She’s wobbly at first and then straightens, brushing her skirt down as a servant walks by. She nods to them as they greet her, and I have to bite back a smile. She’s marked by me, and she’ll feel me between her legs until I’m with her again tonight.
I watch her join the other women at the table, then I slip free and make my way back to my car that’s parked down the street. When I get there, I grab my phone and make a call.
“Tomorrow. Move everything to tomorrow.”
“But your highness—” The planner starts to protest, but I cut him off.
“It’s tomorrow or it’s your job. You decide.”
I hang up the phone and grip the wheel with both hands. I’ve waited long enough to have Alena, and I won’t wait another fucking second. I’ll go to her tonight, but I want her bound to me by royal law when I breed her. And make no mistake, she’ll be bred before the sun sets on us another day.
9
Alena
I open my bedroom door and peek down the hallway, making sure no one is in there before I slip out. I head for my sister’s room, needing to talk to her. Today’s been crazy. Okay, the last forty-eight hours of my life have been crazy. I find out I’m getting married to a brute of a king, who’s constantly popping out of nowhere and doing deliciously terrible things to me. Okay, not terrible, but it makes me feel better to think it.
I don’t know if I want to smack him or kiss him. The worst part is I haven’t gotten to have a moment alone with my sister since we separated after dinner yesterday. I’ve been dying to talk to her about everything. She has no idea about the two times Roman’s shown up or the things we’d done. Each time we try to get a moment together, someone interrupts us.
Since I woke up this morning I’ve been on the move with my bridal shower. My mom made a giant deal out of. She invited everyone from here to the moon. There were people there I’d never seen in my life. And when it wasn’t my mother rushing me around, Roman’s mom was hovering close, shooting my mother death glares and asking me a million questions about myself. And, oh yeah, when am I going to give her grandbabies?
I’m not sure these families are going to like each other, but I did notice Roman’s mom only gave my mom death glares when my mom snapped at me or barked an order. Then, to top it all off, we found out midafternoon the wedding would be tomorrow. That sent everyone running to get things done. It was already almost midnight and I’d barely gotten changed into my pajamas, and knew I couldn’t stay in my room tonight. I had to talk to my sister.
I get to her door and grab the knob. I go to turn it, but it doesn’t work. It’s locked. We never lock our doors. There’s no reason to, and oftentimes we end up in each other’s beds. I hear a giggle from her room and press my ear against the door. Then I hear a moan.
Oh my God.
I knock on the door lightly and wait.
“Coming,” I hear her say in a high-pitched voice. Then she starts whispering. “Get in the closet. Oh God, you’ll never fit in the closet. What do they feed you? I bet that—” I knock again, knowing my sister just got off topic and would never come to the door.
“It’s me,” I whisper in a voice that’s way louder than it should be. I look up and down the hall to make sure no one is coming.
The door swings open, and my sister is standing there in a shirt that’s clearly not hers. Her hair is a wild mess, and her make-up looks like she slept in it. But we haven’t gone to bed yet. We only parted from my mother thirty minutes ago.
“What is going on?” I half-yell. She grabs me by the arm, pulls me into her room, and shuts the door behind us.
“Shh,” she snaps.
“Don’t shh me,” I snap back, pointing my finger at her and narrowing my eyes. I want to know what’s going on. She smiles at me, and I want to roll my eyes.
“Surprise?” She makes her smile even bigger, showing her perfect teeth. “I got you a stripper? You know, bachelorette party…” She shrugs like she has no idea where she’s going with this lie.
I look around her and see Vlad, Roman’s bodyguard, buttoning up his pants, and my eyes almost pop out of my head. I see the shade of lipstick that’s smeared on her face matches the shade smeared all over his mouth.
“Wait. I take it back!” She jumps in my line of sight of him. “Don’t look at him. Vlad, put a shirt on!”
“Babe, you’re wearing my shirt,” I hear him say, laughter in his voice.
“Oh.” She looks down at the shirt.
“You had sex,” I gasp, really putting everything together.
She nods and mouths, “It was amazing.” I snort.
Suddenly Tabby’s door flies open, making us both jump. Roman fills the doorway, and he swiftly steps into the room and shuts the door behind him. He’s in a dark suit, but he somehow still looks like he’s ready to go into battle.
“You found me.” I stomp my foot. I was going to hide out in my sister’s room tonight, knowing he’d likely come. Well, I thought I was. She clearly had other plans. Still, I was going to hide. I wanted a little payback for how he thinks he can pop up anywhere and do whatever he likes to me. Even if I kinda like the things he does. Okay, maybe kinda is putting it lightly.
“Took me an extra two seconds, but it wasn’t hard. Should I have a tracker put on you?”
“She not a dog,” my sister hisses at him.
“Yeah, what she said,” I add, because I’ve got nothing else to use as a comeback.
A half-smirk plays on Roman’s lips, but I glare at him. I’m sure my sister is doing the same.
“Wait,” Tabby says. She leans into me a little. “Do we like him or not? I can’t remember.”
I hear a chuckle come from both of the men and nudge her to hush it.
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t need a tracker. Come tomorrow, I can keep you at my side for the rest of my life.”
“Well, then I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodbye,” I say tartly, trying to dismiss him. I know it won’t work, but a girl’s gotta try.
“My princess, you know what I came for, and I’m going to get my taste before I leave.”