Anwen
After Estrella leaves, I abandon the morning-after clothes and shift. If the bell's already ringing, I'm fucked for time, so I'll be better off seeming like I stayed out all night and asking the gate guards for something to wear. I take a breath and start running. Today, even my wolf can't stop my racing mind.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I can't believe I found my mate during my first fucking Haze! Sure, that happens for most people, but my first Haze had to fall the day after this stupid delegation arrives? That's the only situation that would've landed me here, biting my mate's head off for mentioning Father.
Pain rips through my shoulder. The things I said to her made her almost fall over. I watched a haze of hurt fill her gray eyes, and I damn near ripped my heart out of my chest and gave it to her in apology.
A howl tears from my lips, and I hope the Moon Goddess hears it. She's got a sick sense of humor, at least when it comes to the Solbergs, and I'm not going to be her laughingstock.
The plan is simple. We just can't be mated right now. This alliance is fragile, and I know Kieran needs it. But if we're not mated now, judging by the way Estrella tried to attack me, we never will be. So, I'll just avoid Estrella until her family leaves, and then I'll go to Fleming and figure out how to deal with the rejection pain for the rest of my life.
Simple. And goddamn lonely.
'Anwen!' Baz, my would-be Beta, calls through the mind-link.
I can taste the disappointment in his thoughts.
'What?' I snap.
'No success, then?' He sighs. 'Me either. You have something important, or can you go get drunk and complain with me?'
'Something important,' I reply shortly.
'Damn.'
I wheel away from the gate. If I ask the guards for clothes, I'll have to shift, and Baz might see me. Good thing Father only bothered with me when Kieran was too busy doing kingly shit for someone else, so I spent my childhood learning this castle like the back of my hand. I lope around the outer walls, find a place low enough to leap over, take a different passageway than the one we used to re-enter the castle after Father's death, and creep up to my room.
A few minutes later, I've showered, dressed, and I'm skidding into the main dining room. Kieran and Bla-Raven are already there, wearing their royal robes.
"Any news?" Kieran asks. "Quickly, the Sollabellas are waiting outside. And the Winters so Snowcrest doesn't get the feeling they're being left out."
I wrinkle my nose. Nessa Winter has been quieter since Raven sent her ass down the hallway, but no less annoying when she does talk.
A small voice in the back of my mind suggests I could ask Kieran for advice on Estrella. He and Raven obviously didn't start out with a strong bond. But that suggests I want to try to fix what happened this morning, and I know there's no chance.
"None."
Kieran shrugs. "A mating bond with their princess would've made today easier, but perhaps it's better."
Raven puts a hand on his arm. "And your mate is not less important than the kingdom's politics, whoever she is."
Kieran inclines his head to her in agreement. I swallow an eye roll. Sure, I get why Raven's not grieving, but I'm tired of her magnanimous act. She made sure to tell me she forgives me for everything that happened before. I don't buy it, and waiting for her to crack is exhausting.
'Why am I here and not our other siblings?' I ask Kieran.
'You're the crown prince now,' he replies. 'And I know your ears. Listen, remember, try not to make an impression.'
So, keep my mouth shut. That, I can do.
My mark aches.
Hopefully, I can do it.
Kieran and Raven take seats at the head of the table, and Kieran waves his hand. Servants open the doors as I sit to his right. Others bring in platters piled with food. First, Nessa and her father, Floyd, parade in. Nessa is wearing that awful, bright pink thing she insisted on buying when she was trying to impress Mother, but she keeps her head down. Floyd's been at our court long enough that he wears a doublet in our style, with only a light-blue sash to mark him as an envoy of Alpha King Andri's court. They greet us formally and sit on the left side.
"Thank you for this consideration." Floyd helps himself to some bacon. "I'm sure King Andri will be interested in the reintegration of Sundrop Gem into broader politics."
Kieran nods politely as he fills his own plate. I reach for the sausages and-
Her smell hits me, overpowering everything on the table. Something sweet baking and that flower I can't name. Every nerve in my body lights, and my cock responds. I cram one of my hands in my lap before anyone can notice.
The royal family of Sundrop Gem enters the room. Just like last time, King Isai and Queen Suniva are arm-in-arm. Are they really that close, or are they trying to seem like they're closer than they are? The two of them bow in unison, and the shoulder of Queen Suniva's wrapped, colorful dress slips. King Isai fixes it without a word. Actually close, then.
I force my gaze to Prince Castor next. He wears a broad-shouldered tunic like his father but in more sedate colors, jewel tones instead of brights. No crown, no obvious marker of status beyond his ramrod-straight bearing. But his bow is awkward. He's not used to being paraded around. Least-loved second son, perhaps?
There's no reason to look at Estrella. This morning, her gray eyes flashing, her luscious body hidden from me beneath that blanket, told me everything I need to know.
She sits down across from me. I nearly gag on my sip of coffee.
'All right?' Kieran asks.
I send him the mind-link equivalent of a thumb's up and struggle to listen to the conversation.
"So," Kieran says, "you mentioned an alliance on the docks yesterday. What does that mean to you?"
King Isai swallows a bite of bacon. "In truth, I'm not quite sure. We don't come with any great issue. Sundrop Gem thrives in isolation, and we're out of practice dealing with others."
"As are we." Kieran smiles. "Did the stories of King Gavin reach you across the sea?"
King Isai frowns. "Enough."
I glance down the table at Floyd. He's watching this back-and-forth with sharp eyes I've always found more ferrety than wolflike. Of course, his job is simply to spy on us for King Andri, a role Father allowed because Floyd likes the high life in the palace enough that he wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it.
"I learned of them recently myself." Kieran takes Raven's hand. "My wife is the crown princess of Escuro, one of the lands my father demolished in his quest for power. In falling for her, I discovered many new things about the history of this kingdom, and I wish to right them."
I clench my hands under the table. Father was cruel, and he fought dirty. I sided with Kieran for a reason. But Father did win. He did give us good lives. And no one seems to remember that anymore.
"Your letter contained the same sentiment," King Isai says.
"In the same words," Estrella adds.
My breath catches. Her voice is like a symphony, high and sweet with a tempting rasp.
"Forgive me," Kieran says. "I spent a great deal of time writing that letter, and I'm new to leadership. But, if it's not too personal a question, I can't help noticing you've got on the dress of someone who spent a night in one of the Haze tents. Have you mated with someone here in Dun's Crossing?"
I jerk my head up before I can stop myself. Her dark curls flow loose over her shoulders, tousled from a night in my arms like she didn't even touch them when she arrived back at the castle. Her heart-shaped face doesn't bear a trace of cosmetics, and her full lips look kiss-bitten. And she's still wearing the plain brown dress from the tent. My chest squeezes as she shifts in her seat and the neckline of the dress shifts to reveal the barest edge of the mark I left on her shoulder. It's like she's fucking taunting me, like she wants to get caught.
Estrella meets my gaze, her gray eyes hard. "No. But I had such a wonderful time running through your forests that I stayed out all night. I can't imagine how you spend your days inside when you've got such enchanting woods out there."
I swallow. Everything in me screams to leap across the table, yank her dress aside, and display her to the world as mine. But now we've both lied. And I know as soon as I'm out from under the influence of her eyes, I'll remember why lying seemed like such a good idea in the first place.
"You'll-" Raven pales and presses a hand to her mouth.
Kieran looks at her sharply, then nods. "Apologies. The early days of pregnancy don't agree with Queen Raven."
Estrella looks away from me, and the rest of the world fades back into focus. Nessa and Floyd are both watching Raven intently. Castor picks at his food.
"Come to my chambers sometime," Queen Suniva says. "I know a few tricks."
Raven smiles but doesn't look up from her empty plate. I cram food into my mouth, hoping that will dampen the fire that lit in me when Estrella denied me.
Kieran clears his throat. "Well, I suppose there's no reason to continue beating around the bush. Solberg family legend says there is a feud between our two packs."
"In Sundrop Gem, we go into a fair bit more detail than that." King Isai laughs. "But my queen tells me the day your letter arrived was a day for forgiveness. I don't care much for the arguments of our great-great-grandfathers. Do you?"
I study the king. He has Estrella's coloring-sandy skin, darker hair, gray eyes-and her same soft profile. He looks like a weak man, except for his eyes. They're not intense, powerful like Father's were, but they have a certain unshakeable confidence.
'He's not lying,' I tell Kieran. Part of me hopes I'm wrong. My very simple plan may become far less simple if our kingdoms become allies.
"I would love to know the story someday," Kieran says, "but I see no reason not to proceed."
King Isai laughs. "Our holy woman tells it better, but I'll answer any questions you have."
Across the table, Estrella won't look at me.