Page 18 of A Reign of Malice (Wolves of Lunara #3)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

SLOANE

C lara and Dasha show the other royals to their rooms, and I attempt to sneak back to mine, but I don’t make it two steps before I hear him.

“Sloane.”

His voice slithers down my spine, smooth as silk but held together with something heavier. Expectation. Command. Suspicion .

I exhale slowly before turning toward him with a saccharine smile on my face.

Aeson still stands in the foyer, arms crossed over his chest, his blue eyes dark and nearly unreadable. But I see it. The sharp edge just beneath the surface.

He knows something.

I school my expression into one of mild curiosity and force sultry into my voice as I address him. “Yes, my king?”

His lips twitch as he strides toward me, closing the space between us with slow and deliberate steps. “We need to talk.”

Aeson doesn’t wait for an answer before gripping my elbow, guiding me through a side passage that leads to one of the smaller offices. The door clicks shut behind us, and all too soon, we’re alone.

Just like before, but at least I’m not taken by surprise this time.

He says nothing at first, just watches me as he removes his gloves, flexing his fingers like a man considering his next move on a chessboard.

I lift my chin. “Is something wrong?”

Aeson’s gaze tightens. “You were in the lower levels of the castle while I was gone this afternoon.”

Shit. Someone was there.

I tilt my head, feigning confusion. “Lower levels?”

One dark brow arches. “Don’t play games, Sloane. One of my staff saw you. I’d hoped you would be honest with me before I had to ask.”

A slow breath. The tension of the moment settles over me, but I don’t let it show. Instead, I shift, letting my expression soften—just enough.

Time to pivot.

I step toward him, deliberate in my movements, allowing my body to brush his ever so slightly.

“Oh, in the south wing? I thought that was still part of the first floor. I was looking for extra space to store some of my things.” I exhale lightly, letting my lips part just a little, and his eyes dip, just for a second.

“There are still boxes being moved from Alcaris. I didn’t want to burden you or have them in the foyer when our guests arrived, so I thought I’d find a place myself. ”

Aeson studies me, but I see it in the flicker of his gaze—hesitation. He doesn’t want to believe me, but I’m vital to his plans. He needs me happy until we actually bond. Though, I’m not sure the cost of said thing is something he’s decided on just yet.

Push him further .

I reach up, dragging a hand down his chest slowly, trailing my nails over the fabric of his shirt. “But…” I sigh, my lashes lowering slightly, inviting. “That wasn’t all.”

Aeson stays silent, but I can feel the shift. His grip on his control tightens, like a wolf caught between instinct and logic.

I lift my gaze, meeting his. “My wolf picked up on an energy in that part of the castle.” I exhale again, slower this time, watching his pupils expand.

“It called to me, settling over my skin like a warm summer’s day.

It was…” My fingers press against his chest, and I let my lips curve into something wicked.

“Tantalizing. You’ve been holding out on me, my king. ”

Aeson’s hand catches my wrist, but he doesn’t push me away. He waits.

Good.

I step another inch forward, my voice dipping lower. “I wonder…” I let my breath ghost over his cheek before my lips barely skim the corner of his mouth. “What other powerful secrets are you hiding from me? Because I’m beginning to see the bigger picture here. More importantly, I approve.”

His breath hitches.

He’s falling for it.

Aeson holds onto my waist, his grip pressing in just enough to remind me of the power he thinks he holds over me. His voice is rougher now, thicker. “What is it you think you see?” he murmurs, meeting my heady stare with one of his own.

My fingertip glides over his mouth. “You’re making us the strongest pack in Lunara.

Something neither of us could’ve done on our own…

but together,” I scrape my lower lip with my teeth and let out a soft moan.

“Together, we could be un stoppable. But only if we trust each other. Something you haven’t extended to me. ”

His nose travels up my neck, and he nips at my ear lobe. “Trust, huh? That’s not something I give easily. You might’ve signed that contract, but you’ve done little to show me just how invested you truly are in this partnership.”

Gods, I can’t do this. I can’t let him continue to touch me like this. Not when I know Julian is so close, not when he’s what I want above all else.

But I also know I have to. At least until I have a valid reason not to.

“Clara!” I scream for her through our mental link. “I don’t care what excuse you come up with, find us in the room nearest to the foyer and interrupt.”

“ Be there soon.”

Nothing will be soon enough, but I lean into Aeson’s touch, playing my role. I can’t crumble yet. I decided to play this game, and there’s no backing out until I’ve won. No matter the sacrifices I must make.

Julian will understand if he’s everything I’m beginning to believe he is.

Aeson angles his head, closing the space between us. His lips brush mine, making my wolf recoil, snarling and repulsed, but I don’t flinch.

Instead, I let my hands slide higher, tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. Seconds stretch into what feel like minutes, and I let him ravage me. His dark scent assaults my senses, and the stubble on his cheek feels harsh against my exposed skin.

My heart hammers in my chest, and when he starts to unbutton his pants, I nearly lose the hold over my wolf as she attempts to take control.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for decades,” he whispers into my ear.

“We might not be mates, but you were always meant to be mine, Sloane. My only regret is that it took you so long to realize what I already knew.” He grabs my chin, looking into my eyes, and I hope he can’t see my revulsion.

“I tried everything over the years, and my desperation to claim you only continues to?—”

A crash echoes from the foyer. Aeson tenses for a second before opening his mouth, but then there are raised voices. Ones that will undoubtedly draw attention, and not the kind this king prefers.

Aeson jerks back, cursing as he fixes his attire. “Today of all days.” His gaze snaps toward the door. “I’m done with interruptions.”

Another shout. A woman’s voice—Dasha.

What have I done?

I asked Clara to interrupt, but I didn’t think she’d make a scene. Every hour, this situation becomes more complicated. I thought I could handle this, that I could play Aeson, but maybe Julian was right. I don’t know what I’m getting into, and if Clara, or anyone else, gets hurt in the process…

Still, for the moment at least, I have to keep playing my part or things might get much, much worse.

I exhale sharply, smoothing out my gown. “What the hell is going on out there?”

Aeson growls under his breath, storming to the door without answering me. The moment he yanks it open, we’re met with a scene I never would’ve expected.

Dasha has Clara pinned against the wall and both are red-faced with tightened fists, seeming ready for a fight. I have no clue what could’ve caused this, but I’m going to find out.

“I told you.” Dasha’s voice cracks with urgency. “You don’t understand what you’re doing?— ”

Clara scoffs. “What I understand is that you’re trying to keep me from doing my job.”

Dasha reaches for her, but Aeson grabs them both by the backs of their necks. “Enough!” His voice booms twice as loud as theirs. “The two of you are supposed to be leading examples of what it means to be an advisor and members of this pack. I should lock you in the dungeon.”

Clara chuckles, but I step in before that’s where she actually gets sent, or worse.

“I agree.” This makes my advisor straighten. “Do you care to tell us what started all of this?”

Dasha keeps her eyes lowered as she answers. “Clara was trying to interrupt the two of you, and it was my job to stop her.”

“And it’s my job to inform my queen when a new pup is born into our pack,” Clara sneers. “Promptly.”

“Selene and Trav had a safe delivery of their young?” I ask, half because a change of subject might lighten the tension as Aeson still has a grip on their necks, but also because if this is true, it’s not only a suitable distraction, but great news.

The mates lost their last baby, and they’d been terrified throughout this pregnancy.

Clara nods. “Yes, a baby boy. The name has yet to be decided. If this is something not worthy of interruption any longer, I do apologize for my misstep.”

The tick in her jawline tells me how hard those words were for her to say, but they seem to work.

Aeson finally loosens his hold and steps back to stand next to me. “A note will suffice in the future if we’re indisposed. In the meantime, both of you will be punished for making such a scene, on today of all days.”

I grab Clara’s shoulder and shove her toward the stairs. “You’ll spend the rest of the evening in your room, missing the royal dinner tonight. I won’t risk this embarrassment continuing in front of our guests. Tomorrow, Aeson and I will inform both of you how you’re to proceed moving forward.”

Clara stiffens. I can practically feel the rage vibrating off her, but I shake my head slightly, wordlessly telling her to let it go.

Now isn’t the time to push. Now’s the time to retreat.

Aeson eyes me, but he doesn’t counter what I’ve already commanded. He sends Dasha toward her quarters, and before I can consider what I’ve done, I’m alone with him again.

He runs a hand through his hair, jaw still tense. “My queen, I need a moment before dinner to compose myself. But after dinner…” He wraps his fingers firmly around my neck, but not tight enough to cut off my air as he whispers into my ear, “That’s for us .”

I can’t hold back my shudder, but he at least interprets the loathing as desire.

“I’ll see you shortly in your room so I can escort you to the dining hall.” With that, he turns on his heel, heading for the corridor.

The moment he’s gone, I grab the railing of the stairs and let out a long breath as I reach out to Clara. “I’m so sorry.”

“I know,” she replies quickly. “This is only getting harder, Sloane. I’m not sure how much longer we can keep this up.”

She’s not the only one thinking that.

“Was that argument with Dasha real? How did that even happen?” Aeson’s advisor hasn’t shown an ounce of strength since we arrived. I need to know what that was all about.

Clara’s voice lowers, frustration and concern coming through loud and clear as she replies. “She wasn’t arguing with me, Sloane. She was warning me—no, pleading with me not to go where I don’t belong. That there would be consequences.”

I narrow my eyes as I continue toward my room. “From her?”

“She kept looking at the door to the room you were trapped in,” she says. “Whatever Aeson has done, it has her terrified.”

Silence settles between us, and my wolf stirs.

The mention of consequences makes me think of Julian. Of his chains, the runes, centuries of torment, and the prospect of his death in the near future if I don’t figure this out.

My throat tightens.

Does Dasha know that Julian’s down there?

There’s a rumble in my chest as I make my way upstairs. “We need to find out what she knows.”

“I’ll work on it,” Clara promises. “You just find a way to stay away from that creep while I’m grounded.”

That’s something I’m not sure I can do, but I’m sure as hell going to try.