LOGINKira’s POVThe memory was Abby’s. And it came the same way it's been coming for some time now. Sudden, vivid and unwanted.This one chilled me to the bones.The memory didn’t just flash. It crashed into me like cold water dumped over my head while I was still burning from Adrian’s touch.She was in here with them. Arabella.Not at the head of the table. Not in a crop top and sneakers with a king’s hand on her thigh like she belonged to him.She was on the floor.The same grand dining hall. Same long oak table. Same vaulted ceiling that made every sound echo like judgment.Except that night she wasn’t the king’s woman. She wasn’t even a welcomed guest.She was one of the maids.They’d dressed her in the thin black uniform…too short, too tight…because Lady Margaret had decided it would be “humorous” to make the worthless princess serve the nobles. The tray had been balanced between her teeth, metal biting into her gums, while she crawled on all fours down the length of the table.Every
Kira’s POVThe air in the hall felt thicker now, like someone had cranked the heat and sucked out all the oxygen. Every word, every clink of cutlery, every slow sip of wine sounded amplified. And under the table, Adrian’s thigh pressed against mine so firmly I could feel the heat of him through my sweatpants…like sitting next to a furnace with a heartbeat.I tried to focus elsewhere. Really tried. But nothing seemed to keep me engaged. All I could taste was the memory of his growl against my ear. All I could feel was the ghost of his threat curling low in my belly.Darius was still watching me.Not blatantly. He was too polished for that. But every few minutes those crimson eyes would drift over, lazy and hot, like he was daring me to continue my little stunt.And Adrian noticed.Of course he noticed.His fingers had migrated from the back of my neck to the inside of my thigh…high enough that one wrong shift and he’d be touching places that would make me gasp in front of the entire a
Kira’s POVAdrian’s hand tightened around mine under the table, like he needed the reminder that I was really there. I turned and shot him a look…the are-you-serious-right-now kind, sharp and questioning, with just a hint of warning.He didn’t even flinch. Just lifted an eyebrow, calm and unapologetic, like, ‘what did you expect was going to happen?’I shook off the weird feeling I got from Princess Loretta’s voice earlier and tried to focus on something else.Conversation started up again…slower, more careful. People kept glancing my way, but at least they weren’t openly gaping at me anymore.Lady Margaret tried once more to put me down, voice syrupy. “Perhaps the future queen might consider appropriate attire for future events. For the dignity of the crown.”What is her problem? I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand…on purpose…and leaned forward so everyone could hear me clearly.“Lady Margaret, with all due respect…which is none…you spent months telling me I looked ridiculous
Kira’s POVBefore I could even move or blink twice, Lady Margaret shot up so fast her chair scraped back. “Your Majesty, are you letting this slide? This is an insult to the throne! To every noble seated here! Need I remind you that Princess Loretta—” she gestured dramatically at the vampire princess “is seated right there, looking every inch the future bride that would seal the alliance between our kingdoms, while this…this immature girl—”“Need I remind you,” Adrian cut in, voice dropping into that low, lethal growl that made spines straighten, “that she is my mate.”The room felt the weight of it. Even the fire seemed to shrink. He didn’t shout. Didn’t need to.“She is my mate and your queen,” he repeated, slowly and clearly for everyone to hear. “And it’s just a piece of clothing. Why are you making a big deal out of it?”Lady Margaret murmured something incomprehensible under her breath, but still sat down grudgingly.Adrian’s eyes found mine again.That same hunger. That same a
Kira’s POVWell…it’s not like anyone could scold me, right?I mean…who would even try?Regardless, heat crept up my neck…awkwardness, embarrassment, the whole human cocktail. For one second, I actually considered turning around, throwing on one of those stiff gowns, playing the part.Then I remembered the courtyard. Adrian dragging me off like property. Declaring I belong to him in front of everyone. Parading me afterward like a trophy while the whole pack smirked, knowing exactly what we’d done.No.Screw that.I wanted him to squirm. I wanted him to lose face in front of his precious allies, his stupid cousin’s future wife, everyone who thought he had me under control.Payback tasted sweet.I reached up, pulled the hair tie from my ponytail, and shook my head. Brown waves tumbled down over my shoulders, wild and messy from the shower…nothing polished or princess-like about it.Victoria stared at me, eyes wide. “You’re…you’re really going in like that?”“Why not?” I said, lifting my
Kira’s POVVictoria’s whisper hung in the air like smoke.“The king found out…”I froze, blood turning to ice in my veins. “Found out what?”She swallowed so hard I heard it. “That you asked me to take you to the Human Camp. I… I couldn’t lie to him, Your Highness. He cornered me in the corridor right after I left the boutique. Threatened to kill me if I ever harm you again, and then asked where I was going in such a rush with a big bag. I panicked. I told him you wanted to visit the Human Camp…just to see it, out of curiosity. I swear that’s all I said! I didn’t mention Dominic!”My vision actually blurred with rage. I grabbed the front of her dress and yanked her so close our noses almost touched.“Are you kidding me right now?” I hissed through clenched teeth. “Why is Adrian everywhere? Why is he always ruining everything? I can’t breathe without that man sticking his royal nose in my business!”Victoria’s eyes were huge, terrified, but she didn’t pull away. “I didn’t sell you out!







