Page 26

TWENTY-SIX

C harov guided Bess with firm hands on the dance floor, holding her so close that the emerald fabric of her gown whispered against his formal attire. Her pupils dilated as she gazed up at him. The bear inside him growled with delight. For days, he’d been drowning in paperwork and responsibilities, but tonight—with Bess in his arms—he remembered what it felt like to be alive.

His hand slid lower on her back. “I’m thinking we should leave.”

“But we haven’t been here long.”

Charov dipped his head, inhaling the scent of her neck. “And we’ve made our appearance. They’ve seen their king. Let Kynon have his little gathering. I have other plans for us.”

“What kind of plans?” The playfulness in her voice was new—this Bess was different from the woman who’d been helping him organize his kingdom this week. This was the woman who’d jumped from an aircraft without hesitation.

“You’ll see.” He spun her one final time before pulling her off the dance floor. “You wanted to see my fun side again, didn’t you? The one I had before all this responsibility.”

The music faded behind them as he guided her through the ballroom. His advisors tried to intercept, but Charov silenced them with a look. Tonight wasn’t about politics.

“Your Majesty,” Oberon appeared at his side. “The transport is ready.”

“Perfect.” Charov nodded to his friend before turning back to Bess. “Ready for another adventure?”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “You’re really doing this? Just—leaving?”

“Kings can do that.” He winked, guiding her up the grand staircase. “One of the few perks.”

The night air greeted them as they exited the building, cool and refreshing after the stuffy ballroom. The transport waited, sleek and black against the moonlight. He opened the door for her himself despite the attendants hovering nearby.

“Where are we going?” Bess asked as he slid in beside her.

“Somewhere that will make you forget all about royal paperwork.” He signaled to Oberon, then turned to her. “Are you always this impatient or just tonight?”

“Says the man who couldn’t wait to escape his own royal appearance.”

Charov laughed, the sound surprising even himself. His father’s death had cast a shadow over everything, but somehow, Bess had found a way to bring light back into his world.

“I’ve been a terrible host these past two weeks,” he admitted, taking her hand. Her skin was soft beneath his fingers. “You came to experience Nova Aurora, and instead you’ve been trapped in my study helping me manage a kingdom.”

“I don’t mind at all. I’m good at that kind of thing.”

“Too good,” he said, his voice tinged with pride. “But tonight, we do something I’m good at.”

The vehicle hummed as it sped away from the city. Charov watched Bess’s face as she gazed out at the passing landscape, illuminated by the planet’s two moons.

“Tell me something,” she said suddenly. “If you weren’t king, what would you be doing right now?”

The question caught him off guard. “Exactly what I’m doing. Taking a beautiful woman on an adventure.”

The transport wound along the coastal road, the rhythm of the engine vibrating against Charov’s back as he watched Bess’s silhouette against the window. His bear prowled under his skin, pleased to have his mate so close to him after days of tedious royal duties. When the vehicle finally slowed, he caught the first glint of moonlight on the water—the famous pink sea that surrounded his territory, shimmering like a pool of rose quartz under Nova Aurora’s twin moons.

“We’re here,” Charov said, not waiting for Oberon to open the door. He stepped out first, extending his hand to Bess with a possessive flourish. The way her emerald gown clung to her curves made his throat tighten. “Your chariot awaits.”

His royal boat gleamed at the dock—sleek, powerful, and ready. The crew stood at attention, but Charov waved them off.

“No crew tonight,” he commanded. “Just prepare the vessel and leave us.”

The captain looked uncertain. “Your Majesty, protocol dictates?—”

“Protocol can go to hell,” Charov growled, his bear surfacing just enough to make his eyes flash. “I captained this boat long before I wore a crown.”

Bess raised an eyebrow, and he caught the hint of a smile. That small gesture sent heat flooding through him.

Within minutes, they were alone on the water. Charov steered them away from shore, enjoying the familiar vibration of the engines beneath his feet. With each passing moment, the immense weight of the crown seemed to lighten.

“So this is what bear shifters do for fun?” Bess teased, coming to stand beside him at the helm.

“This one does.” He cut the engines when they reached a secluded spot far from shore, where the pink waters stretched uninterrupted to the horizon. “Look up.”

Bess tilted her head back, and her soft gasp was exactly the reaction he had hoped for. Without city lights, Nova Aurora’s night sky exploded with stars—bright pinpricks of blue, silver, and gold unlike anything visible from Earth.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” she breathed.

He moved behind her, his chest pressed against her back. “I used to come out here whenever I needed to escape. Whenever I felt trapped by what was expected of me.”

He guided her to the bow where there were plush cushions and blankets. They settled side by side, looking up at the vast expanse of cosmos.

“I always thought I needed to get it all in—every adventure, every thrill—before the crown came,” Charov admitted, his voice rough. “I believed that once I became king, there would be no more of this. No more freedom. No more fun.”

His finger traced the line of her jaw. “And I was right. Two weeks as king, and this is the first time I’ve breathed free air.”

Bess studied him, her eyes reflecting the starlight. “Is that true of all kings? Because Emesyn tells me stories about King Alyx and Queen Bella that suggest otherwise. They seem to find time for adventure.”