“We should let her get her rest before her big performance tonight,” Prince Alexander said abruptly, scowling at Destiny again. “She has rabid teenage girls to entertain, after all.”
Destiny bristled at the taunting note in the prince’s voice. Was everything with this fucking guy a power play? There was a challenge in his tone, an obvious intention of getting a rise out of her. Destiny wouldn’t let him. She’d been on her best behavior so far, but she knew how to get down and dirty with the best of them. And this definitely wasn’t her first time around smug dude bros who wanted to make her feel small for making music girls and women enjoyed. Two could play this game.
“It’s always a pleasure to interact with my fans,” she said, smiling coldly at the prince. “Why don’t you bring the magazines of me you keep under your mattress, and I’ll sign them for you? If the pages aren’t too sticky, that is.”
She kept her face carefully neutral as Prince Alexander’s jaw dropped, and Greyson had a sudden coughing fit that sounded suspiciously like laughter. Genesis didn’t hide her grin, and even Hunter was smirking.Checkmate, asshole.
“Iamtired, Mina,” Destiny added, before the prince could respond. “Perhaps I can get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep since Prince Alexander is under proper supervision.”
Destiny thought she saw Hunter wince, but when she met his gaze, his expression was inscrutable. She turned away, beckoning for Sasha and Damon to fall into step beside her. A wide-eyed Mina bowed quickly to the pack before hurrying to lead them from the room.
Destiny could feel three sets of eyes watching her go.
She did not take a nap.
She certainlytriedto nap, but her brain kept replaying the events of the day, particularly dwelling on the parts involving Pack Stepanov. She thought of several wittier comebacks to Prince Alexander’s taunts, growing more irritated every time she caught herself wasting energy on him. Just as unsettling was how her heart raced and her skin grew hot when she thought about Greyson promising to take care of her, that alluring mouth of his making the words a caress. And then there was the way Hunter watched her as if searching for something only she might possess.
She squirmed, acutely aware of her core tightening, her stomach aching. Destiny wasn’t used to feeling this way outsideof her heats. There must’ve been something in Pack Stepanov’s damn pheromones that uniquely appealed to her own biology. It just didn’t make any sense.
Scent match, whispered a tiny voice in the back of her mind. She smothered the thought quickly. Finding mates with compatible scents was challenging enough, but meeting a true match was practically impossible. Scent matches were fairy tales and fated mates were old-fashioned nonsense.
Except she knew they were real. Destiny’s best friend and her mates had been a scent match. So, it was rare but not impossible.
Destiny pushed the thoughts away. Real or not, it wouldn’t happen to her. She was probably just reacting to alphas in the way omegas were supposed to. She’d always been abnormal in her indifference to their pheromones. Maybe whatever was wrong with her had finally righted itself.
Destiny gave up on napping and rang for a cup of green tea. She scrolled her phone as she sipped it, hoping to distract herself from useless, existential musings. Her mother had emailed her, asking if she might pretty please be willing to sing at the White House dinner after the inauguration, because she was very close to securing Destiny the gig and it would be so good for her career.
Groaning, Destiny tossed her phone aside and got out of bed. So much for taking a few months off. She should be grateful. The gigwouldbe great for her career. Her mom only wanted the best for her.
But was what was best for Destiny the same as what was best for her career? She was starting to think otherwise. When she got home and could be quiet and alone, she was going to force herself to face the situation and make some tough decisions.
Now, though, she would focus on the task at hand. She’d get through one more day in Avondale, then she’d go home and rethink her life. One thing at a time.
Soon, Sasha was coming to fetch her, and Mina was leading them to the castle’s music room. There, Destiny met an energetic swarm of teenagers, led by Princess Natalya. They’d come with their families to spend several days at the castle, celebrating the princess’s birthday and enjoying the Christmas events. The additional guests had brought a joyful, festive energy to the already buzzing castle.
Destiny was amused to see them in casual clothes, laughing and messing around like normal kids, despite many of them being royalty or close to it. She’d never had that sense of normalcy as so-called music royalty, so it was nice to see that it was possible. The kings and queen must be great parents.
Destiny chatted with them all, taking pictures and videos for socials, and autographing anything they handed her. The music room slowly filled with other guests of the monarchy, along with many of the staff. Finally, an attendant herded the teenagers to their seats so that Destiny could get ready to start the show.
As she turned away, a low voice caught her attention. “Can you sign one more?”
Destiny tried not to gasp as she found Hunter Li standing a few feet away. Even in the crowded room, she could discern his deliciously spicy earthy scent—magnolia and patchouli. It took her a minute to realize he was holding out a magazine.
“I promise it isn’t sticky,” he said when she hesitated, raising an eyebrow at her. She thought there might be a hint of amusement in his hazel eyes.
“I don’t know whether to be grateful or disappointed,” Destiny heard herself reply for some reason. If she didn’t know any better, she’d say she was flirting.
The magazine was, in fact, in pristine condition—which was remarkable, because it was far from new. Destiny gaped in surprise as she took in her smiling, younger face. It was one of the first covers she’d ever done. She signed it with a flourish.
“I guess it’s obvious I’m a fan.” Hunter rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish. “We all are, even if Xander is pretending otherwise. You’re an icon.”
Destiny returned the magazine, unsure why she felt a sudden pang of sadness. “Well, thanks for the support. Hopefully I’ll live up to the hype.”
Hunter cocked his head, studying her face. “You already have. I could tell last night that I was going to like the real you so much better than the fantasy. Break a leg.”
Before she could respond, Hunter slipped away, fading into the shadows at the edges of the room as the lights dimmed. Destiny exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. The alpha’s scent lingered, urging her to follow him. It felt as though there was a thread rooted deep in her belly, and it was tugging her toward Hunter Li.
Destiny turned away, ignoring the pull of need and hope and curiosity. She had a show to do. She would give a great performance, try and enjoy the opening festivities tomorrow, and then get the hell out of Avondale and away from the confusing clutter of emotions caused by Pack Stepanov.
