Page 19

Jax

A LIYA’S SILENCE AT breakfast concerned me. She was usually lively and chipper, but as she sat beside me at the table, she ate quietly, like a timid mouse.

Perhaps I’d been too rough with her this morning. She’d shown so much enthusiasm last night, such a willingness to learn and explore new sexual avenues. It had shocked and thrilled me when she’d started sucking my cock without any prompting from me. And fuck, it felt so damn good!

I’d let that excitement run away with me. She’d been a virgin before last night, still so innocent and fragile. I should’ve respected that she’d need some time to adjust before having sex again, but instead, I’d propped up her tight little ass and fucked her with wild abandon.

At the time, she’d sounded and acted like she’d enjoyed it as much as I did.

Had she only done that to please us? Was she just playing along because she felt beholden to us in some way? Or was she too shy to speak up about what she really needed? We were two strong and powerful men having our way with her, and perhaps some part of her felt helpless against us.

I’d been selfish. I’d been negligent of her needs. Would I ever stop fucking things up when it came to her? I needed to show her that she was the one in control of this unconventional relationship, and that sex wasn’t a requirement for our affection.

When everyone had finished eating, an idea came to me as Tannin and I cleared the table, and I rushed to set it into motion.

“Tannin, can you handle washing the dishes on your own?” I asked as I set the last plate in the sink.

He turned to me with a frown. “Why?”

“I have an idea that I think will make Aliya happy,” I said. “Finish up in here and then join us in the ballroom.”

“But—”

I dashed out the archway before he could respond. I didn’t want his pessimism to dissuade me from what I had in mind.

I opened the door beside the kitchen and skipped down the flight of dusty, cobweb-covered stairs. The air down in the basement was musty, made thicker by the cold temperature that rose goosebumps on my arms.

But it was perfect for chilling and preserving the hundreds of wine bottles kept in the honeycomb-style shelves lining every wall of the modest space.

I’d discovered the wine cellar two days ago during my exploration of the castle. From the dust coating every surface of this room, it appeared that no one had been down here in a very long time.

I wondered if Aliya even knew about it. If she had, she probably would’ve indulged during her solitude. Being alone for so long would be intolerable sober. For a wolf, it wouldn’t be tolerable at all.

Wolves were pack animals. We needed each other, not only for our survival but also for our sanity. A wolf who was banished was doomed to death. On the off chance they survived the crippling isolation, they wouldn’t be themselves anymore. Instead, they’d become something feral and inhuman.

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 was not going 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.”

“Oh,” she said, surprise dancing across her features.

“And what’s a ball without wine?”

I placed a brief kiss on her hand, then released it and strode over to the buffet table against the wall where I’d set the champagne bottles and three glasses.

I tore the gold foil off one, then popped the cork, catching it in my palm as a flurry of foam gushed from the spout and spilled over my hand.

I hastily poured the bubbly, rose gold liquid into the glasses, then wiped my hand on the tablecloth before bringing the glasses to Aliya as Tannin joined us.

I handed one to each of them, then raised my glass in the space between us. “To a bright new beginning and to our cherished princess.”

Tannin clinked his glass against mine, and Aliya timidly followed suit.

“I’ve never had champagne before,” she said, sniffing the glass. “Is it like wine?”

“It’s even better,” I said. “Try it. I think you’ll like it.”

She tentatively brought the glass to her lips and took a sip. Her eyes widened, and she took a bigger drink. “That’s delicious!”

I beamed in delight, then took a large gulp of my own glass before setting it back on the table.

I returned to her with a dramatic bow, holding out my right hand. “May I have the first dance, Princess?”

She blushed as she accepted my hand, and I led her out to the center of expansive floor, then scooped my hand behind her waist and began to twirl her around.

In truth, I had no idea how to dance in any proper, royal way she might be accustomed to.

Our dances were less formal, less structured, but I took her lead, easily anticipating the steps she expected until I had the basics mastered.

The song ended, and Tannin approached, tapping her shoulder.

“May I cut in?” he asked, flashing his most charming smile.

Aliya smiled at him, her whole face lighting up. I graciously handed her off to him, stepping back to watch them dance.

After the first several songs and more glasses of champagne, formality went out the window.

Happily, Aliya seemed to be finally having fun.

We took turns twirling her around and sharing with her our dances, which she picked up quickly, lending a delicate poise to the movements that the women of our pack never had.

Her jubilant laughter filled the ballroom, and I couldn’t get enough of watching her let loose and embrace her wild side. She was radiant, her honey hair whipping around her as she spun round and round.

I wanted to preserve this moment forever. Just the three of us, alone in the castle.

It might be the last time to ever experience such peace.