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I’d wondered if that was how the cusith emerged. If they were some ancient species of shifter that had been civilized once upon a time, but after being individually cut off from their packs, they’d been forced to band together once they’d mutated into whatever they were now.

I shook my head of the thoughts and began to survey the various bottles on the nearest wall. What would Aliya like?

Wine was a rarity for our pack, something we only acquired through infrequent trades. Some members brewed a sort of mead from honey and berries, but it was far too sweet for my liking. I preferred dry red wine. It was bold and hearty, like an Alpha.

But that didn’t seem like it would suit the princess. She was sweet and gentle, and she deserved a drink to match.

I plucked champagne from the middle shelf and inspected the bottle. The date on the bottle was twenty years previous, and the cork was wrapped in elegant gold foil. Yes, this would do nicely. A bubbly, pink drink for my bubbly, pink girl.

I turned for the stairs, then paused. Who was I kidding? One bottle wasnotgoing to be enough for the three of us. I grabbed a second bottle, then jogged back up the steps.

Tannin was just rinsing off the last plate when I returned to the kitchen, and I reached over him for the cabinet where the glasses were kept.

“What are you doing?” he groused, stepping aside and drying his hands on a towel.

I pulled three champagne flutes from the cabinet. “I think we should have a little soiree today. A grand ball of our own to celebrate our union. You know, before you blow the whole thing up with your confession.”

He cut me a deadpan glare.

“I know, I know. It’s the right thing to do,” I said. “Doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it. I just want to show Aliya a nice time before it’s too late.”

He sighed and nodded. “Okay. It’s not the worst idea you’ve ever had.”

I snorted. “There’s a Victrola and some records in the study. Set them up in the ballroom. I’ll fetch our mate.”

With a roll of his eyes, he strode for the study beneath the grand staircase, and I went off in search of Aliya.

After checking dozens of places throughout the castle, I finally found her in the library. The relief that crashed over me at the sight of her curled up on a couch beneath the window was palpable. Some part of me had feared she was hiding from us. From me.

I had to remember to be gentle with her. To show her the man I could be for her.

I tapped the knuckle of my index finger against the door frame, and her face shot from the book she was reading up at me. She quickly closed her book and set it aside.

“I’m surprised to find you in here,” I hedged as I stepped into the room.

“I like to read in here,” she said, lowering her feet to dangle off the edge of the couch. “Before you two came, I used to sleep in here for days at a time. I guess the words on the pages made me feel less alone.”

Pity tightened the muscles in my throat as I came to sit beside her. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you to be alone for so long. And after losing everyone you cared about. I’m truly sorry that happened to you.”

She offered a sad smile, then shrugged. “Well, I’m not alone anymore. Now I have you and Tannin.”

My heart softened, and I took her hand gently in mine. “Yes, and we will never leave your side. Unless, of course, you want us to. I know I can be a bit of an asshole, and that my past actions have given you a bad impression of me. But I want you to know that I—we—don’t have any expectations of you. I don’t ever want to do anything that you don’t want. I only want to make you happy, whatever that means.”

She nodded, and though her smile remained, there was still some unspoken sadness in her eyes.

“To that point, I have a surprise for you,” I said.

She cocked her head at me with intrigue, and my smile widened in anticipation.

I stood, still loosely holding her hand. “Come with me.”

She narrowed her eyes curiously but rose from the couch and let me usher her out of the library. She was quiet as I led her through the halls, and I hoped my surprise would be something she’d enjoy. I was determined to give her a fun day before our brittle utopia crumbled into oblivion.

Tannin was setting a record onto the Victrola as we entered, and when he saw us, he placed the needle on the edge of the black disk and flipped the switch on its base. Music began to play softly, a symphony of string instruments whose title I didn’t know, but I still appreciated its elegant beauty.

Aliya sighed wistfully, putting her free hand to her chest. “This was my mother’s favorite song.”

I smiled at the nostalgic look on her face. “I thought we might have ourselves a little ball. We’ve gone about this courting thing all wrong, and a princess should at least have the chance to be swept off her feet by her two dashing suitors.”