Leigh’s recent behavior troubles me. Finding her in the kitchen with Pallas, Bennett, and Gianna left me uneasy. She claimed they were just having breakfast, but I could sense she wasn’t telling the truth. Leigh is hiding things from me. I worry that if she doesn’t learn to set aside her differences and collaborate, friction will plague her reign. Without trust, we’re left with doubt and division, and that’s a dangerous path for both of us.
“Hey,” I start, gently pushing a strand of golden hair behind Leigh’s ear. “Will you do something for me while I’m gone?”
She smiles playfully. “Nope, not sending you any nudes.”
I laugh. “I wasn’t going to ask for that, but now that you mention it, why not?”
Leigh laughs, and I smile, the pressure lifting from my chest.
“Because I’m the queen,” she says, rolling her eyes like it’s obvious. “How do I know you won’t sell them to fund some old flame in Aurora?”
I shake my head, playing along, but my mind drifts to Brigid, Commander Eddo’s daughter. We were friends who fell into bed, nothing more. I ended things last year before I returned to Borealis, so resuming our friendship should be easy enough. Leigh has nothing to fear. Still, I like seeing her jealous; it’s a fun reminder that I’m hers.
“You got me. I plan to use your photos to support my secret family in Aurora. My ex is expecting—not my child, of course—but I’ve got to look out for her, right?”
Leigh is not amused. She rears her fist back, ready to strike, but I grab her wrist with a laugh. She sucks in an angry breath.
“As your queen, I demand you release me!” She tries to wrench free.
I drop the teasing. “I’m kidding,” I say seriously. “There’s nobody in Aurora for me. Nobody that matters, anyway.” I need her to understand—there’s only her, and there will only ever be her. “Tell me you trust me.”
Leigh struggles harder, but I hold firm, my eyes pleading with her, pouring out my love. We’ve moved beyond titles and hierarchy—this is about us as equals, as partners. She can’t pull rank to get her way. Not anymore.
“Leigh, do you trust me?”
She peers up at me with those big gray eyes, and I fold like a deck of cards. “What did you want me to do while you’re gone?” she asks, and just like that, I’m powerless.
I swallow. She’s evading me, but our time together is running out.
“It’s about Ravi,” I start, noting her darkening expression. She needs to hear this. “While I am gone, try to get to know him. If you two are related, how co?—”
“He is a liar.”
“That’s not fair. You don’t know him,” I say, frowning, but my words die in my throat as Leigh’s attention shifts away. I follow her gaze, my own concerns instantly forgotten.
Prince Alden Lupas strides toward us with his entourage, and my muscles tense. He’s got a battle-scarred appearance: Light brown hair closely shorn, scars crisscrossing his face, one bisecting his left eyebrow and a more prominent one on his chin. Behind him is a witch who can only be Ravi. He may look nothing like Leigh, but his guarded gaze reminds me of her.
Alden is earlier than expected, and his intense focus on Leigh as he approaches with a hunter’s confidence makes my jaw clench. I fight the urge to step between them. Leigh wouldn’t appreciate it, but everything in me screams to shield her from his predatory attention.
“Your Majesty,” he greets with a voice that’s more rumble than words. Leigh extends her hand, but instead of shaking it, Alden yanks her close. His surprising action culminates in a bold, territorial lick up the side of her face.
My fists clench at my sides. If His Royal Scarface weren’t royalty, he might find himself uncomfortably close to the train tracks.
“Prince Alden, a handshake would have been less invasive.” Leigh’s fingers brush the drying saliva on her cheek. Her eyes briefly meet mine, and I don a neutral mask despite the rage simmering in my chest. My magic demands retribution yet burning him would thwart peace. Still, does he have to be so fucking disgusting?
“But that is so impersonal,” Alden replies.
The impulse to rearrange the Wolf Prince’s face intensifies as he smirks at her. His unnatural canines gleaming like weapons. Leigh’s guards tighten their formation, hands twitching toward their weapons as they eye Alden warily. I hold them back with asubtle gesture. Alden won’t hurt Leigh. Not here, not now, with so many witnesses.
“Sorry about the licking,” Alden says, and Leigh forces a smile. “It’s a custom back in Lua. I can’t say I regret it. You taste like honey and smell like flowers.”
I frown, my stomach churning at the thought of his tongue on her skin, marking her as his territory. Alden may be a prince, but he’s being rude when I thought he was here to foster an alliance.
Ravi, to Alden’s left, rolls his eyes—a gesture so Leigh it’s uncanny. She ignores him completely. I get where her perspective, but snubbing him, or the fact that he might be her family, won’t make him go away. She’ll need to face him eventually. I’d planned to talk to suggest she give him a chance, but Alden’s little display killed that conversation. Maybe I’ll bring it up during our next call.
Leigh regains her composure. “Welcome to Borealis, Your Highness. I want to introduce you to Wilder Dunn, the Borealis Blade Commander and myboyfriend.”
I extend my hand, letting a smirk play across my lips. “She’s the only one allowed to lick me,” I quip, my tone carrying enough heat to make my meaning clear.
