a's

n through the walls like the blood of a living god. Usually, the hum of the palace's energy grid was a lullaby, a reminder of the order and techn

ric shimmering under the moon. I should have been sleeping. I should have been resting for the political circus of the Engagement Gala

t my sternum, dragging my gaze toward the southern horizon wh

," I whispered to the empty ai

main elevators. I knew the palace's blind spots better than any guard, a result of nineteen years spent exploring every duct and service

ows. I moved toward the edge of the property, where the mani

ntain of the Weeping Godde

ate. The sharp, clean

or a stroll, isn't

gainst a massive oak tree, his black overcoat unbuttoned to reveal a charcoal suit that cost more than a Silv

adier than I felt. "My guards have orders to shoot an

ture of myth rather than a man. "Your guards are currently distracted by a 'glitch' in the north sector's thermal sens

ings," I countered. "We hav

but the heat radiating from him was a physical force. "The bond is screaming so loud I can hear it from three miles away, L

s currently wagging her tail inside my mind, pract

you want,

y toes curl. "My father wants a trophy. Your father wants a shield. But I want a Queen. I want to know if you're going to spend th

nes. The "Powerful Couple" act we were supposed to perf

reath now. "I don't 'belong' to anyone. If we do this, it's a partnership of equals. Yo

touch sent a jolt of electricity through me that made my knees weak. He

kening. "I can live with that. But fair wa

met, the bond flared into a blinding white heat. My breath hitched. Killian groaned, his ot

ne. There was only the heat, the scent, and the primal

ing like a drum. "Tomorrow," I panted. "Tomorrow we play the pa

looked like he wanted to argue, but he eve

for a second that this truce lasts forev

ould respond. I stood by the fountain for a long time, t

onight, I finally understood that the most dangerous thing in this war wasn't the

or's

at tension?! Killian hacking the sensors just to se

ouple," or will their packs' hatred tear them apart before the wedding? And what about that almost-kiss?! I was screaming! Drop a comment! Are