“Fine,” he fumes. “I won’t be a hypocrite with you. I get that part: Delphine helped me, Axel helped you, but he should’ve told me. He’s my King, my brother.”
“But don’t you see? Axel’s always protected me. If he had told you, or told my dad before I did, he would’ve robbed me of my story, my power. He’s just like you; he sacrificed his brothers for a woman, a queen.” It dawns: the irony, the fate. “Like a second king, right? It must be how you feel about Delphine? Not romantic love. Just this fierce loyalty to sacrifice for her?”
With two heavy breaths, he demands, “I need time with this. I’m... I’m... Fuck, I’m trying to reason through rage.”
I arch a brow. “I know the feeling.”
I understand his shock—even his pain. But you can’t stay angry when no one wanted to hurt you. Again, our feelings are cosmic mirrors. Fate gave us too many parallels not to find forgiveness.
“But goddammit, Babygirl.” He fists my hair, fighting it. “I want to kill him over you.”
“But you won’t. You’ll talk to him later.” I assuage my beast. He respects me. “Let him and Ruby have this time. And,” I insist, “I’ll tell my dad whenI’mready.”
He shakes his head, warning, “All hell will break loose when you do.”
“I know, so I need our heaven again.” I kiss him softly,soothing, seeking. “Please. We’ve been through enough. I just want to be back with you.”
He nuzzles my nose, grabbing me tighter. “Just tell me… please…” Pain grabs his voice. “Did he everholdyou?”
Oh, my beast, my bear, my baby.
“No. No one did.” Tears choke my voice. “I swear, Loch, you’re my first. My love. My mountain and home.”
Growling, he kisses me. In a whirl, I’m in his arms, being carried to his bed. Lying me down, he mounts me, claiming my kiss again, his tongue controlling mine. It always opens my thighs to him, moaning, but he surprises me.
Wrapping his body around mine, he settles behind me, lacing our fingers together, tethered. “You’remyqueen, Alena.”
I can feel his possession, hot, hungry, and urging so hard against me. It makes my sex ache, needing him, missing him as I rasp, “Are we going to fu?—”
“No.” He thrusts against my ass. “I’ll never hurt you, but right now I need to fuck you so hard, I will.”
I sigh, reunited with my beautiful beast.
And ready, any time he attacks.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
LOCH
In the Bible,Cain murdered his brother Abel in a fit of jealousy.
Understood.
Because standing beside my brother, Axel, knowing he fucked Alena. First? It’s taking strength of biblical proportions not to kill him.
What’s summoning my restraint?
The tears he’s crying at the stunning sight of Ruby walking down the aisle. The asshole is so fucking in love with her, it makes me glance at the bride’s side.
Alena’s seated there, as Ruby’s guest, because that’s how our queens roll. Giving. Gracious. Getting in your face with a pistol if you turn their idyllic wedding into a bloodbath.
So I wink at Alena and twist my fist.
I’ll knock Axel’s teeth out another day.
Besides, I glance at Nash, standing beside me, and for the first time, I understand his impulse to procure a golden chastity belt for Alena.
Yes, Alena was an adult. No, Axel didn’t know how I felt about her. Hell, neither did I.
