MasukJoanne’s POVI stayed frozen in the hallway long after James and the guards moved on, the footsteps fading into the quiet hum of the palace.Married. The word echoed in my head loud and heavy, but it didn’t land the way I expected it to. It didn’t feel sharp. It didn’t feel final. It felt… confusin
Because a baby in this palace wasn’t just a baby.It was an heir. And heirs were in power. Power made people greedy. Power made people dangerous.I swallowed hard, my throat tight.Then I thought about Vivien and how she was sticking around for a while. Which meant she would be around Alexander more
Joanne’s POVI tried to pretend that I was fine; after my initial breakdown, where I cried on the floor in Alexander’s chambers… I tried to act as if none of it mattered and that I was okay. But hours after running into Vivien, I still felt unsettled.Her voice was stuck in my head; all sweet and po
I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth, not sure what to say in response. I shifted awkwardly in place; I wanted to be anywhere but here right now. What was Vivien even doing at this palace still? It’s been days since she had that meeting with Alexander and the King. There shouldn’t be a reason for he
Joanne’s POVI press my palm against my stomach, more out of habit than necessity. Nothing felt different physically… at least not really. There was no pain, or bloating… no movement… other than throwing up constantly, there was no sign of me being pregnant.But the results didn’t lie. The results t
I needed to protect the vampire territory from my brother and Joanne from my family. Which meant I was going to have to marry Vivien at least on paper. Marriage doesn’t mean I need to give up Joanne. I could still have her in my bed…I could still keep her in my arms, kiss her pretty pink lips, and







