Page 138 of Contested Crown

I snorted, and before moving to follow them, I glanced significantly at Nia, who nodded her head once. She could hold down the fort while I went for the emperor’s new clothes.

Some of the wolves were already snuggled into the comforters, using the large beds as an excuse for pack bonding.

We moved down the hallway, and Rhys’s shoulders slumped slightly. They wiped at their forehead with a handkerchief.

“Now, normally, I wouldn’t dream of this, but all the magic I’ve been doing today has left me a bit drained. I was saving up for today because I thought I had to save the mages myself, so thank you for giving me that grace, Prince Bartlett.” They dabbed at their forehead again. “But I don’t think I’ll be much help during this raid.”

“You’ve been more than helpful already. I wouldn’t want anyone to risk their lives for this.” Cade searched Rhys’s face. “And call me Cade. I’m not a prince anymore.”

Rhys raised both eyebrows. “So, since I can’t make you two anything custom, I’m afraid this will have to do. It’s my own personal stash. You’ll have to resize it on your own.”

They unlocked the door, opening it to reveal a massive closet lined with every sort of clothes you could ever need. Suits, loungewear, evening gowns, and a fair number of bathing suits were all draped on hangers and organized by clothing type and season, based on the signage above the racks.

“Feel free to choose whatever you want. I feel the need for a cuddle with Nia, so enjoy yourselves.”

When they left, the closet felt even larger. Cade stared at me, and I stared back.

“You have a pack,” he said.

“I have thestartof a pack. And we’ll have to see if all of them stay, once the adrenaline wears off, once they realize what going up against Declan means.” I was finding excuses, and I knew it.

Cade walked over to one of the racks and took a suit off it, examining it before replacing it and searching for something that was more his style. “What are you going to do when you find Declan?”

“Well, he definitely has any answers we need about Leon.” I watched as Cade chose a pair of pants and a shirt.

Then, to my surprise, he approached me, holding them up against my chest and legs. He shook his head once, walking away and finding a different shirt.

“You let me be a part of your pack,” Cade observed.

“Youarea part of my pack,” I said, unsure how to reassure him of where his position stood. “I want you in my pack. Don’t you want that?”

“I’m your second?” Cade was staring at the clothes, not at my face. There was a time when the question would have seemed chilly, disinterested, as though he didn’t care one way or another what I said.

Now I could only hear the tension in it, the pause between each word as Cade felt his way through a statement filled with emotional land mines. He had never belonged as a prince. He had beennot good enoughas soon as his parents died. I was offering him a second chance.

I was offering him a chance at a family, one that a few months ago he would have sneered at. But now, with his face turned away from me, I knew he wanted it more than he could possibly say.

“You’re my mate,” I said simply.

Cade blinked, opening his mouth before shutting it with a frown. “What does that mean?”

Part of me relaxed that he didn’t deny it, that he didn’t say it wasn’t true, we weren’t mates.

“It means that your position in the pack is unimpeachable. I claim you as my mate. Your decisions have almost the same weight as mine. You have my back, and I will always choose yours.” I swallowed. “It means I love you.”

Cade’s eyes went wide, his skin pale, and he searched my gaze for something. “What?”

“I love you, Cade.” I tried to say it as though it didn’t matter what his answer was, as though he could repeat it back to me or pretend he hadn’t heard.

He fisted both hands in my shirt, dragging me forward, claiming my mouth with his. When we pulled away for breath, I felt the words on my skin.

“I love you too, Miles.” Then he was yanking our mouths together again.

I let him set the pace, let his hand push up under my shirt until I had to break our kiss to pull it over my head. Then his mouth was on my skin, paying special attention to the ink that was there.

I don’t want to be here for this, Basil hissed.Mammals. So messy.

I felt an odd tugging sensation, something weighing heavy on my shoulder, and then Basil existed in the real world. He hissed against my ear, his tongue flicking out along the shell.