Her tone was polite, but her eyes were sharper than wolf fangs.
"Uh… look," he began, casually scratching the back of his neck like that would somehow undo all his poor life choices. "I know you heard about the marriage thing with the princess. It wasn't planned, alright? The king just kind of… ordered it." He laughed awkwardly.
"Yes… sure," Jane replied, her perfectly manicured fingers wrapping tighter around her glass. If whiskey were alive, it would be sweating.
"So… I have things to get done," Kyllian said, already half-turned toward the door. "See you around?"
"Alpha," she said again, more firmly this time. "I know it's an arranged marriage. My father is a council member, remember?"
"Okay?" he said cautiously.
Jane moved toward him with the kind of grace that made men write bad poetry. Her hips swayed. With slow, deliberate fingers, she reached out and ran one polished nail down the center of his chest, through his open collar, stopping just above his belt. Her eyes never left his.
"I can still satisfy you," she whispered. "Whenever you want."
Kyllian's jaw tightened, but he managed a smile. A real one this time. He gently caught her wrist, stopping the trail of temptation mid-route. "Not going to happen," he said, stepping back and letting her hand fall.
"Kyllian?" Jane gasped, blinking as if she had just been slapped.
His gaze hardened, his posture straightening. "It's Alpha to you," he said quietly but firmly. "From now on, just Alpha."
She stared at him, stunned. "Is it because she's a princess? You think she's better than me because she's royalty?"
Kyllian exhaled slowly. "My decision has nothing to do with you. Or her." He met her gaze with unwavering steadiness. "It's about me. If I make vows, I stand by them. That's how I was raised. That's who I am. This marriage might be political, but I'm not going to treat it like a temporary treaty. A side booty call isn't in the plan."
Jane's face flushed.
"You plan on just dropping me like I never meant anything to you?" She was no longer the sultry seductress from moments ago; she was a woman scorned, cornered by the weight of sudden irrelevance.
Kyllian clenched his jaw. "You plan on continuing to fuck a married man? A soon-to-be mated man?" he snapped back.
"You're going to mate with her?" Jane asked.
"I'm going to be her husband!" Kyllian barked. "What do you think happens next? We exchange rings and then I sneak back every full moon for one more round with my ex?" He threw his hands in the air, exasperated. "I'm not that guy."
Jane's lips curled in fury. "This is just because you want to be king so badly!"
The accusation hit like a slap. Kyllian's jaw twitched. "Okay. That's enough. Time for you to get out. The fact that we had a couple good fucks doesn't mean you should forget who I am. I am your Alpha. And you will show me some damn respect."
Jane's whole demeanor shifted. Her posture straightened. "Yes, Alpha," she said quietly, her pride bruised, but her spine still intact.
As soon as she left, Talon casually leaned against the doorway, arms crossed and grin wide. "Wow," he drawled, blinking dramatically. "That was incredibly mean. Like, beautifully savage. Think you could help me break up with one of my girlfriends next? I'm scared of Sheila. She bites."
Kyllian shot him a tired glare. "Not in the mood, Talon."
"Clearly," Talon muttered under his breath. "You alright?"
"No," Kyllian admitted. "I'm not even married yet and I'm already having problems."
Both men walked out of the living room together.
"You need to prepare for the princess," Kyllian said. "Make sure everything's put in order."
Talon raised an eyebrow. "One question though, and I'm only asking this for logistics, not because I'm nosy." His grin widened. "Same room… or separate rooms?"
Kyllian paused mid-step, staring ahead, his mind wandering to her. He thought of her defiant eyes, the way she challenged him without blinking. Her lips looked like temptation, rebellion, and destiny all at once. And her body, every curve had been sculpted for chaos.
"Separate rooms," he muttered finally, more to himself than to Talon.
Talon gave a low whistle. "Dangerous, huh?"
"Very," Kyllian replied grimly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Talon snorted and Kyllian rolled his eyes. "Just make sure she's comfortable. And for the love of the Moon Goddess, no more ex-lovers showing up uninvited."
"Got it, boss." Talon mock-saluted.
*****
Luna watched in disbelief as Damien took off his shirt, painfully slowly, teasing her. She wanted to reach forward so badly to touch him but her hands were trapped by her sides. He picked up the jug of water on the table and poured it on his chest. Luna felt thirsty all of a sudden. She felt an impossible pull to drink the water off him.
She tried to beg, but no words came. Just come closer, please… please.
Damien watched as Luna twisted on her bed. It looked like she was having a dream, a pleasurable one with the way her fingers ran up and down her body. He wondered who was in her dream. Was it him, the one ordained by the goddess or was it Alpha Kyllian, the one handed to her by her parents?
He promised he would let her be, he only wanted one last look at her before he would leave in the morning. The Blood Goddess had given him a fine woman, a worthy mate. Too bad that reality isn't so simple. They were both from two different worlds. She a werewolf princess, he a vampire prince.
He heard a moan escape Luna's lips and he couldn't help but smile. He was familiar with that. He moved closer to the bed, sitting by her side. The delicious scent of her arousal hitting his senses.
"Wake up and let me help you, My Moonlight." Damien said.
Luna's eyes fluttered open like she had heard him from her sleep.
"What are you doing here?" she asked as she shuffled up quickly.
@readeredaer: welcome on board