LOGINGenevieve's POVWhen he barked that dismissive command in his office, I assumed he'd ignore Ms. Primrose's call and head straight to my quarters to haul my belongings. Instead, we rounded a vaulted marble archway and strode straight into a corridor I knew far too well.Why are we taking the private path to the Dowager Queen's estate?As King Valerius led the way with his stiff, furious strides, Beta Bailey's footsteps gradually slowed down until he fell back, matching my pace step for step. Keeping his eyes glued straight ahead, he leaned down slightly."What happened to His Majesty's face?" he murmured under his breath, pitching his voice so low it barely ruffled the air. "Did you... strike him?"My brows knit together. "You didn't hear a single thing from out in the corridor?" I whispered back, matching his hushed tone. I had practically screamed at the top of my lungs when I hurled my apron at the King's chest. I fully expected the entire wing to have heard us—not that I intended t
Genevieve's POVEverything inside me shattered the second those words rolled off his tongue:"Of course, you can continue having my children for as long as you want—"Before my conscious mind could intervene, my body acted on pure, unadulterated instinct. My arm swung back, and my open palm cracked across his face with everything I had.Crack.The sound went off like a gunshot in the cavernous office, and his head snapped sharply to the side.Absolute, suffocating silence slammed down on the room. My heart stalled in my chest. A cold, dizzying rush of panic flooded my veins, chasing away the white-hot adrenaline.What did I just do? Did... did I just strike the Alpha King across the face?Slowly, methodically, he turned his head back toward me. His eyes had turned completely pitch-black. The veins along his corded neck bulged against his skin, and his jaw locked into a murderous grid.Terror gripped my throat like a vice. There was no escaping this. The best and only option was to fin
Third-Person POVKing Valerius did not slow his stride, his fingers still locked possessively around Genevieve's hand as he hauled her out onto the sweeping colonnade of the outer courtyard. The cool afternoon breeze did nothing to cool the raging fire in his blood."Eve!" A choked, desperate cry shattered the quiet courtyard.Before Genevieve could catch her breath, a blur of motion darted past the marble balustrade. Nora, who had been pacing frantically across the flagstones, threw herself forward. She slammed straight into Genevieve, wrapping her arms around her neck and sobbing loudly, uncaring that King Valerius was still gripping her friend's hand."I'm sorry, Eve! I'm so sorry!" Nora wept, her tears soaking into Genevieve's collar. "They wouldn't let me inside the hall. I tried to get in, but he wouldn't let me." She pointed toward Beta Bailey."I know," Genevieve whispered softly, wrapping an arm around Nora's shaking back and gently patting her spine. "I know, Nora. I told hi
Genevieve's POVDid he almost slip and call me his mate? That was definitely his wolf in control. King Valerius would never try to save me.With a grunt, King Kael brought both hands up, violently knocking Valerius's grip off his collar and taking a hasty step back."Oh?" King Kael arched his left brow. "Why are you losing your sense of judgment over her, King Valerius? Having her as my sex toy isn't a bad—""Shut. Up!" King Valerius bellowed.His eyes had turned entirely black, his pupils blown wide as raw, untamed bloodlust surged through his veins. His shoulders trembled violently, every corded muscle strained to its absolute limit as he fought the desperate urge to tear the vampire's throat out where he stood.My attention was snatched by Princess Jennifer as she jumped to her feet, her face contorting with shrill, unhinged fury."I don't understand you at all, King Valerius!" she screamed, pointing an accusing finger at him. "You refuse to see her executed, and you refuse to hand
Genevieve's POV"He is..." Fast and urgent footsteps interrupted me, preventing me from completing my words."Your Grace," Beta Bailey called, approaching us. He stopped right in front of the dining table and bent his head in a deep, reverent bow.Ms. Primrose acknowledged him with a brief nod of dismissal, then turned her full attention back to me, squeezing my fingers gently."Go on, Genevieve. You were about to tell me who the father is," she pressed on.I subconsciously glanced at Beta Bailey, wondering if he had overheard our conversation and if that was why he had barged in like that."Genevieve?" Ms. Primrose called, waving her hand across my face to get my attention."Miss Rivers," Beta Bailey intervened smoothly, his voice dropping into a solemn, official tone. "His Majesty wants you in the meeting hall."A violent tremor seized my chest at once. The warmth drained completely from my limbs. I gently slid my hands out of Ms. Primrose's soft grasp, my fingers curling tightly in
Genevieve's POVHis tone was calm, but it couldn't hide the accusation behind it. I parted my lips, ready to defend myself, but before a single word could pass my teeth, King Valerius released my chin. His forefinger moved in a flash, pressing firmly against the center of my lips to silence me."Do you have any knowledge of the catastrophic damage this little brawl of yours could inflict on the treaty between the werewolves and vampires? Or do you think you can cause trouble and expect me to clean up after you simply because you happen to be my mate?"My eyes narrowed as a surge of hot indignation flared in my chest. Reaching up, I struck his hand away from my mouth with a sharp, stinging slap."I never asked you to clean up anything for me," I snapped, lifting my chin in defiance. "I am not a damsel in distress, Your Majesty."He crossed his arms over his chest, his shoulders squared as a single dark brow arched with chilling skepticism."That fight wasn't our fault. We were just—""







