She doesn’t blink at my harsh tone. “This is an excellent development. You should woo her.”
“I agree,” Cratos says.
My stomach bottoms out. Thelastthing I need is to spend more time in close proximity with Meryn.
“Like fuck I will,” I growl. “Are you out of your mind?”
Siegrid lifts a shoulder casually, as if making a suggestion for a paint color and not a romantic partner. “Why not? Your wolves are mated. You have an infamous reputation for your escapades at the front, so I’m well aware that you are not otherwise engaged. She’s powerful and relatively attractive. You could do worse.”
Meryn’s long, toned legs exposed to me in the moonlight. The full shape of her breasts under that nightgown. Her pert mouth that spews tart words but looks like it would taste so sweet.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing fuckingrelativeabout Meryn’s looks.
“You know, you would probably get to see her naked,” Cratos helpfully chimes in.
“One more word out of you and I’ll have you kenneled,” I toss back.
As attractive as the queen is, it’s a line I’m never going to cross.
What happened in the arena with her killing those Bonded… I caused that. I saw the moment she debated whether to use her powers, and the chaos inside me spoke up, egging her on, encouraging her.
When she took those lives, a dark thrill lit my veins—so much raw, unvarnished power. She should have every man groveling at her feet.
Our country needs her to be a steady leader, and I’d only corrupt her. The depraved parts of me long for it.
Siegrid just folds her hands onto her lap and frowns at me like I’m being the unreasonable one. “It makes good sense, and it would bring our family that much closer to control.”
And there’s that reminder again: Everything is aboutcontrolwith Siegrid.
I might be a bad influence on Meryn, but I need to keep Siegrid away from her at all costs. I’m a living record of the damage the Sovereign Alpha can wreak on a person in the name of seeking and retaining power. If she lays so much as a finger on the queen…
I stand abruptly and walk away, pacing throughout the room. If my body stops moving for even one moment, I’m going to punch the self-satisfied look off this woman’s face, and I really don’t think I should hit the person who birthed me.
“First of all,” I grit out as I pace, “I am notinterestedin wooing her. She’s made it very clear that she dislikes me, and I can assure you it’s mutual. She drives me mad, and spending more time than strictly necessary in her presence sounds like torture.”
“You don’t have to like someone to be with them,” Siegrid retorts. Unbelievable.
“Second,” I continue loudly, “even if I was interested, you are talking about a woman who had her heart savagely torn out mere days ago. She’s an absolute wreck.”
Siegrid sniffs. “Hearts heal. She will eventually have to marry. Do you want to suffer through your wolves’ mate bond while she marries someone else? The queen’s future marriage is a state matter. Whether or not you’reinterested, our family will help her make those decisions.”
I say nothing, too livid to speak.
“Just continue to think about it, that’s all I ask,Alpha Stark.” She manages to make the title sound like an insult; her voice is sharp as a knife, but she can’t quite pierce me, not after all these years of building up my armor.
I can’t do this fucking dance with her anymore tonight. Looking at Cratos, I say, “Time for us to get back on guard duty.”
He stands, baring his teeth once more at Siegrid in a snarl. Then he whips his tail at her as he turns, slapping her in the leg, and saunters out the half-splintered door.
“By the way,” I say, pausing in the doorframe and looking casually over my shoulder at the Sovereign Alpha. “Meryn’s sister has been turned into a Siphon. The queen is keeping Saela in her chambers, and if you so much as cast either of them an untoward look, I’ll remove those scheming eyes from your head.”
I slam what remains of her door behind me as I leave.
9
MERYN
I’m on edge. The Sovereign Alpha arrived last night with her traveling party, and I’m due to welcome them to the castle with a dinner this evening. Which means I’ve spent the last hour getting ready with my new primary attendant, Brionna, who can barely look me in the eyes.
