Xander saw the popstar stiffen. He hid a grin. Destiny Duvalle looked like she’d rather eat glass than stay in Avondale another night. It was probably too boring for her. Xander knew the way musicians partied. An unbonded omega musician who looked like Destiny Duvalle? She probably went to the wildest parties with the most exclusive guest lists. He knew she’d already turned down quite a few packs who wanted to claim her, including one of popular American celebrities and another of a prince Xander had met once or twice. Obviously, the media was right in dubbing her an ice princess. Princes and celebrities couldn’t thaw that icy heart. She probably had plans to catch someone even richer. Xander could imagine her batting those gorgeous green siren eyes at some oil baron. He tamped down his sudden annoyance, focusing on the star’s efforts to escape Natalya’s invitation.
“I couldn’t impose,” Destiny demurred, exchanging a glance with her assistant, who only smiled brightly, despite the desperation in the popstar’s eyes. “Besides, I’d hate to keep Sasha and Damon from home so close to Christmas.”
Natalya pouted and Xander had to hide a grin in his teacup. Destiny Duvalle was screwed. His sister didn’t know the meaning of the wordno, because their parents had never successfully used it on her. They’d exhausted all their discipline and resolve on Xander. The princess might be almost sixteen, but she wasn’t above throwing a tantrum to get her way.
“It wouldn’t be an imposition at all!” Natalya exclaimed. “And Sasha and Damon will love the festival, right Sasha? We’ll get them lots of Avondalian souvenirs to take home to their families. Sasha and Mina can change your flight plan to leave tomorrow night. Youhaveto see the lighting of the trees! It’s one of the things Avondale is most famous for. Please?”
Destiny Duvalle opened and closed her mouth helplessly, turning wide eyes on her assistant as if expecting help. The bubbly little beta smiled back broadly. Xander could see the complete obliviousness in her guileless expression.
“That sounds wonderful!” Sasha gushed. “I read all about the festival online and I totally wanted to see those lights! I’ll arrange everything.”
“Perfect!” Natalya replied.
“Perfect.” Destiny Duvalle smiled her mouth-only smile.
Xander snickered into his teacup, disguising it as a cough. Destiny Duvalle’s moss green eyes snapped to his, filled with naked hatred. Xander grinned back, perversely gratified by her irritation.
“Perfect,” he agreed.
Chapter three
Destiny
Destiny was going to murder her assistant.
Sasha was an inexhaustible ball of energy, but she wasn’t dumb. She knew full well that Destiny didn’t want to spend an extra moment in this godforsaken country. Destiny had vented to her assistant that morning, telling her all about Prince Alexander’s drunken visit, fuming over his insulting comments and the mess he’d made on the carpet.
Sasha had been comforting, but not nearly as ready to badmouth the prince as Destiny would’ve liked. She knew her assistant was still caught up in the fairytale of staying in a real castle with a royal family. And she probably really did want to see the stupid Christmas lights.
Destiny shot Sasha a death glare as they were shepherded from the queen’s parlor after tea. Sasha didn’t notice, talking animatedly with Princess Natalya and Mina the royal assistant. The castle was abuzz with activity, workers of all kinds busilypreparing for the start of the Christmas festival. Despite her annoyance, Destiny couldn’t help but feel a rush of holiday spirit when she saw the lights and garland decking the halls.
The tour group had grown with the addition of several reporters—including a gorgeous omega with honey brown skin and big brown eyes that Destiny recognized from somewhere. Mina quickly made introductions, calling the pretty reporter “Gen V”, which didn’t jog Destiny’s memory. She pondered it as Mina gave the group an overview of what they’d see on their official tour.
Queen Raina and her kings excused themselves, leaving their children to attend to the guests. Destiny grimaced. The queen and her pack were lovely, and the princess was a sweet girl, if a little bratty. But Prince Alexander, with his arrogant smile and devil-may-care attitude, was an alphahole of outlandish proportions. His presence set her teeth on edge.
Why was he coming on the damn tour anyway? She was a guest of the princess, and he obviously had a vibrant social life he could be getting back to. Surely there were plenty of carpets for him to ruin elsewhere in the vast castle. Instead, he was swaggering along ahead of the tour group, chatting up Sasha, who was melting like putty in his expert hands. Destiny ground her teeth.
It was bad enough she’d had to sit across from him at tea with him looking like an ad for some ruggedly sophisticated cologne as if he hadn’t called her a bitch and vomited on her floor a few hours ago. He could at least have the decency to look hungover. And now that he didn’t smell like a bar, the woodsy winter scent of his skin was almost too inviting. Nutmeg, cedar, and sage. It was a comfortable, earthy, lighthearted scent that made her want to smile. Which was infuriating since the very sight of the prince aggravated her.
“We met at Pack Rhodes’s mansion.” A woman’s husky voice pulled Destiny from her brooding. She turned her attention to the beautiful reporter she’d noticed before the tour began. “I saw you trying to place me earlier. I covered Pack Rhodes’s mating parties forNewsFeed. I’m Genesis.”
“Yes, I remember now! It’s good to see you again, Genesis.” Destiny hadn’t spoken to her, but she remembered the lovely reporter looking rather bored during several of those parties. “Seems like you get all the fun jobs.”
Destiny studied the beautiful reporter. She should’ve recognized the woman right away, with her striking features. Those big doe eyes would be hard to ignore, and Destiny typically never forgot a pretty face. It was a shame omega pairings weren’t a long-term option. She found it easier to get to know and feel safe with other omegas than with most alphas. She thought she wouldn’t mind falling in love with a pack of women, but she hadn’t found any alpha females who suited her either.
Genesis’s slightly upturned nose crinkled in an adorably disgusted expression. “The party never ends,” she replied dryly.
Destiny recognized the sarcasm in her voice. The party never ended, but it definitely got old. Apparently, Destiny had stumbled across another person who’d grown tired of the fast life. Genesis looked a few years older than Destiny, a career-driven unbonded omega who might well be a glimpse into Destiny’s own future: single and still reluctantly jet-setting and partying. She wondered what this gorgeous stranger would say if Destiny told her she didn’t want to endure the grind anymore. What advice would she give?
“It was really cool how you elevated Serenity Rose’s charity during your tour,” Genesis said. “I appreciate you using your platform for good and I’m in awe of the work she’s doing after what she survived. That’s the kind of impact I aspire to have.”
There was a wistful note in Genesis’s voice that felt all too familiar. It was obvious her interest didn’t lie in celebrity interviews and fancy parties. It sounded like the reporter’s exhaustion wasn’t with her career as a whole, but with the types of stories she covered. She needed a change in how she did the job, not in the job itself.
Is that what Destiny needed? To slow down, rather than stop? To make the music she wanted at a pace she set, rather than constantly chasing the top spot?
“Serenity is a rockstar,” Destiny answered, remembering that dialogue required two people speaking out loud. “She’s incredibly humble, but I’ve never met more of a badass. The least I can do is help more people find out about her foundation. As a matter of fact, she’d be a great person to write about. If you could get her to open up, you’d be amazed by her story. I keep trying to convince her that more people need to hear it.”
Genesis’s huge eyes lit up. “Wow! I’d love that! Would you mind connecting us?”
