I frown, not understanding how whether or not Vivi and Niall are a Prince and Princess is my decision. I lean back on the stone banister, my silence an invitation for him to continue.“Well,” he says, taking a deep breath and running a hand through his hair – a gesture I’m beginning to understand is him working through a problem. “I’ve claimed them as my natural children, which is…fine. They will have Alpha status. But I have not yet marked them as heirs to the realm, which would be necessary,” he says, watching my face closely for a reaction, “for them to be, officially, a Prince and a Princess.”I turn my head to the side, considering this.“My father,” Auden continues, hesitating a little, “would…want to have a say in this. He told me so when I informed him, today, about my plans to claim them.”“Oh yeah!” I say, turning to glare and swat him on the arm, suddenly remembering that little surprise. “Thanks so much for the update on that, by the way! I almost had a heart attack when y
“No, we don’t scent mark mama,” Auden says, turning his smile on Vivi now. “Just you and Niall, because you are special. Yes?”“Mama is also special,” Vivi says, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at him. My lips quirk at the corners to see her defend me, but I just stand up with a pretend sigh, grateful to her for giving me a moment to collect myself.“Mama,” I add, “has a whole shelf of new perfumes. And I don’t want any stinky Auden smells messing with them,” I add, leaning over and wrinkling my nose at my daughter, who laughs.“Dad isn’t stinky,” Niall says, frowning at me. “He smells nice. Like the woods.”I smile at my little boy and don’t bother informing him that I know precisely how nice Auden smells. And that it’s not just balsam he’s detecting in Auden’s scent, but also cloves and sweet orange as well - a combination that’s so warm and rich and delicious that it makes me want to spend my entire day curled up next to -“I’m going to go pick out my perfume now!” I say s
I turn my face away from the Duke and towards the horns that begin to blast in the open field before us, already exhausted by the fact that I have to wonder about international politics before I’m even Queen. But now, with my children potentially in the line of succession, and Auden…But before I can think further on it, the King interrupts.“You look very beautiful today, Everleigh,” he murmurs, dipping his head close to mine so that I alone can hear his words. “The dress suits you well.”I blush a little and look down at the green and gold gown that the seamstresses have made for me today. It really is lovely – less formal than what they dressed me in yesterday, with yards and yards of airy fabric that floats in the wind on the slightest breeze.“Thank you,” I reply, turning my face up to Mahl with a smile. “The seamstresses have really crafted a piece of art with this one. I’m very grateful to be able to wear it.” “It is good to see you smile, little doe,” Mahl murmurs.I look up
I actively dismiss the idea that he could know anything, not wanting any of my doubts and fears to show on my face. Instead, I raise my chin and glare evenly at the Duke.“You are welcome in our Kingdom,” I say to the Duke who still smirks at me. I allow a little challenge to come into my eyes to let him know I won’t cow before him. After all, as Auden pointed out this morning, I outrank him. I outrank…pretty much everyone.“Though,” I continue, my expression cold, “I would warn you against making claims on things that are not yours. Vivianna, Niall,” I say sharply, turning my head to look at them. “Come with me now. We’ll get you something to eat.”And as I move away my children trail behind me, following eagerly in my footsteps as we move towards a refreshment table on the far side of the tent.“Believe me, my Queen,” the Duke calls after me. I stop in my tracks and turn to listen as my children come to my side, my chin still held high. His smirk deepens as he raises his goblet in m
The shift happens in an instant, as it does with all of us, but this wolf is particularly adept. The moment the flash subsides he is already in the air, taking advantage of the flare of light in his opponent’s eyes.Mahl cheers beside me, clapping hands at this bold move. After all, it’s a gamble – against a weaponed man, a wolf has only his teeth, his claws, and his wits. But in this case, as the wolf’s paws slam into his opponent’s shoulders, it seems to pay off.The wolf’s opponent goes sprawling, yelling as he hits the floor, his sword flying wide. The wolf bares his teeth, snarling down into the warrior’s face and snapping his teeth. The man hesitates and then sets his head back against the ground, clearly signaling his defeat.The crowd shouts with excitement as money changes hands and the wolf transforms back into his human body, his clothing and light armor preserved as they were before the change. He lifts a fist in victory, yelling with joy, and the crowd screams along with
“This is my sister,” I say, interceding in the conversation and refusing to let them have an intimate moment alone. “Callista de Silva.”“Callista,” the Duke says slowly, turning the name around in his mouth as if tasting it. Then, he reaches for Calli’s hand and raises it as he bows low, pressing his lips against her knuckles and letting them linger for a moment longer than I’d like. “The Queen’s sister,” he says, his eyes flicking to me before returning to her as he stands. “One dark, one fair, but each…a remarkable beauty. What treasures your kingdom does have.”I work hard – very hard – to avoid rolling my eyes at this overdone flattery. But I watch Calli for her response, hoping to hell that she doesn’t fall for it. But she just laughs and tugs her hand away from the foreigner, looking back at the fight as if she hears that sort of compliment every day.“And you?” she asks, not looking at him, saying the words as if she’s bored. “Who are you, sir?”“I am with the Vendan entourage
Niall gasps and cries out a little, tucking his head against me as the corpse lands in the center of the ring, a puddle of blood already spreading into the dirt. I move my hand to the back of Niall’s head, tucking him close.I reach to clutch Vivi closer as well, but she swats my hand away - she, like me, can’t tear her eyes away from the horrible scene before us. Coco peers with her, neither of them blinking as they take in of the blood, the full display of what her grandfather is capable of, before I grab her and force her to turn. Coco flutters, unbalanced, but Vivi grabs him and holds him close to her chest.“Does ANYONE,” Mahl roars, turning now in the center of the ring, glaring around at the crowd as if he’ll take on each and every one of us now if we challenge him at all. “Have ANYTHING to say on this subject?”And no one utters a single sound. The only noise is the wind whistling through the arena – no echo of a footstep, no clink of a glass - as we all stand perfectly still
“Yes, a coup for Callista,” I say slowly, though everything inside me screams no! That too-sly Vendan Duke is not at all what I hope for Calli, for her future. “But…well, do you think his affection is genuine, sire?” I ask. “Or is he merely…playing with her in order to get closer to you, through me?”“Does it matter?” the Mahl murmurs, rolling his eyes in displeasure with the turn in conversation - and, frankly, a little drunk. Any veneer of delicacy or consideration for my feelings has been neatly wiped away. “She will be useful to us – able to report back what he has said. It is good for a woman to be useful.”I work very hard to hold my tongue now and just say nothing, locking eyes with Calli where she stands across the tent, still at Caspar’s side. She gives me a little smile, but I just shake my head subtly before looking up at the King. Then, determined, I begin to beg him to please let me go to bed, to take my sister with me so that I can warn her about the advances of indelica