirred around us.“These were taken only days ago,” Robert informed everyone. “Here is Carlton, meeting privately with Wesley at his home.” He shifted the photographs, passing them to one of the council members who leaned forward, squinting before handing them along. “And here,” Robert added, holding up another, “is Carlton leaving Councilman Arven’s house. And
KADE’S POV“I think Carlton is working with Wesley.”My father’s voice cut into my head through our link. I froze, then turned to meet his eyes. For a brief second, our gazes locked, but he looked away as if nothing had happened.I clenched my jaw and forced my eyes back to the council so no one would notice. “I think so too,” I answered him silently.We kept speaking without moving our lips, the steady noise in the hall doing nothing to disturb our private conversation.“They must have figured out how to tamper with the test,” my father continued.My stomach tightened as my gaze fell on the bowl where Blair’s blood still sat apart from mine. But how?“The water,” He said with certainty. “It’s the only thing that isn’t yours or hers. If it’s tainted, or swapped at any point, the test is ruined before you even start.”I swallowed hard, feeling the heat of anger climb up my chest. He was right. Everything rested on that single bowl of water, and both times, Wesley had been the one to p
Blair’s POVInside the council hall, voices clashed and overlapped, making it hard to think. The noise grated on my nerves until my palms itched with frustration. I could tell from my mother’s tense face that she felt just as uneasy.“Silence!” one of the councilmen barked, slamming his fist against the podium.The room fell quiet, but the tension stayed thick in the air. My chest tightened as Kade’s hand closed around mine. I looked up at him, but his glare was fixed on the man who had performed the test.The councilman turned to Elder Wesley. “Elder Wesley, confirm to us that you performed the test correctly.”Elder Wesley stroked his beard. “I did,” he said firmly. But then his sharp gaze swept the room and landed on Kade. “Still, to ease your doubts, I will allow someone else to perform the test again.”Robert rose to his feet, speaking in our defense. “I support that. We can’t leave any room for doubt here.”I nodded and stepped forward. “Kade and I know what we are mates to each
BLAIR’S POV I stood in front of Kade, fastening the last button of his suit jacket. My fingers lingered on the fabric for a moment even after I was done. I couldn’t help letting my eyes travel over him, taking in the sharp line of his shoulders and the way he stood so tall. He carried himself like nothing could touch him.He arched a brow at me, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Well? What do you think? Still got the kind of body you like staring at?”I tried not to smile, rolling my eyes instead. “You mean the one that drives me absolutely insane? Yeah. You still have it.”His smile widened, clearly pleased with himself. “So that’s a yes.”I laughed under my breath and leaned in a little closer. “Kade, you could be eighty years old, hobbling around with a walking stick, and you’d still have it.”That earned me a quick kiss. I was about to melt into it when the door creaked open.“Honestly,” my mother’s voice broke in, half amused and half exasperated, “if you two keep gazing at ea
THIRD POVCarlton stepped out of his dark SUV, straightening his jacket as the cool night air brushed against his face. He paused for a moment, his eyes sweeping over the looming structure of the Estate before heading toward the entrance. Two guards moved forward at once, their posture stiffening. When they saw it was him, they inclined their heads respectfully and fell in on either side, escorting him inside without exchanging a single word.Soon, he was guided into a waiting room that was filled with images of council members. He sat down but couldn’t keep still. His foot tapped against the floor, and his mind wandered back to Kade and Blair, and more importantly, to Robert.Earlier that day, Robert had stood before the Council and agreed to the mate test without a second thought. Even when his title was put at risk, he hadn’t backed down. That alone made Carlton uneasy.Could they really be mates? The question slipped out under his breath. The idea unsettled him deeply. If it was
Blair’s POVI was lying right next to Kade, my fingers brushing over his cheek as I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. I’d missed this so much… lying here, kissing and cuddling like there wasn’t a single care in the world.I let out a soft moan, and Kade suddenly pulled back just a little, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.“I want to get out of this bed,” he murmured, voice low, “so we can shower together.”I arched a brow at him, pretending to think it over. “So that’s your big motivation for getting well, huh? You just want to shower together?”He smirked, leaning in to plant another kiss on my lips. “This isn’t going to be just any shower. I miss your body.”I laughed, shaking my head as I kissed him again. “You’re ridiculous.”Our mouths met again, the kiss deepening, heat building, when the door suddenly flew open so hard it slammed against the wall. I jumped, heart lurching, and Kade groaned in pure annoyance.It was Robert. He stepped inside without so much as a k