Page 52 of Rejected By the Shifter King

I'm sorry, Lysander.Her words were a shamed whisper, and his arms tightened around her.

It's all in the past.He told himself that the fact that she apologized was enough, and they could move on from there.

I know I disappointed you.But even as she said the words, she was unconsciously shying away from thinking of all those times she had been horribly presumptuous, not knowing that by doing so...she was allowing Lysander to misunderstand what she was being sorry about.

Just don't lie to me again. You must promise me that.

Estrella nodded against his chest. "I promise." At that point, she was ready to promise him the moon, she was just so glad and relieved they were okay again. So glad that she didn't realize those words were the biggest mistake she could make. They were the final nail in her coffin, thoughtlessly spoken words that gave credence to every one of Fina's lies.

She would regret them soon, but for now...it was perfect.

Lysander's gentle touch as he helped her up and licked the corners of her lips clean. Lysander taking her hand into his as he led her out of the room. The twins smirking. The soldiers whistling and making bawdy jokes about their future liege being conceived with the whole world of preters as witness.

And when they were finally outside, and thousands were waiting with bated breath to see what Lysander Allard had come to show...

He glanced at his mate.Once I turn, they will see with their eyes what you've married.

She pursed her lips.Which is? The most magnificent man alive? Or...the sexiest beast in the planet?

The prince threw his head back with a laugh, shifting as he did, and the crowd gasped as an icy blast of wind swept over the entire colosseum. When they opened their eyes again, a beast stood where the prince once was.

Twelve feet of pure muscle, of ancient power and strength, with curved horns, fangs and claws, and a tail that was as deadly as the rest of him.

Ammon.

And then the beast knelt down, its claws digging deep into the ground. A moment later, and the crowd gasped again, and this time, even the twins were stunned, and Estrella had tears in her eyes.

Lysander was reshaping the ground with his power, the soil moving, shifting, and crumbling to his command. Walls of solid hard ground rose and fell. Trenches were created just as quickly as they crumbled. Sinkholes opened and closed. This was the power Lysander risked everything for, and this was the power that Lysander would use to protect his race.

Perfect,she thought dizzily. So, so perfect that she didn't see the darkness coming for her until it was too late.

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IT WAS SAID THAT THEwork of a spy consisted of 99% waiting and 1% action, which was why patience and timing were everything - and why, even with her blood boiling with anger at how the princess had so blatantly seduced the prince in front of everyone, Fina made no move of her own and simply kept to herself. Waiting. Spying. Biding her time.

A ball hosted by L'Alliance had followed after Lysander's display of power at the colosseum, and Fina hid in its shadowy corners, waiting and spying, until finally her patience was rewarded and she found the venom that only snakes like her could ingest and spit out.