CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

My nerves were doing cartwheels throughout the wreckage that was my mind. The day had come: moving day. We had spent four whole days planning and replanning our relocation. I went shopping with Rose, Brett's mate, for supplies while the men focused on sealing the deal on a glorious mansion in Paradise. Thirty thousand square feet, sixteen bedrooms, twenty bathrooms, and a full-size gymnasium sold it. Not to mention that it was seated on twenty-seven acres, giving the wolves plenty of space to run about.

Four days wasn't much time to give the realtor, but it turns out when you offer an extra third of the asking price, miracles can happen. Anthony funded it, of course, while Rory gave me his credit card to find and buy tents and food for the soldiers. In the end, Brett figured that it would be easier to reserve the bedrooms for court staff and let the military take the outdoors. It wasn't a bother to our men, however, since the tents we got for them were the size of apartments and came equipped with climate control and lighting.

We had been so outrageously busy that I had barely seen or spoken to my loves, besides the occasional mind link from Bas and a good morning kiss from Rory. I missed them terribly, but that was the cost of starting a kingdom. Rose suffered the same with Brett, often complaining that he woke up at the crack of dawn and didn't come to bed until the early morning. His job was probably the most important for us right now, so I couldn't request he take time for his mate. He basically ran the show. I tried my best to keep her company in the meantime. She was a nice wolf: kind, charming, and wicked smart, just like Brett. I wasn't really used to having girlfriends, so I was a bit awkward at first, but I got used to it.

The mansion came mostly furnished, which left us to stock the pantries. My mom and Rose volunteered to cook for the group of ravenous wolves, and a few dozen warriors' wives agreed to help. Fifteen carts at Costco later and we would be fed for a few days. Now, to open the doors to our new home. I hadn't seen it yet, not even in pictures, per the Kings' request, so I was nervous as we drove down the gated path towards the front face.

"Holy shit."

Calling that place a mansion was a disservice. The level of luxury the mansion—no, castle—radiated trumped even the executive suite at ARIA. There was a lavish courtyard with a massive fountain leading to the Opal and Gold front entrance. Ten different garage bays jutted out on either side, blending in perfectly with the ritzy exterior. Romanesque pillars supported a front overhang, and white textured marble steps completed the path to the huge twin oak doors. The whole place was littered with bay windows and unnaturally green grass, and I had to pick my jaw off Rory's expensive leather seat.

"Amazing," I uttered.

Rory chuckled, putting the car in park directly in front of the steps and removing his Ray-Bans. "You haven't even seen the inside, love. Come, there's a lot to see."

It took an entire hour to tour the main estate. It was in full swing, staff and soldiers bussing about with smiles and jobs to do. We still hadn't received more vampires, and it was making my staff uneasy. Still, I stayed positive, trusting in Lysander to provide them. The tour concluded with one final room: our bedroom. Crystal chandeliers littered the gold-molded ceiling, illuminating a gargantuan bed draped in a white and gold bedspread and an all-white seating space with a seven-seat sectional and white brick fireplace. Several doors split off the main room, and I was tempted to collapse on the bearskin rug before me.

I felt Rory's arms snake around my waist and his breath lightly tickling my ear. "Sufficient, Queen?"

"Incredible, King," I purred, lifting one of his palms to my lips. I could hear his blood pumping quickly, but it wasn't in arousal. "What's the matter?"

He took a deep sigh, kissing the spot just below my ear and giving me goosebumps. "I'll have to head back to Aria for the night. I'm sorry, love. James was told by the gods that people would be waiting for us there."

My heart sank to my feet. "Oh," was all I could say without evoking tears.

He turned me to face him, his eyes clouded with concern. "Just one night, love. Then I'll be by your side for good." He swore, pressing his lips to my forehead.

"And Bastion?"

His pitying expression told me that I wouldn't like the answer. "He was given orders to travel to the pack border tonight."

I would be alone. I hadn't slept alone since meeting Rory, and now I would be in our new chambers all by myself. A tear escaped, but I wiped it quickly, putting on a brave face. "I understand. It's okay. Really."

My faint smile wasn't enough to sway him, however, and he pulled me in for a hug. "You know I love you, right?" He whispered into my hair.

I nodded against his chest. I did know; it just didn't take the pain away.

"This is hell for me, too, Aria. I wish I could spend every waking second with you, but I can't. Not yet. Both Bastion and I fought tooth and nail to convince James to let us stay, but he was adamant. A hundred wolves is not enough to dethrone two men."

"I know that. I just feel so useless. I'm supposed to be this powerful Queen, but all I've really done is buy 100,000 rolls of toilet paper. Why send you two to do everything? I could be useful, too." I knew I was whining like a child, but I was getting tired of being a stagnant Queen, even if I had only held the title for a week. I wanted to help. I wanted to earn the respect I was shown.

"You are useful. You are the reason we're busting our asses for peace in the first place."

"So I'm basically the Queen of England. Just a figurehead in a castle. I don't even have a damn seal, Rory!"

"You will, Aria. The plan is to start physical combat training for you as soon as we return. My father and Bastion will teach you everything you need to know to unlock both sets of abilities to the fullest. The prophecy claims that you will be the one to destroy Alpha and Sire, not us. Let us help you, for now. Let us be used. You will lead us to victory. Let us get you to the battle."

I lowered my head, ashamed of the person I was becoming: selfish, arrogant, demanding. I didn't want to rule that way. Rory was right. It wasn't me against the world anymore. My purpose was much greater now, and I needed help to achieve it. "Thank you, Rory. I needed to hear that."

In one swift move, he lifted me from my feet, carrying me bridal style to the large en suite bathroom. The bath looked more like a hot spring, a pre-filled box of flowing water that disappeared into grates in the floor, complete with rising steam. The toilet and shower were hidden behind different doors. I squealed as he approached it, clinging onto him for dear life. The vibrations of his laughter against my cheek warmed me, and I closed my eyes to savor it. I heard a splash and looked down to see that he had one fully clothed leg in the blue-tinted water.

"Oh my goddess, Rory, your clothes!"

He laughed again, but my panic was still raging. Those pants were probably worth more than my entire wardrobe. He stepped over the stone edge with his second leg, waterlogging his shoes in addition. Oh shit! He was going to dip me in clothed, too! I crawled up his torso like a cat by a pool, trying to avoid my inevitable submersion. My fits of giggles were egging him on, and he finally lowered himself, along with me, into the scalding waves. I threw my head back in laughter, feeling more than a little carefree and rebellious sitting in our bath in my jeans, T-shirt, and Converse.

"Close your eyes," he commanded with a grin.

I obeyed, and he dunked us both beneath the current, soaking our hair. I came up with a gasp, following the droplets from his darkened hair all the way down to his white dress shirt that clung deliciously to his toned body. It was completely see-through at that point. I licked the water from my lips, heat building in my core as I traced the outline of his collar. His lips were parted slightly, breathing the sweet scent of his watermelon gum into my nose.

"I want to kiss you," he confessed.

My eyes met his desperate ones. "But I need to ask you something first."