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)
In the meantime, I would do my best to bolster her back up until the beta could join her and offer her the support of a true mate. I’d had plenty of experience helping her navigate through the stories of her depressing life. This experience would not be going to that pile. This would be a heroic moment in her journals, her bravery and tenacity and magical abilities recounted in vivid detail. I’d make sure of it.
“To the bath,” I said after I’d put on my dirty clothes, pepping up. “Just in time, too. My lord, you’re dirtier than a demon’s dick. Let’s get Leala to get you some really nice bath salts and petals and all that extra shit that makes us feel like royalty, shall we? There are perks to living in a castle.”
I hooked my arm within hers.
“And a nice meal, too.” I licked my lips as we walked. “I could go for lamb. Do you know how to make lamb? I’ll steal all the supplies and you can make it. Sound good?”
Weston
I watched Hadriel guide my mate to the castle, wishing I could’ve been the one to walk her back. I knew she regarded this situation as a failure, when in reality it was anything but.
“Well?” Nyfain asked me, ducking behind a tree to grab our clothes.
I took a deep breath. “Well.”
He laughed once and nodded. “Let’s start at the beginning. The shift seemed like it went well.”
“The shift went fine. There was a moment of confusion during the transition, but we managed it.”
“Grabbing for control?”
“Not even a little.” I told him about how she managed her power, keeping it banked to protect the established pack bond.
“Sounds like the makings of a good alpha.” He paused. “A good mate.”
“Yes, it does,” I said quietly. “I merged our power and tried a direct pack bond with Hadriel. I wanted to see what that might look like.”
“And?”
“She strengthened the pack bond in a way I can only describe as pleasant. Really fucking pleasant. Strong, too. If we can train her to apply it to the rest of the pack, it’ll be the most intense pack bond I think anyone will have ever felt. Unbreakable.”
“Do you foresee having a problem giving commands with her in the bond?”
I ran my fingers through my unruly hair. It needed to be cut, badly. “I don’t think so, but I can’t yet say for sure. That sort of thing is what usually tears down an alpha pair. Our bond is new, our wolves are new to each other . . . I really can’t tell yet how that will play out. Aurelia can be stubborn as all hell. When I tell her to do something, she pushes back. I don’t know yet if her wolf will be the same way. If so, it’s not a good recipe for a pack bond.”
“I think you’re forgetting the type of mate I have. I know something about stubbornness, pushing back, and refusing to do as she’s told. When it’s important, they usually make the right choices. If they are a strong leader, it’ll help make you better. Make us all better, as a kingdom. Our alpha pair leadership works. There’s no reason yours couldn’t.”
“I’m hoping so. I—” I clenched my jaw against my swell of longing. The future I imagined with her was something I was scared to admit. I’d done such horrible things in my life. Lived such terrible experiences. Often it felt like I didn’t deserve true happiness, that I shouldn’t have my dreams answered. But damn it, I couldn’t deny how badly I wanted her, wanted our messy yet perfect love. A family.
“Speak,” he said, studying me.
I made busy doing up my buttons. “I really want this,” I admitted. “I want her as my mate. I want her to lead your pack alongside me. I want to be the strongest commander in the magical world, and I want her help with that.”
“You want it all.”
“Yeah, I suppose I do.”
“There’s just one problem.”
There was a helluva lot more than just one problem.
“What is that?” I asked.
“The fairies are going to make a play for her. That magic . . .” Nyfain shook his head, a warning in his eyes. “That magic was not shifter magic. We already know she has fairy blood. That magic was powerful and has the potential to be devastating. My own people turned on me. They would’ve killed me if given the chance. That magic would be dangerously destructive in battle. She wouldn’t even need to fight; she could have the enemy do it for her.”
“Did you note that Vemar didn’t succumb?”
“I did. Vemar is known for his inability to be manipulated with magic. His mind is strong. Most aren’t.”
“She’s your prisoner. How would the fairies get her without stepping on your toes?”