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I close the lid on the last box I’d commed to have delivered and arch my back with my hands braced at the base of my spine. “That’s all of it.”

We glance around the apartment and take the emptiness of it in. I’m the last of the four of us to move out of the women’s dormitory. It hardly feels real that four months or so ago I was standing in this apartment on an alien planet for the first time certain I was dreaming. Now I’m mated to a damn prince and moving into a palace.

Lindsey comes to stand next to me and loops her arm around mine. Quinn moves to my other side and does the same thing. Olivia steps over to the other side of Quinn and completes our chain. I lay my head on Lindsey’s shoulder.

“I’m going to miss this place. Especially the bathing pool,” I can’t help but muse. “Did I ever tell you about the first time I walked into the hygiene room and saw it? My initial thought was how fucking sad I was going to be if it was too deep for me to stand in because I couldn’t swim and I was pretty sure I’d end up drowning in that damn thing.”

As I’d intended, the three of them laugh. Lindsey speaks up next. “I remember walking into my apartment and my immediate thought was how badly the place needed some color. Spending those first credits on the bright pillows for my sofa was scary, but once I got them home and set out I told myself they were the best credits I could have ever spent.”

Quinn sighs, but it’s a happy sound. “All the buttons that controlled the different features of the toilet freaked me out that first time. I mean, how many things does a toilet need to do besides flush? Don’t laugh, but I nearly screamed bloody murder when I discovered the button that controlled the spray of water that shot straight onto my butthole.”

We all burst out laughing, because I know Quinn wasn’t the only one. Who knew such a thing as a bidet existed? We didn’t have anything remotely like that in the bottom tier. It took some getting used to. I’m still not sure if I’m entirely comfortable with the process, but it’s a luxury I don’t plan on stopping, because I like feeling clean.

Olivia’s next. “I know I joked that first day about how boring the apartments were, but I just said that because I if I acted like the place wasn’t that big of a deal then the reality of it wouldn’t hit me. Honestly, I cried every night in bed, because I was overwhelmed and overstimulated. As dumb as it sounds now, the apartment felt too big. Like I was going to get lost in it. It didn’t matter that it was literally just two large rooms plus the hygiene room. It felt like I’d never find my way out.”

Now that I think about it, Olivia’s right. The apartment did feel too big at certain moments. The four of us stand quietly and soak up the memories of our time spent living beside each other. We had so much fun together.

“It feels like the end of an era.” I can’t help but muse.

“But in a good way,” Olivia adds.

“Definitely.” How could it not be good? We’ve all done what we came to this planet to do and that’s find a husband. I’m pretty sure none of us arrived expecting some great love affair, but the fact that it actually happened to not just one of us, but all four of us is incredible.

I take one final look around. I’ll miss my lovely apartment, but I’m more than looking forward to starting my life together with Alik. The nerves I’m feeling about not knowing how to be a princess are still present, but I’m not going to let them control me. Plus, Olivia’s been a princess longer than I have and she hasn’t a changed a bit other than her new title. The thought does make me feel better.

“Well, I guess it’s time to call Alik or Horek and have them send over some people to load this stuff up and transport it to the palace.” It’s really happening.

“They better hurry up, because we need to get back there in case one of us needs to referee,” Olivia quips.

I exchange a worried glance with Lindsey. “Do you really think Janik and Alik could come to blows?”

“We all know how much I love my man, but I also know he’s got a smart mouth. I suspect Alik doesn’t have nearly enough patience to put up with Janik’s brand of sarcasm and shit-talking.”

Olivia’s right. Fuck.

Chapter 23

Alik

I wait as long as I’m able before I take the risk of the others sending out a search party for me.

Gods, I’m such a coward.

It’s not Janik I fear, but rather my reaction to him. I fear the possibility that I may not be able to control the beast from appearing. The madness is not an experience I ever wish to repeat. While I have defied every odd by returning back to myself after succumbing to it, a part of me worries that finding my heart’s fire is not going to be enough.

Before me, no male has fallen to the effects of the madness once he’s found a mate. Only two things have ever eased a Bohnari’s mating fever; inhaling the kanet powder or fucking. Bringing brides to Bohna was a way to ensure our people didn’t die out either by going mad or by extinction given we no longer had females able to bear children.

Now that I have my own mate, the risk of the mating fever burning hot enough inside me to make me go mad once again should be nonexistent. Yet the fear of it happening again exists inside me. Which is why I have waited until the last possible moment to enter the throne room.

I pause outside the room I haven’t been back in since the day the madness took over. The day of the first rebel attack when I had Janik thrown into the pit. Horek, my mother, and even my heart’s fire have been careful about even mentioning the former rebel’s name around me. At least until recently.

While the queen and I have not spoken of her son, Horek and Devon have gently introduced his name into discussions. If that’s anything to go by, I almost wish Devon were here for this meeting. She’s the only one who can soothe the beast. I can’t use her as a crutch though. I have to conquer this fear on my own.

After a deep inhale, I push open the door to the throne room and step inside. I’m immediately drawn to Janik as if a gravitational beam connects us and is pulling me toward him against my will. At his side is his massive phinnek.

I scoff. “Do you fear what I might do to you so badly that you had to bring Mak here for protection?”

Janik doesn’t take the bait. “I am glad you could make it. I’ve been wanting to meet you face to face for the longest time. To be able to speak openly and honestly with each other. Thank you for inviting me to meet with you.”