“In Aurora?” I sit on the upholstered bench across from her. “How did you even?—”
“Mama says Stellan Navis knew him. That they worked together.”
“You actually took my advice and called Maria?” I ask as the train lurches into motion.
“Wilder, your ideas aren’t gospel.” Gi reaches into her bag for headphones. She slips them over her head without disturbing her jelled ponytail. “Wake me when we get there.”
“Oh, come on, if we are going to be stuck together, you might as well talk to me.”
Gianna closes her eyes. “Shh.”
I scowl at the shapely raven-haired woman. She’s already a thorn in my side, and we haven’t left the city.
Settling into my seat with my book on my lap, I watch Borealis fade, replaced by lush farmland. Each second brings me closer to Aurora, and a shower of unexpected dread washes over me. I took the job there after graduation, believing it would be my forever home. Now, returning as the Borealis Blade Commander, I bet nothing has changed—but I know I have. Will it still feel like home?
Wilder’s trainpulls away with a metallic screech, and I stand on the platform alongside Alden, Ravi, their entourage, and my guards, watching it fade into the distance. A sigh escapes my lips. He’ll fix things, restore the power, and stop Stellan. Wilder doesn’t know how to let me down.
I face my royal companion with crossed arms. I can’t risk taking Alden to the palace for lunch with Janus and the Council—it would jeopardize the illusion of unity and strength. Instead, I’ll discuss our borders with him elsewhere, away from Janus’s influence. If Janus is colluding with Stellan, I don’t want her anywhere near Alden until he’s agreed to a peace treaty. First, I need to know his terms. Why is he here? Why are his wolves encroaching on our territory if peace is his goal?
“So, what do you want, Alden?” I ask. “Peace talks could happen over the phone. Why travel hundreds of miles in your brother’s place? You could have stayed with your father. Why didn’t King Simon send Zeus?”
Alden grins, towering over my five-foot-eight frame. His scars tell the story of countless battles. Being a Wolf Prince means earning respect through combat—his title alone isn’t enough. His rugged handsomeness is undeniable, but not enough to sway me.
“You’d prefer Zeus’s company over mine?” he asks, feigning indignation.
“I was not born yesterday. You declined my invitation for my coronation. If you needed our resources, you could have asked then. Yet here you are, weeks later. So, why now?”
Alden steps closer. “You know, your picture doesn’t capture your true beauty. The glowing skin, those soulful eyes that could bring any man to his knees, and a figure that begs for?—”
“That’s enough. Flirting will get you nowhere with me.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
“Don’t mistake my annoyance for interest,” I state.
Alden’s laugh is deep and rumbling. “Fiery little thing.”
I force a smile. “Seeing as you lack a filter—no doubt something all the half-wit girls back home enjoy—there will be rules while you stay under my roof. We aren’t going to hook up. We aren’t going to be friends. Together, we are establishing an alliance. Do I make myself clear?”
Alden inhales deeply, his nostrils flaring. I stiffen. “What are you doing?” I ask, but he gives nothing away.
“Your scent. Anger can be intoxicating,” Alden grumbles. “I can tell a lot about someone’s smell: Age, rank, and breeding condition.” He takes another sniff, pupils widening. “You enjoy sex. A lot. So, who will scratch that itch while your boyfriend’s away?”
“Not you,” I say through gritted teeth.
“It’s okay, Leigh. I enjoy playing with toys that aren’t mine.”
I step back to create distance. “Unless you want to keep making an ass of yourself, tell your people to grab your things. We have places to be.”
“I am excited to see how Rowan Palace compares to Nocturn Castle,” Alden says casually as we leave the train platform.
“We aren’t going to the palace.”
Alden stops mid-stride. “Was the luncheon with the Council canceled?”
The luncheon is still on. Bennett will question Janus about the blackout. My absence will anger the president, but she shouldn’t have vanished two nights ago with no explanation if she didn’t want scrutiny.
“I thought you might like to see the city first.”
