Page 56

B eep! Beep! Beep!

The alarm shattered my dream, jarring me back into reality.

My eyes slowly drifted open as Wes shifted behind me.

The annoying beeping was silenced, and I felt as he settled down next to me again.

Lips feathered my neck as a hand traveled the length of my body.

I moaned, rolling onto my back to look at him.

Lying on his side, Wes propped his head up with one arm while the other traveled over my stomach and onto my waist.

“Good morning,” I whispered.

Leaning forward he smiled and grazed his lips against mine. Embers still alive within me rekindled the flames, and I reached up, pulling his face toward me, deepening the kiss.

He chuckled. “Mara, we’ve gotta get up.” But I noticed he made no move to unwrap my arms or pull away from me.

“Just one more minute,” I pleaded as I nuzzled his nose and then kissed him again, this time nibbling his bottom lip.

Wes moaned softly, closing his eyes as he inhaled. Excitement brewed inside me, delighted with the power I had over him. I parted my lips, begging him to let me in.

That did it. He lost all self-control. His hand was down on the bare skin of my thigh, gripping my flesh as his lips opened for me.

I tasted him, feeling as he explored me, our breaths growing heavy and quick.

My hand slid to grip his shirt, pulling on the fabric while his hand ran up my thigh, under my shirt, and over the curves of my waist, gripping my hips and pulling me toward him.

My body went flush against his, and he felt amazing.

Strong and firm, and the heat that swirled inside me was a wild thing. A tempest that couldn’t be tamed.

But all good things must come to an end.

Bing, bing!

“Ignore it,” I said through a gasp as I kissed him hungrily. He did as I asked, kissing me deeper, pushing my body into the mattress as the hand under my shirt traveled over my stomach, settling over my navel.

Bing, bing!

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him toward me, slipping my tongue past his lips and relishing his deep groan, causing me to arch my back.

Bing, Bing!

“ Fuck ,” he growled, pulling away. “What the hell?” I couldn’t help but laugh. As much as I didn’t want him to stop, it was pretty funny to witness his sexual frustration.

I reached up and kissed his neck. “Go ahead.”

He sighed deeply, trying to regain his control as he rolled over and reached for his tab on his nightstand. After a moment, he sat up, still reading the screen. His body tensed, and it didn’t take a genius to know that wasn’t good.

I sat up, shifting closer to him. “Wes?” He closed his eyes, lips thin as he breathed in slowly. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Jaw clenched, he opened his eyes and snapped his mini-tab on his wrist. “It’s my dad. He’s requesting we both meet him in his office.”

My heart skipped a beat as I tried to swallow, my throat suddenly dry. “Oh,” was all I could muster. I knew this was coming. But I also knew that I had nothing to hide, and that I needed to convince Charles Calvernon of my parentage for my plan to work. I nodded and started to move off the bed.

“Mara,” Wes reached for my wrist and pulled me back to him, “you don’t have to do this. This is between me and him. I’ll deal with it. Just go to the base, and I’ll meet you there.”

My heart swelled. I cupped his face in my hand and told him the same words I told him during the Admin Job. “You stay, then I stay. Remember?”

Wes’s eyes flickered with recognition as he smiled. “You’re going to be the death of me,” he whispered before drawing me into another kiss.

No matter how much I wanted to get lost in his arms, I knew we had a major problem we needed to resolve. And the quicker we got that problem behind us, the better for us both. I pulled away from him as he stood up.

“Go get dressed and I’ll meet you in your room. We’ll go see him together.”

Together.

The word did something to my heart, to my soul . Because that’s exactly what we were. We were together, and I had a ring to prove it.

***

We walked side by side, our fingers interlaced as we marched through the hall leading to Charles’s office. We decided to put on our cadet uniforms since our plan was to go straight to the base following this little meeting.

When we approached the door, Wes turned to face me. “Just let me do the talking, okay?” I nodded. Wes leaned down and gave me one more quick kiss before putting his hand on the handle and pushing the door open.

Inside, the same décor as the rest of the house adorned the office—gold lamps, tapestries, floor-to-ceiling bookcases, a plush red rug, and an ornately carved dark wooden desk right in the middle of the room.

And, of course, Charles sat on the other side of it.

But he wasn’t alone. Marissa and Sasha were with him.

“Well, it took you both long enough to arrive,” Charles began, eerily calm. “I hope you understand the gravity of this matter.” He stood up, putting his arms behind his back. “Now, President De’vor, I’m sure you’re aware of what we discovered last night, much to the disgust of my important guests.”

Sasha’s hair was in her typical braided bun. Her navy-blue pantsuit made her look reasonable, professional, and trustworthy. And she didn’t look the least bit intimidated.

“President Calvernon, as I have already explained to you, this is Mara de la Puente. Dissenters kidnapped her from the Presidential Palace, and she has been in my care ever since.”

Marissa stood next to her husband. “Be that as it may, President De’vor, you must understand how difficult it is for us to believe that the First Daughter of Telvia looks more like a beaten dog underneath her trappings.”

“ Mom ,” Wes snapped at her.

“Hush, boy,” Charles barked back. “I’ll deal with you later. But first,” he turned to face Sasha, “tell me why that girl looks like you picked her up from a slum?”

Sasha’s face remained serene, with her hands neatly folded in front of her.

“Miss de la Puente was re-captured by Telvian scouts. When she refused to disclose any information about our camp or troops, her father resorted to torture to make her talk. What you see is the extent of Raúl’s wrath and vicious need to stamp out any dissent among his people, daughter or otherwise.

I’ve told you before, Charles, that Raúl will stop at nothing to dominate this entire continent. And that includes you and the North.”

“You mean to tell me that Raúl whipped his daughter like that to make her talk ?”

“Is it so hard to believe when his only son is being held at the Bellfire Tower awaiting his execution?”

Charles hesitated, wheels spinning in his head, until he cleared his throat. “If what you’re telling me is true, the man is demented to hit a woman like that.” Movement caught my eye, and I couldn’t help but notice Marissa shift uncomfortably, looking away from Charles to the floor.

“I don’t buy it,” Charles spat. “And even if it were true, what will everyone else think? All of those, those things were on full display. Everyone has seen them.”

“Then use them,” Sasha said, her patience waning.

“You’re a smart man, Charles. One of the most brilliant strategists I know.

Mara’s story is captivating. It has deceit, betrayal, love.

Make the First Daughter of Telvia the poor girl you rescued from the clutches of her own father.

Show her scars as proof that Raúl is evil …

a man willing to disfigure his own daughter simply because she fell in love with a Dissenter. ”

Charles’s eyes glimmered, the wheels turning once again. “A victim…a victim who the North has saved, giving her refuge.”

“Yes,” Sasha agreed. “A poor, lovesick girl who has been rescued by the most noble of presidents,” Sasha continued, stroking Charles’s ego.

“Imagine how much more revered you would be by your people. And the Telvians? They will grovel at your feet for saving their beloved First Daughter. It would be like a fairytale.”

I raised a brow at that one, staring at Sasha.

The woman was a master of lies, a side of her I hadn’t seen before.

Weaving truth and farce into a tapestry that was believable and enticing.

I was no beloved First Daughter . People barely knew I existed until I was declared dead and made to be a martyr.

But I kept my mouth shut. Feel as I may about Sasha’s lies, they were helping me at the moment.

“Yes,” Charles muttered under his breath. “Yes, a helpless Telvian soul who has found solace in the North.”

“As good as the tale sounds, my dear,” Marissa cut in, “I’m not sure I believe this story. I think the wedding should be called off.”

“That’s not your decision to make, Mom. It’s mine.” Wes said. “And I’ve made my choice.”

“Hush, boy. The last order I gave you was not to propose until we settled this funny business. You disobeyed me for the last time, Wes. Don’t think that your insolence will go unpunished.”

Wes stiffened, balling his hands into fists. I squeezed his arm, urging him to stay quiet. His chin tipped my direction, jaw clenched and eyes smoldering, but he stayed silent.

Sasha spoke up. “I understand your hesitation, Lady Calvernon, I really do. But this girl is the daughter of Raúl de la Puente. If she were not, why would she be so intent on rescuing a man that wasn’t of her own flesh and blood?”

“Simple,” Marissa challenged, her gaze throwing daggers at Sasha. “She’s in love with the First Son of Telvia.”

“Ew,” the sound escaped my lips, but Marissa ignored me.

“She’s in love with Jacob de la Puente and is using my son to rescue her true love.”

“He’s my brother!” I interjected.

“I don’t believe you,” Marissa shot back. “Mara de la Puente was pronounced dead months ago!”

“Enough!” Charles yelled, slamming his hand on his desk.

“I’ve heard enough.” The room fell into silence.

Charles watched us under scrutinizing eyes before he paced back and forth behind his desk.

I chanced a glance at Sasha, but her look of confidence and complete calm was firmly in place, her gaze transfixed on the President of the North.

After a moment, Charles cleared his throat and stopped pacing, turning to face her.

“I’ll buy this story for now. We’ve been allies since the beginning of this mess, Sasha.

I trusted you then. I’ll trust you now. But so help me, if I discover that she”—he threw a pointed finger at me—“is not a true de la Puente, you can consider the alliance between the North and the Dissenters over.”

Sasha closed her eyes, appearing contrite as she bowed her head momentarily before opening them and looking at Charles once more. “Of course. I guarantee, however, that I’ve brought you a true de la Puente child. You have nothing to fear.”

“Mmm, yes,” he said dubiously. “Time will tell.”

Sasha said nothing in return, holding her head up higher, always maintaining her air of composure. “Is there anything else you would like to review, Charles? As you can imagine, I have a very busy day ahead of me, as I’m sure your son and Miss de la Puente do as well.”

Charles pursed his lips, weighing something in his head before he finally cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I suppose that’ll do for now. I appreciate your time, Sasha, and your willingness to come see me on such short notice.”

Sasha tipped her head in acknowledgement. “Of course. Now, why don’t these two come with me? I know they are already late for their training.”

“That won’t be necessary. I have further matters to discuss with them.”

Sasha’s face grew serious for a moment before she swept a smile across it. “I see. Well, I can wait for them outside. No need to have so many vehicles driving to the same location.”

“I said that won’t be necessary.” Charles grew austere. “In fact, let me have someone escort you to your vehicle, President De’vor.”

Sasha met Charles’s aggressive stare head on, holding it before she finally sighed. “Very well. No need for the escort, Charles. I believe I can make it there myself.” With that, she turned on her heels, catching my gaze for a second before walking to the door and leaving the room.

I shifted my attention back to Charles Calvernon. And what happened next sent my world spinning head over foot once again, because everything was about to change. I just didn’t know it yet.