Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Aurelia
“I really need to go get my clothes, or Cecil is going to pop a blood vessel in his face,” I whispered to Nyfain when I approached. “I’m sorry, I tried not to touch her, but she tackled me.”
“C’mere, baby girl.” Nyfain reached for his daughter. She continued to point at him and opened her mouth to yell, “No,” but he blew a raspberry against her neck and made her wiggle and giggle in his arms.
My heart squished. I’d never get over that big, fierce man so ardently loving his little princess. It was the sweetest, cutest, loveliest thing.
A tapping foot invaded the moment. Cecil was not holding it together well. He really wanted me to see those clothes.
I noticed what Hadriel held, though, and paused.
“Why do you have my painting?”
“Because you pissed off Liron, and I love it.”
I turned my eyes skyward, my remembered annoyance flaring. “Yeah, he kept overexplaining like I was an idiot and then condescending to me. I got what I needed from him. I can go to the library for the rest. Sorry to say, but he’s not worth dealing with.”
Hadriel held up a hand. “I understand all too well, my love.”
Cecil’s foot was still tapping. Hadriel frowned as he looked that way.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” I told Cecil to keep the peace, catching Weston’s eye and feeling the warmth radiating through my middle. He looked down on me, his eyes so soft, so deep.
“Hi,” he said, his voice rumbling in his chest.
I smiled as I ran my hand up his chest and around his neck, angling up for a quick kiss. He complied, his lips lingering as I melted. The warmth overflowed, filling my heart and making my belly flutter once again. I’d never get enough of this alpha, I knew that now. I wanted each moment with him to last forever, each moment apart to be cut short.
“Hi,” I murmured against his lips, wishing it was him I was handing a cute little girl to, watching as her daddy hugged his little princess close. Our little princess. “I have to go.” I gave him one last kiss, my emotion throbbing within me. “I’ll see you later, okay? I love you.”
I turned to walk away as affection exploded through the bond. It took me a moment to realize what I’d just said, something I’d been feeling but waiting for the right time to say. It had just slipped out.
I faced him with what I knew was an oh, shit! expression, wondering how he’d take it. I’d just thrown it out there, in front of his king, in front of Hadriel—in front of the damn seamster, for fuck’s sake!
His expression melted from stoic to soul-warming devotion. He reached for me, pulling me to him.
“Gods, I love you, Aurelia,” he said before kissing me, fiercely at first, then backing off into a tenderness so sweet I wanted to cry.
I guess any time was the right time when your feelings for your mate could no longer be contained.
“Oh my—was that the first time you said it?” Hadriel whisper-yelled. “Baby girl,” he said to Tabitha, “we are witnessing the first ‘I love you!’ Oh my . . .” He waved air at his suddenly glassy eyes. Tabitha turned to grin at him. “Isn’t this amazing? I love when beautiful couples with a lot of privilege and clout share their first, most intimate moments publicly. It makes me so happy to live in the castle.”
I laughed against Weston’s lips and then let him hug me, rocking me a little. Somehow, an audience was actually perfect. We’d gotten to know each other with an audience, fought in front of one, fucked in front of one . . . and were now officially in love in front of one.
“I love you,” I whispered, glad to finally say it. To finally feel it. To have taken the fall and been held safe in the landing. “I choose you, every day, for the rest of my life. You’re my forever.”
I sealed it with one more kiss before I ripped myself away and went to Cecil, tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.
“If you take much longer, I die from boredom,” Cecil groused, shooing me along.
I laughed, because that seemed perfect, too.
Hadriel
Cecil was all but sprinting. Why was the guy in such a fucking hurry? They were clothes. It wasn’t like they would go bad.
“No, no.” I pushed the painting at the king, then realized what I was doing. I nearly shoved it at the beta but figured he was just as scary since learning his mate’s whereabouts had been officially confirmed, and decided just to take it. Cecil was hurrying Aurelia away. “Leala, hurry, catch up to them.” I stepped in front of the king. “Start the meeting without me. I want to . . . check a few things out.”