Page 63

MARLOWE

Alaroth slept next to me, but I was awake and on edge. My life kept getting worse by the second, and it was starting to feel like I’d never get to see my pack again.

The sky outside the window turned dark, and I chanced a quick message to my pack. I miss you.

Elias responded the quickest. Is everything okay?

I sniffed, careful not to wake the King. Yes and no. Are you safe?

Of course we’re safe, babe, Cam responded. We’re only worried about you.

I still couldn’t believe they’d managed to come here, and while my heart fluttered at the thought of rescue, every moment I spent with Alaroth and learned more of his power, that seemed like less and less of a possibility.

He won’t kill me, but he could very easily kill all of you. He’s more powerful than you know, he has a whole army of really strong alpha shifters, not to mention all the fae like him. I don’t think…

Julian interrupted. We have magic now, and we’re learning how to control it. We’re coming for you, Lowe.

We’re gathering information right now, too, Archer added. We won’t be going into this blindly.

Unless Alaroth had some secret weakness, no amount of information could help against someone as strong as him. Even with my own powers growing, the king could still knock me out with a snap of his fingers.

I wanted to tell them it was pointless, to save themselves and return to Earth and prepare for the invasion, but I knew that was also pointless. We were a pack—I was their omega, and they were my alphas. They weren’t going to just let me go.

Don’t give up hope, Nolan said, feeling my despair. We won’t. Not ever. You’re ours.

Before I could start crying someone knocked on the door. “Your Majesty?”

called a small female voice.

Someone’s here, I have to go. I love you all so much.

I slipped out of Alaroth’s arms despite his sleepy protests, wrapped his shirt around my waist and quietly opened the door.

A pretty little omega smiled at me. “Captain Nivardi told me to drop this off, he said you needed new clothing for this evening.”

She held a transparent-looking red dress in her hands, and I bit back my disappointment as I took it. I didn’t really feel like being on display, but I had a feeling I wasn’t in a position to be picky. Especially since I was currently without pants.

“Thank you,”

I whispered back. I took the flimsy thing from her hands and closed the door.

Alaroth yawned and sat up in the bed, his marble-perfect skin illuminated by the moonlight that poured through the window. Aqua eyes landed on mine and he stilled—a predator with its prey in sight.

“No clothes for me?”

he smirked.

I held out the dress. “You can wear this if you want.”

His white, sharpened canines glistened as he grinned. “A very generous offer, beloved.”

Then he leaned back, raising one hand behind his head as he rested the other on top of his cock, grabbing it while looking at me.

“Put it on.”

I reminded myself that he’d seen me naked before, and it really wasn’t that big of a deal, as I unwrapped his shirt from my waist before pulling off my own blouse.

He touched himself with greater intention as I slipped the gown over my head. It was made of a sheer chiffon, floral embroidery covering the important bits on my bottom half. The top, however, was completely see-through, a deep V halter neckline leaving my back bare.

He laughed to himself when the gown was fully in place, his eyes never leaving my chest. “I wonder who exactly Nivardi intends to torture with this choice—me, you, or himself.”

I didn’t really feel like having my nipples out for everyone to gawk at all night, and turned away so I could try to fix my matted hair at the vanity. It was long enough to cover my breasts, and if I pinned a few strategic pieces in place that would help.

“How is this torture for you?”

I asked, digging through the small boxes to look for some hair ornaments. “Does he know we aren’t sleeping together?”

“Sleeping together yet,”

Alaroth corrected, annoyance creeping into his voice. “And no, he means to torture me because this was your mother’s.”

Okay, now I might actually throw up. “Did you fuck my mom?”

I asked, unable to hide my disgust.

“Is my beloved jealous?”

he chuckled.

No, jealous was definitely not the right word.

He got up, completely naked with his cock hard. I turned my attention back to my hair, ignoring him as he strode over. His hands landed on my shoulders and he leaned down to sniff me. “No, I never tasted Thistle. I will admit, when she wore this particular dress to my Summer Moon party one year, I had every intention of sharing my bed with her. But Nivardi begged me not to, so he might court her instead.”

“Is that why you’re being such an asshole to him?”

I scoffed.

“Asshole?”

he replied, his teeth grazing my neck. I shivered at the sensation, but it wasn’t pleasant. “Perhaps. I enjoy watching his distress as I touch you, reminding him that I gave him a large favor he subsequently squandered. And, in the end, I won anyway. Perhaps Thistle was never meant to be mine, but her far lovelier daughter certainly is.”

His hands lowered down my shoulders and chest, reaching inside the fabric to cup my breasts.

Maybe in this world where people looked young and lived forever, it was normal to run into a guy who appeared your age and had dated your mom. But for me, the idea was still gross as hell.

Not that it mattered, really, since I was already never going to be interested in anyone here.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. “So what are you going to wear, then?”

“These are my quarters whenever I visit,”

he explained. “It’s already outfitted with everything I could need.”

After pulling out some clothes from an armoire, he dressed in a nice, long jacket and tight pants, pulling on knee high boots before declaring himself ready for dinner. With a strong hand on the small of my back, he led me out and towards the dining room.

Nivardi and a few other fae I hadn’t met yet were already sitting, and they rose as we entered. “Your Majesties, allow me to introduce you to my wife, Sarai, and our two daughters, Bethyn and Laurel.”

They stood and bowed their heads, and from the corner of my eye I saw Alaroth smirk. “Ah, Sarai, the consolation prize! How good to see you.”

I clenched my jaw to keep from telling him off. The absolute loathing I felt for this male…

Sarai plastered an insincere smile on her face. “Yes, how wonderful for me that my husband has moved on from chasing Thistle’s shadow.”

Her eyes drifted towards me, raking me up and down in cold calculation. “Could we say the same for you, Your Majesty?”

Damn, that would sting if I actually cared.

“That’s something we all have in common, then,”

I replied. “None of us are with who we really want.”

Alaroth hissed beside me but I walked away and introduced myself to Bethyn. “Hi, I’m Marlowe.”

Bethyn, her oblong pupils and fluffy hair reminding me of a sheep, smiled nervously, keeping an eye on the king in case he decided to lash out. “Yes, um, pleased to make your acquaintance.”

The king silently sat at the end opposite where Nivardi stood, putting his elbows on the table and folding his hands in front of his mouth. I ignored the daggers he shot at me, giving all my attention to Bethyn as we followed suit and took our respective seats. “Wow, I love your earrings. What kind of stone are they?”

Her cheeks blushed and she touched her earlobes. “Oh, these? I’m not actually sure.”

Laurel, her sister, sat across from us and rolled her eyes. “Bethyn doesn’t even know how unbelievably priceless those are. They’re crystallized Aetherium. They not only look pretty, you can break the stone and use it to boost and funnel your magic in an emergency.”

Sarai slowly swirled the wine in her glass, looking every part the bitchy villain of her own season of The Real Housewives of Vespera. “They were a part of the dowry your grandparents gave Nivardi. Before Thistle got herself rutted and impregnated with bastard pups, of course.”

Damn, this female really didn’t like me. I probably should have been taking the jabs more personally, but honestly, I just felt sorry for her. Alaroth’s insult about her being a consolation prize had a ring of truth to it, and the bitterness was coming off her in waves now, the air thick with her jealousy.

Nivardi shot her a nasty look, then turned to me. “I apologize for my wife’s tongue. It turns sour when she has too much to drink.”

She scoffed, taking a sip.

I was kind of bummed her animosity was channeled towards me, because I bet she could be hilarious if she tried.

I turned back towards Bethyn, about to ask her more questions when the doors opened and Ezra came through, dressed simply in pants and a tunic for once. A beautiful, dark-skinned omega stood beside him, a fresh bond-mark glistening on the space between her neck and shoulder.

“Your Majesty,”

Ezra said. “I’d like to introduce you to my omega, Canna.”

Alaroth’s focus finally moved from me to my brother. “Your omega?”

He then smiled, with all the warmth of an iceberg. “How marvelous, Ezra. You’ve finally decided to settle down.”

Canna’s large eyes, framed by thick, long lashes, looked up at Ezra like he’d hung the moons in the sky.

Oh, that poor female. Did she even know anything about him? About what he’d done, what he was going to do?

Well, Ezra could go to hell, but I wasn’t about to let him drag my new sister-in-law with him.

I got up from my seat and walked over to the happy couple, hooking my arm through hers. “I’m Marlowe, Ezra’s sister. It’s so nice to meet you! Come sit next to me so I can tell you all about my brother’s micropenis.”