Chapter 3: Shifters

We move away from the ballroom, up a staircase, and down a hall until we reach a door. King Ambrose opens it and I follow him inside.

It's a small study, still as lavish as the ballroom, although it has a homey feel. Along the walls are books and journals, and by the tall window sits a desk with scattered papers, a quill, and ink.

I glance at the window. We are on the second floor, but it may be my best route of escape.

"I can't be gone for long, but you can rest here for a moment," the king says. He sits on a chair beside mine, his gaze glued to me.

I lean forward and place my hand on his knee.

"I appreciate it, Your Majesty. You are too kind." And a sucker for a good pair of tits.

He stands and moves to a cabinet where he pulls out some glasses and a bottle of liquor.

Oh, it'd be a little too easy to drink and sleep with him before cutting his throat. He was deliciously stunning and staring at his backside made it tempting.

I shake the idea from my head. No. Kill him, escape, meet Althea by the docks. Start our new life together.

I stand as he pours the drinks by the desk. I walk quietly toward him, slowly retrieving the dagger from my chest. I move fast, the dagger at his throat in an instant, but in the next, he grabs my wrist, spins me around, and pins it to my back, along with my knife.

"You are full of surprises, my lady," he purrs in my ear.

How did he…? What the f*ck?! I barely saw him move almost like he was inhumanly fast. And how did he know I was coming with a dagger?

Ambrose squeezes my wrist tightly until I release the knife.

"I can presume this isn't the only one on your person," he says.

He sets the dagger on the desk and turns me to face him. I smirk as his hands wander down me, sparks flying from his fingertips to my skin. He lifts my skirt, his eyes never leaving mine.

My body heats, burning from the inside out, as his fingers grasp the dagger on my thigh. He yanks it free and tosses it on the desk.

His hand moves to the back of my thigh and pulls my leg up so that my ankle rests on the desk beside him. He retrieves the one on my ankle and it lands with a thud beside the other two.

Well, sh*t. This was proving to be more difficult than expected. And instead of feeling fear for what my punishment may be for being caught, I'm just turned the f*ck on.

He releases my leg and I drop my leg.

"Who are you?" he says.

I smile at him.

"You're not a noble. Nobles don't show that much skin," he says with a laugh. "I wonder how much was offered for my life. Must have been enough to convince you to kill a king."

G*d, he was a snarky a**, wasn't he? More intelligent than I gave him credit for.

"How did you know I was here to kill you?" I say, genuinely curious.

"I heard you pull the dagger from your corset."

That's a new one.

My dumbfounded look must've shown on my face because he laughed again. Despite everything, the sound made me hot. He hadn't attempted to move away from me, so I still stood in front of him, our chests less than a foot from each other. It made it hard to focus on our conversation.

"You want to elaborate on that one?" I say. "Your majesty," I add.

"You can drop that sh*t, Aurora," he says, emphasizing my pseudonym. "Tell me your real name."

I study him for a moment. There's no point in not telling him. I've been caught. He won't release me after an attempted assassination. I'd be lucky to see the end of the weekend.

I sigh. "Hera. Hera Star."

"Hera," he tastes the name on his tongue and I shudder. Maybe I could request a dirty sleepover as my dying wish before he executes me.

Woo, I'm messed up. I am a messed-up person. G*d, he's hot.

Ambrose finally moves away from me, taking the drinks and sitting on the chair.

"Join me, Hera."

Yes, sir.

I sit beside him, keeping my face blank as he hands me a glass. I take a sip to have something to do with my hands, but also because I desperately need a drink before the realization of my situation really hits me. I am so royally f*cked, and not in a good way.

"Tell me," the king says, "Do you know of the rumors about me?"

What an odd thing to ask.

"The half-wolf rumors?" I say. "Sure, who hasn't? People like to talk."

"They're all true."

Huh? True? Is the king actually insane? Sexy and crazy? Not my favorite combination, I have to admit.

"I'm a shifter, Hera," he says.

"I have no idea what that's supposed to mean," I respond.

He smirks. "I can change forms into a wolf at will. I have a pack, like a wolf, and I am the king but also an Alpha. As a shifter, I have certain strengths humans do not. I can hear better and move faster, to name a few, but that was how I heard your dagger."

My mouth drops. Against all better judgment, it drops. If I survived this, I was going to kill Lucas. This guy was absolutely bat-sh*t crazy.

The king continues despite my silence.

"Shifters, like wolves, also have mates. They mate for life and share a strong bond with their mates. A shifter will know when he's met his."

I have no idea where he's going with this.

"I knew when I saw you, Hera," he says carefully.

"What?" I say.

"I knew you were my mate."