lyn

ugh to be convincing. "Jasmine, I can't face Beckham. I'm

helmed by the consequences of her own defiance. It

eam deep in her eyes. "Oh, you poor thing. If you're so distressed,

ng

ith manufactured gratitude. "Would

l pocket of my dress and pulled out the e

id it always brought her courage. Please, take i

the gemstone. Greed warred with her feigned concern,

incerity. She fastened the chain around her neck, the poisoned

n, a cold smile hidden deep inside me. Outwardly,

d her. "Don't keep the

owards the front parlor. She was already imagining how she would comfort

s turned. My spine straightened. My watery, fearful eyes hardened into chips of ice. The t

I murmured to the empty corridor. "I

and walked in the opposite d

little group of sycophants a

my voice breathless. "Have you seen my sister? She seemed so upset.

ind the parlor? The one with the rare mo

thought. "The Alpha Apparent is in the parlor. I do hope they

renda than any flower. She grabbed her friends by the arm, her eyes aligh

rs were i

overlooked the very garden I had sent t

Beckham. She delivered her version of my "apology." The pheromon

eyes glazed over, his pupils dilating. He saw not my conni

her own charm at work, pre

in path, into the seclusion of the moon orchi

bs and fabric when Brenda

nda pushed aside a thick

dappled sunlight, was the future Alpha King, his hands tangled in the

. "Isn't this a pretty picture? The Alpha Apparent, beddin

comical mask of horror. Jasmine let out a stra

am stammered, his arrogance di

n my account. The entire household will know within the hour anyway. I've

Alpha aura flaring. But it was too late. The

reaking down her face in ugly black lines. Beckham was pacing like a caged animal, his hands raki

e, no calculated manipulation. Just ugly, raw, desperate sobs. Beckham's roar of fury echoed off the garden walls, impotent and pathe

to my memory-the panic in Beckham's eyes, the ruin on Jasmine's face

oddess gave me this new life, a genuine