Page 55

They were watching me like I was Beyoncé reborn.

No, seriously.

I could feel the stares. The admiration. The whispers from girls in shiny dresses who looked like they practiced looking effortless. One of them even said—and I quote—“I wish I could be like her.”

Cute. But also, awkward.

Especially since the man beside me—the actual King—was being treated like he smelled faintly of wet socks.

They smiled at me.

They bowed at me.

And they barely even nodded at him.

I didn’t blame them. The King had this permanent scowl like someone had told him brunch was canceled forever.

He leaned in close to me. “I hate it here.”

I smiled brightly at a group of teen she-wolves ogling my boots. “I love it here.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

His jaw clenched. “Let’s go.”

“I want to stay.”

“Aegis.”

“You brought me here, remember?” I gave him my best sweet-evil smile. “Now you get to suffer.”

He didn’t respond.

He just stared like he was debating murder and taxes at the same time.

We moved toward the drinks table in the kitchen. I took a juice. He took nothing. I took a cookie. He still took nothing. I offered him one.

He glared at it like it owed him money.

“You must be so fun at parties,” I said, chewing. “No wonder your presence alone causes festivals.”

“Don’t push me.”

“Too late. I already shoved.”

Emery came up behind us. “Are they gonna bicker all day or…?”

Zach grinned. “I vote yes.”

The King groaned. “We have to go talk to Alpha Stephan.”

“Ugh, why?” I whined.

“Because I want answers about the attack.”

“And I want to finish this cookie. But hey, dreams die.”

But he was already walking. Again. With that ‘I’m-royalty-and-over-it’ march.

I sighed and followed.

We walked through the hall, past a bunch of gold statues and really extra candleholders, and straight to a big oak door with Alpha Scribbled boldly across it.

The King didn’t knock.

He opened it like he owned the place.

Bad move.

Inside, Alpha Stephan had his pants around his ankles.

A woman was on her knees in front of him.

I blinked.

Then blinked again.

Nope. Still real.

“Oh for Moon’s sake—” I turned around.

Zach choked.

Emery actually gasped.

The King didn’t waste a second. His hand slapped over my eyes like I was five.

“Don’t look,” he growled.

“Too late.”

“Turn around.”

“Can you not treat me like a child?”

Stephan, pants still around his ankles, chuckled. “She’s right. She’s seen a naked man before, hasn’t she?”

The King growled.

I peeled his hand off my face. “Also… ew.”

The woman scrambled, grabbed her clothes, and dashed out like a rabbit running from judgment.

Alpha Stephan pulled up his pants. Smirk still intact.

“If you want to join next time, Aegis—”

“Finish that sentence,” I said calmly, “and I’ll break your jaw.”

The King’s voice was even calmer. “I'll help.”

Stephan raised both hands. “Note taken.”

“You’re disgusting,” I muttered.

He shrugged. “Humor is how I handle tension. Clearly not my best moment.”

“Nope.”

“I won’t do it again.”

“You shouldn’t have done it in the first place.”

He smiled like a bad boy who never got grounded. “Can we talk like adults now?”

“Can you act like one?” I shot back.

He grinned wider. “I like her.”

The King growled again.

“Okay, okay,” Stephan said. “What do you want to talk about?"

The King turns back to his serious mode immediately. "How exactly were you able to escape and defeat an attack no one else has?"

"Oh about that. It’s strange. I think I survived because of this.”

He walked to his desk and pulled out a chain with a strange pendant. It glowed a faint black and silver faintly. Ancient.

“My mother gave this to me when I was much younger. Said it repels dark magic. Witch stuff. I was wearing it during the attack.”

I leaned in to look.

Whoa.

That wasn’t just any trinket. That was real magic.

“It’s legit,” I said. “Witches hate that stuff. Like how I hate green peas.”

The King didn’t move an inch closer. He just stared at it like it might explode. Oh I forgot, Half-Witch.

I frowned. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

He wasn’t. But I let it go.

“We want to see the spot where it happened,” the King said.

Alpha Stephan nodded. “Guards will show you. I’ve had... enough excitement for one evening.”

The King’s eyes flicked to me. “Shame. I wouldn’t want Alpha Aegis to pass out again from your god-like figure.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re a child.”

“What was that?”

“You’re a man-child with the emotional range of a spoon.”

He smirked. “Your mouth is clearly skilled in insults. What else can it do?”

I batted my lashes. “Chant incantations. Awaken ancestors. And make grown men cry."

Zach burst into laughter. Emery just sighed like he was used to us.

Alpha Stephan called in two guards and motioned. “Take them to the attack site. Show them the everything. And for the love of God, watch your step.”

“I can handle this,” I said, turning to Zach and Emery. “You two take a break.”

Emery raised a brow. “You sure?”

“Positive. I have His Majesty here to keep me alive.”

Zach grinned. “You poor thing.”

I followed the King and the guards out of the office, the hall, and into the forest.

The air smelled like pine and lies.

We walked quietly for a bit. Not awkward quiet. Teasing quiet.

“You ever think about not being annoying?” he asked.

“You ever think about smiling once in your life?”

“I do smile.”

“When?”

He shrugged. “When you’re not talking.”

I gasped. “Wow. Hurtful. I’m fragile.”

“No, you’re loud.”

“And you’re grumpy.”

“I’m a King.”

“Then you should act like one.”

“You should act like a Beta.”

“I’m an Alpha.”

He stopped walking. “Exactly.”

I grinned.

We reached a rocky hill with a crack in the ground. One guard stepped forward.

“We’re here,” he said. “The attack happened inside.”

“Inside what?” I frowned.

He pointed.

Oh.

It was a cave. Well hidden and with a narrow entrance.

I squinted. “The attack happened underground?”

“Yes,” the other guard said.

“What was Alpha Stephan doing in a cave?”

The guards exchanged a look.

Suspicious.

The first one cleared his throat. “Maybe you should wait while the King—”

“Oh no.” I folded my arms. “Don’t ‘she’s-a-lady’ me. I’m going in.”

The King stepped forward. “Aegis.”

I stared him down. “Don’t.”

He didn’t like it. But he let me pass.

I stepped inside. The cave was dark and smelled like damp stone. The King followed behind me.

My boots echoed softly as we walked deeper.

“Where exactly?” I asked the guards.

They said nothing.

“Guys?”

No answer.

I turned around.

Too late.

A huge stone rolled into place behind us with a loud BOOM.

We were sealed in.