Aerin swallows before sighing a loud sigh that pulls all the attention in the room. She pushes the empty plate forward.
Emrys reaches for it, and Malice stiffens as the Wolf stands. He tries to hold back his growl as the Wolf approaches where he hovers in the kitchen. The sound strangles out of him anyways, garbled, more like a whine than anything. The Wolf doesn’t back down, but he does duck his head lower as he passes Malice, depositing the plate in the sink and passing by again.
When Malice finally looks at Aerin, she’s glaring at him. Embarrassment pulses through his blood but he doesn’t let it show on his features. Instead, he bristles further, showing the Princess his canines. Aerin only huffs and folds her arms across her chest as Emrys sits back down next to her.
Finally, she asks, “Are you going to join us?” motioning to the chair across from her.
Malice shakes his head no, gripping the countertop with force.
“Suit yourself,” Aerin shrugs, shifting in her chair. She tucks a foot onto the chair, folding her body so she can hug her knee and glance between them. Malice feels an undeniable smugness as the shift puts her further from the Wolf.
“Emrys.” She looks to the Wolf and then gestures to the kitchen. “This is Malice. He is a Dragon-Fae from the North, my personal Royal Guard, and my bonded-mate, just like you. He is as much a part of me as you are. He can be trusted.”
Both males opened their mouths, but Aerin silences them with a look.
“Malice.” She gestures to the Wolf. “This is Emrys. We met nine years ago at a time when I often ventured outside the walls. Elara found us together, and she attempted to murder me. Emrys got me back to the wall, even when it was torturous to go against the orders of his Alpha. He has earned my trust time and time again. I fought for him, making me his new Alpha. We are bonded-mates by Pack magic. He can be trusted.”
They exchange looks and Malice bristles once more. If Malice had hackles, they would be up.
“Doesn’t mean I have to like him,” Malice snarls, his grip on the counter now threatening to break the stone.
“The feeling is mutual,” Emrys replies under his breath.
“Well, at the very least I need the two of you to be cordial. We will never be able to execute my plans if you are always in a pissing contest. In fact, let’s just whip them out right now. See who’s is bigger and get it over with,” Aerin snaps.
Both males back down. Malice falters at her crassness, then quickly backtracks.
“What plan?” he asks hesitantly, stomach churning.
Aerin smirks.
“The one where I overthrow my father, allowing Bruin to ascend as King of Valtara, so that I can shed the Tolvare name and leave this place once and for all.”
32
EMRYS
Emrys’s Alpha is talking crazy. He and Malice, both initially stunned into silence by her admission, find words at the same time.
“Overthrow your father?!” Malice roars.
“Leave?” Emrys whines.
Nodding to both things Aerin looks between the two of them, back and forth as if trying to decide who to address first. Finally, she settles on Emrys, probably feeling his distress. He just got her back; he will not allow her to leave him.
Aerin places a palm against his cheek, and that annoying growl-whine noise echoes from the kitchen again. They both ignore it.
“Wherever I go, you’re welcome to join me. I will never say no to being with you,” Aerin whispers softly. She places a chaste kiss on his lips before pulling away and breaking contact all together.
A warmth spreads through Emrys. The kind that up until last night he hadn’t felt for years—the skin tingling satisfaction of knowing your Alpha is happy with you.
When Emrys first betrayed Elara, somehow his body allowed it. As if his body, his magic, his Wolf, knew that Aerin was his true Alpha. He fought Elara, and lost, gaining himself the massive scar on his right hip. But it gave Aerin enough time to escape back to Valtara. Emrys never saw her again. Until yesterday.
There is no question in his mind that this Aerin is not the same one he met in the woods all those years ago. Then, she was shy and uncertain of herself. Sitting next to him now is the Aerin he always knew she could become. An Alpha.
Aerin turns her attention back towards Malice.
“Eight years ago, my father and I signed a blood contract. In exchange for living in this apartment and going to school, freedom from the Royal Village and most of my Royal duties, I was placed on very specific restrictions. Restrictions that controlled where I could go, who I could speak to, and most of all, my use of magic.”
