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Damn my stupid, inane sense of propriety!

Once he was done with his shirt, they both looked at me with some expectation I didn’t immediately understand.

Oh. They want privacy.

I took a step back. “I’ll give you two some time and go make up rooms for you.”

“Thank you, Aliya,” Tannin said with a warm smile. “That would be nice.”

Jax didn’t reciprocate his friend’s attitude, only looking down his nose at me without a word.

I nodded once, then made my way to the west wing to decide on suitable rooms for them. Everything everywhere in this castle aside from the few places I frequented was covered in dust, and it would take quite some effort and time to make them guest ready.

But I was determined to win them over, especially the stony, untrusting Jax. Tonight, I’d make them a wonderful dinner. His miraculous recovery was a cause for celebration after all, and I had to do everything in my power to make them want to stay for as long as possible.

I knew it was selfish, but I couldn’t bear the idea of going back to being alone again. I’d survived the first time I’d been abandoned, but now... I wasn’t sure I’d survive it a second time.

Chapter 5

Jax

ASTORM OF CONFLICTINGvictory and outrage seethed beneath my skin as I glared at my beta—my oldest friend. The kingdom was empty, the castle unguarded and basically welcoming our return with open arms. The epic battle I’d anticipated and planned for was now unnecessary, and there were no obstacles before us.

But the princess, the last of our enemies, still lived.

“Why didn’t you just kill her?” I growled at Tannin.

He didn’t cow at my harsh question. Unlike the rest of my pack, he never shrank in the face of my anger, and I found that both admirable and annoying. Especially right now, when I demanded accountability for this egregious error in judgment.

Instead, he cut me with a deadpan frown. “You really expected me to kill the only person in a hundred miles who could help you when you were knocking on death’s door?”

I huffed, my nostrils flaring, but I couldn’t exactly argue with that.

“Plus, I didn’t find out she was the princess until after she cleaned and sealed the wound in your side,” he continued, gesturing to my right abdomen. “She’s dressed up this morning, but last night she wore rags.”

I lifted my shirt and looked down to inspect myself. “There’s nothing there. Not even a scar.”