Alle Kapitel von Dear Mate, You’re Mine!: Kapitel 161 – Kapitel 170

Astra’s POVI was sure my face was thrilled. I couldn't hide my excitement even if I wanted to. Finally dealing with a monster that had long bared its head and teeth against me with such defiance was a relief.It was not just a relief, it was one that called for me to smile more than I have in the entirety of my life. I could see the guards hiding their faces while also tucking their surprise away. I deserve this and I wanted to just glow.We were riding back. Jerome rode beside me, silent as always. His eyes flicked around and he looked like he was in deep thoughts. His eyes flicked to the walls that were approaching our isght the to my expression. I could feel his restraint and caution from behind those veiled eyes. A shadow of worry adorned his look.I sighed heavily just as the gates of the palace came into site. the site of those gates felt like the sight of a welcome home. Like we'd been gone for long and it was welcoming us back, even as it rose before us. The guards throwing t

Astra's POVThe first explosion reached me through the glass. The impact loud and violent caused my windows to rattle violently, the panes shuddering in their frames as if the palace was shaking. I was still processing it, my eyes had flown straight to the window when the second one hit.The roar was deep and ugly and it sounded like thunder. I could tell it was somewhere in the city and it wasn't just in the palace. My hand stilled mid-motion, hovering over parchment paper, ink dripped onto the desk.For a moment, the world froze.Then screams followed.I was on my feet before the voices faded, my chair scraped sharply across the ground as I pulled it back without thinking. I crossed the desk in three strides and threw the window open. Heat rushed in first. Then smoke. Thick, and acrid, very thick.Whatever it was, it was from the eastern quarter. And I knew exactly what it was.“Again?” I whispered.Boots thundered in the corridor outside my chambers. Its urgency sent my heart into

Astra's POVOne thing you must know is that we didn't stop there. My supreme guards were still returning with reports even while we strategized and today was one of the days where one of those reports had me spooked and staring.I didn't realize how long I had been staring at the same page until the air that moved it from that page to another.There was ink. Lots of inks. There were lines. Lots of lines too and then there were names. Lots of it but one...I dragged my fingers down the parchment paper that had been clipped together. The paper was rough beneath the skin of my fingers, as if its rough texture could convince me that this was real.That this name that stared back at me was real.Kane was real. Very much real and alive. That alone should have been enough to shake me. Enough to justify the dread coiling through my spine. But Kane, I had come to expect. I had even come to believe his proof of Life even without seeing him in flesh and blood.Yet this one not even the ache behi

Trent's POVI closed my eyes as I reminisced at how far I'd come since the exile. Since Astra had her guards bundle me out like I was a piece of junk. A low smirk hung on my lips.They thought exile would be the end of me right? They thought I'd never rise again after that harsh casting out.Jokes on them because now I'd come far, too far and I was not staying down.I wondered what Astra's face would look like when she discovered that I hadn't just survived and stayed alive, that I had formed a battalion and that I had caused unrest in her camps.That thought reminded me of where it all started. All the Alpha's I had approached to help me make this thing a reality but they'd turned me back, not ready to betray their almighty queen Astra. It reminded me of the days when Varric, the rogue king, would come around or send his rogue boys to convince me to turn rogue and work with him.But I knew I wanted more,.I was going to do more and being a rogue would rob me of my chances and I was ri

Astra's POVThe last line of the document did not blur.It stared right back at me and I stared back.The Dusky Brotherhood are preparing a surprise attack on the palace. Estimated window: 5-7days.,I read it again.And again.Then I closed the folder slowly, I was impressed that yet again, Trent was trying to go to war with me. He never learns does he?But I also knew why he had the guts and the confidence to think he could start a war, he could defeat me.Kane.The resources, the people, all of it seemed to give him some type of confidence that I would be glad to crush.I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling, letting the truth settle into my bones. The portal was gone. The sanctuary was destroyed. Kane had lost patience... which meant he would stop hiding.A faint brief smile formed on the corners of my lips. It was the one thing I like about this war Trent was trying to bring to my doorsteps. It was no more a shadow war, there will no longer be backhanded means like bo