Page 27

Draven

“W hat do you want to do with her?” I ask Kass, voice calm, almost bored.

We’re in the Royal Hall. The entire court watches in heavy silence, tension hanging thick in the air.

I’m slouched on my throne, one arm draped lazily over the side, while Kass sits beside me — my Luna Queen.

Her eyes gleam with satisfaction as they rest on Amira, who kneels on the stone floor below. Wrists shackled, head bowed.

It’s been a week since the battle. Since Kass broke the leash and brought me back.

We already had our official ceremony, making her the Luna Queen of all shifters.

Of course, we had to do a pretend marking in front of the Alphas of the six Prime Packs and their representatives.

But that wasn’t unusual. Many royal pairings have done it like this before.

True mates can rarely keep themselves from marking each other as soon as possible.

Of course, our situation was much different, though. There were questions. A lot of them. Kass and I shared the details with the Alpha Primes and the Council — it’s important for them to be informed about this kind of shit.

Everyone was baffled. No witch has done anything of these proportions since the Witch-Shifter Wars.

And that was hundreds of years ago. Fortunately, this time it was just one witch and her daughters — not an entire faction of them.

Well, and a stupid god who got his ass kicked.

I’ll be reporting that asshole to the gods who rule the Kingdom of Solmere.

The ones who protect our entire realm. Let’s see how he deals with two angry Primordial gods who outrank him in every way.

I feel a peace inside me, the kind I’ve never felt before.

Draxis and Neris also marked each other the same day Kass and I did.

It was fun. Neris made Draxis work for it.

She kept running and hiding in these tiny holes in the forest where only she could fit — Draxis had to dig her out every time.

He indulged her playfulness for a while, until he lost his patience and caught her in two seconds flat.

“Well, Neris has ideas,” Kass answers my previous question, a wicked glint in her eyes.

I grin. Of course she does. That little wolf is more bloodthirsty than Draxis. “Oh yeah?”

Kass claps her hands together, eyes sparkling. She’s just as bloodthirsty as her wolf — she just doesn’t like to admit it. “Word for word: ‘Claws through the heart. Rip it out. Burn it. Then burn the whole body with hellfire. No funeral for her.’ ”

She pauses, then adds innocently, “She wants Draxis to do it. Says she’s been dreaming of this moment.”

I rise to my feet, stretch, and crack my knuckles. “Well, far be it from me to deny my mate her dream.”

Amira lifts her head slowly, tears streaking her cheeks. “Please,” she croaks. “Ven—Draven, please. I never meant to… she made me. Galla forced me. I—I loved you.”

I blink once. “Liar.” My voice is colder than ice.

“You really want to beg? Here? After everything? You could’ve at least owned it. Died with a shred of dignity.”

She opens her mouth again, but I don’t care to hear more. I need this settled fast. I’ve got a make-up-for-being-a-problem-magnet date with my mate after this.

I let Draxis take over. He bursts forward in a flurry of torn fabric. Shit. I forgot about my clothes.

His claws click against the stone floor and his wings stretch, but there’s no fire this time. We can’t risk burning the whole palace down. I feel his joy. His anticipation.

He stalks toward Amira slowly, purposefully, snarling low in his throat. Drool drips from his maw. Amira shakes violently. If she wasn’t shackled, she’d be trying to run.

When he’s close, he snaps his jaw inches from her face. She screams, lurching back, chains rattling against the floor. I chuckle. He really likes amping up the drama.

Draxis huffs.

He’s done playing.

The bond between Kass and me surges, her satisfaction humming along it. When Draxis lifts one massive claw and drives it into Amira’s chest, I feel Kass’s heartbeat stutter in delight.

Draxis doesn’t waste any more time. He does exactly as Neris instructed.

Amira screams so loud that my ears ring.

He only has to pull at her chest once to rip her heart out.

One clean, precise strike. And then he lifts her heart from her chest like a trophy, blood steaming in the open air, and turns toward Kass — presenting it like an offering, snarling proudly.

Her smile could bring kingdoms to their knees.

“Thank you, Draxis,” she says sweetly, sending him a wink and blowing a kiss.

Okay. Hold the fuck up. I’m here, too.

“Our mate likes me more,” Draxis throws at me, smug as hell.

“Dream on, you overgrown mutant,” I shoot back.

He huffs a laugh and turns back to the task at hand. Flames lick up from his claws like serpents. The entire room takes two instinctive steps back.

He incinerates the heart first. Lets it burn to a crisp before tossing it onto what’s left of Amira. The fire flares, devouring everything she was. Flesh. Bone. Even the scent.

When it’s done, I reclaim control and shift.

“Assembly’s over,” I call out flatly, scanning the stunned faces in the Royal Hall. “You can leave now.”

Chairs scrape. Boots shuffle. The court disperses fast.

I turn to Kass.

She’s lounging on her throne, smiling at me. Smug. Beautiful. Mine.

“You look like you’ve got something to complain about,” she teases, arching a brow.

I stalk toward her, eyes locked on her mouth. When I reach her, I tug her up, press my lips to hers and kiss her slow. Deep.

“Not bothered by my nudity anymore, are you?” I murmur against her mouth.

She shrugs, biting her lip like she’s trying not to laugh. “I’ve grown accustomed to your Royal jewels.” Her tone is light, but that sparkle in her eyes? Dangerous.

I chuckle. “Strange. Shifters are used to nudity. We live half our lives bare. You should’ve been used to this by now.”

She tilts her head, thoughtful. “I grew up pretty isolated. Not many pack runs, not many naked shifters running around. Maybe that’s why.

” Her gaze narrows. She presses a finger to the center of my chest. “But don’t get any ideas.

Just because shifters are used to nudity doesn’t mean your…

assets get to be public domain. Those Royal jewels?

They’re mine. Keep them away from wandering eyes. ”

I bark out a laugh. “Possessive, aren’t you?” I nip her nose and let the grin drop from my face. “But noted. I’ll respect your wishes.”

I glance down at myself. “Now I just need to find a damn pair of pants, so we can leave this room.”

She strolls back to her throne, casual as ever, and picks up a neatly folded pair from the side.

“Already handled. Sent someone the moment Draxis shredded yours,” she says and throws them at me.

I smile, holding them to my chest. “Have I told you I love you today?”

She plants a hand on her hip, lips twitching. “You have. But feel free to say it again.”

I dress quickly, eyes never leaving her.

“I love you, Kass. More than anything and anyone.”

She walks toward me, warmth shining in her eyes. “And I love you too,” she says and pauses for a second, “Your Majesty,” she adds playfully, making me growl softly. Then she grins. “Now… what are our plans for the rest of the day?”

Two weeks later, I’m pacing the ballroom floor — waiting for Kass to show up. I’m on pins and needles. I don’t know if this was the right thing to do. My boots echo against the marble, my heart beating like it’s trying to claw its way out of me.

This might’ve been a mistake.

Maybe she won’t want the reminder.

What if she hates it?

What if she hates me for doing this? Shit. I almost stop breathing at the thought.

“Our mate is generous and kind,” Draxis murmurs, exasperated. “She won’t hate us. And she’ll understand.”

“You don’t know that,” I snap back.

He huffs, unimpressed. “And you call me dramatic. Get it together, human. If she bolts, I’ll just hunt her down and chain her to our bed.”

I freeze mid-step. “You will do no such thing!” I hiss. “She’d decapitate us in our sleep. Worst case scenario, we just lock her in a nice, big room and give her lots and lots of books and food. Until she calms down,” I say, weighing my options.

“You are so whipped,” Sin mutters from behind, his voice dripping with judgment and just a hint of amusement.

I glare over my shoulder. “Appreciate the moral support.”

He shrugs. “I just call it like I see it.”

I open my mouth to retaliate — but the words never make it out.

Because she walks in. And I forget how to breathe.

Kass steps through the grand doors, Sinalyn trailing at her side. I barely register the witch. My gaze locks on my mate.

A deep green dress hugs her curves like sin. Her hair spills over one shoulder, loose and soft, begging for my hands. She glows.

“Move, you idiot,” Draxis snarls, practically shoving me forward from inside my mind. “Go to our mate.”

My feet unfreeze. I cross the floor like I’m caught in a spell, meeting her halfway. She smiles at me, genuine and bright.

“Why are you so nervous, Draven?” she asks, a hint of amusement in her voice. “I could feel you going crazy through the bond for the past hour.”

Shit. Right. That whole shared feelings thing.

I scan the tether between us — searching for any trace of reluctance on her part. There’s nothing but calm. Curiosity. Contentment.

I exhale and lift a hand to her cheek, brushing her skin with my thumb. Her warmth grounds me.

“This is where we first met,” I whisper.

Her eyes widen slightly, flicking around the ballroom. I feel the recognition settle inside her. But no shadows follow it.

I take a breath and let the rest spill out.

“I can’t undo what happened that night. I can’t rip it out of time and pretend it didn’t exist. But I can try to give you something else.

New, better memories.” I step in closer, my forehead almost brushing hers.

“Let me rewrite that night, Kass. Let me gift you a new first meeting. The one that should have been all along.”

For a moment, she says nothing.

Then her smile stretches. “It’s a gift for you too, isn’t it?” she teases gently, resting her palm over my heart. “I accept.”

She steps back, eyes gleaming. And just like that night, she says it again.

“You’re my mate.”

“What did you just say?” I ask, repeating my own words.

She lifts her chin, defiant. “You’re my mate.”

I grin, stepping into her space, winding an arm around her waist.

“You’re damn right I am,” I growl, voice echoing through the ballroom for everyone to hear.