Chapter Thirty–Six
Von POV.
Awakening as the sunlight crept over the horizon, I slowly extracted myself from the comforts of the bed. Stepping into the closer I scanned through the clothes hanging up, though not many to choose from. Picking a pair of tight–fitting jeans and a tube top. I saw to changing into the outfit Id chosen. Granted Kadden wouldn’t be thrilled by the scant attire I’d be wearing, but it really couldn’t be helped.
His disapproval was obvious. His eyes glazed over in anger at watching me come out of the closet, wearing my clothing choice. “Go back in there. Pick something else. Clothes that actually cover all that up, without your ass and tits hanging out for the world to see.”
“Oh Kadden,” I snickered humorously as the displeasure on his face, finding comedy in his reaction. Sauntering further into the room I made no attempts to do as the man commanded, not up to listening. “You’re sounding incredibly close to being jealous. Almost like you care if someone looks at me.”
His eyes narrowed on me. “Don’t even think of playing this game with me, Little One. I have no problems locking you inside of this bedroom all day.”
“ooh,“1 moaned. “Then I wouldn’t need clothes,” I had the mental picture of lounging in bed all day, blissfully naked, waiting for this man to return. Aware the moment he stepped into the room, to bear witness to my naked body, he’d devour me.
Stalking across the floor to where I stood at the vanity dresser, Kadden stopped a hair breath away. His face leaned down the curve of my neck, bringing his lips to brush against my carlobe. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”
1 feigned innocence. “Me? Never.”
He slapped my jean–clad ass. “As much as I’ve enjoyed our extracurricular activities the last few days, it’d be best to keep your eyes on the goal. It’s to breed a child, nothing more than that. Then when you do….”
My giddiness of a moment ago completely filed in the face of his statement, at what I had to look forward to. The knowledge that as soon as we succeeded at our goals, the intimacy between us would come to an end. We’d become nothing more than the anti–sexul platonic mates we’d been the first month I was here. And even while my mind told me it was best, not to get caught up in dreams, I couldn’t help but wish. Wish that Kadden would come to realize I wasn’t the eye sore he saw me as that I was worth having
was old
Because I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do when the time came for me to leave Blood Diamond. Aware that as soon as our child enough, I’d be leaving the manor and the man behind. I would return to the sanctuary among the mountains, where our cubs would grow up big and strong. I’d only be allowed brief visits to the kingdom, for nur child to visit and our bond to grow. It would enable bath of us to survive the rejected illness until our child was old enough to become king.
“I know,” I muttered.
He left the room then
A little while later I walked out of the bedroom, stubbornly wearing the clothes I’d picked out today. What the hell did it matter what I wore! I wasn’t really his mate, just the woman the goddess chose for him, meant to breed him an heir. What the hell did it matter who else saw my body? He’d lost the right to have a voice the second that he had placed the disparaging terms on our bond. If the man wanted to be pissed off and jealous other men were watching, then that was his own damned problem
“Good morning Luna,” a servant greeted
A few others concurred
I’d noticed the drastic difference that’d taken place in the household the last week and a half. Where before I was no different than the rest of the servants, though treated with respect, that’d changed. Following Kyne’s arrival at the manor, none of them dared look at me, bowing in respect when I came in. I was also denied the ability to follow through on my chores, reminded it wasn’t my place. Serina explined why,
Ir’d been astonishing enough that Kadden had announced me as his mate in a moment of anger, I was shocked as she told me. The following day Kadden summoned all the servants and household guards before him, making them the same announcement. Wanting all of them to know that Von wasn’t merely a guest in his home, but I was actually his mate. Of course, in the next breath, all of them were ordered to secrecy, but still, he’d admitted the truth
Walking out the sliding glass door onto the veranda, I moved to where everyone sat at the table. Lowering down in the chair to the left of him, which I now realized was the seat meant for the Luna and queen. I’d never imagined the importance of the seating, proof he’d marked me as Luna before anyone knew. “Good morning Laylay,” I greeted wannly.
Her head snapped up. “What’d you call me!”
“Layla,” I corrected.
Her brows furrowed. “I could’ve swom you mid Laylay.”
I pretended stupidity, though I was aware of what I’d accidentally called her, an old childhood nickname. I’m sure you misheard.”
“Alpla, Luna,” Beta Alex greeted respectfully as he came out onto the veranda, that was echoed by Beta Olivia Lowering down in a chair on the oppoute side of Kadden, he seemed thoughtful in his expression. “Have you made any decision on Kyne Blackbean? People are beginning to get
*Til talk to lum.” I promised.
Kadden stopped me. “I don’t want you near him.”
Chapter Thirty–Six
Bring back the snappy retort to his statement, I continued to push the chair out and climbed to my feet. “Kyne won’t hurt me. He only came here out of fear and worry, if you let me talk to him then I can get him to go back home,”
“He’s stubborn, Ales whined
So am I. I thought. Stepping around Kahden to prove I couldn’t be controlled, I walked down the steps of the veranda. I’d gotten all of fifteen feet away when Kyne stalked into the clearing, proof he was nearby. I wasn’t surprised. Ever since the man arrived he’d stuck to me like glue, truly believing I was in some kind of danger.
faced him. “h’s time to go home.”
“Lcould say the same,” he shot back.
My eyes i
harrowed on the man. “Trust me, Kyne, I know what I’m doing. I can’t leave here without leading the both of us to our doom and taking me by force will cause a war. You don’t want that any more than I do. Too many people will be hurt in the process.”
“Fine, Kyne muttered less than pleased by my decision, but respected me enough to allow me to make my own choice. “I will leave this place but know I will be back. And 1 will continue to come back in check on you, until you give up this asinine idea, and come home.”
Twill I promised him.
Ignoring the presence of the man Kyne stepped forward and wrapped me up into a tight bear hug. He whispered in my ear. “Be careful, Vonya There’s just something about that man I don’t entirely trust.”
Kadilen growled.
Stepping out of his hold at the warning that came from the veranda, I immediately returned to Kaiden’s side. Sitting down in the chair I’d vacated earlier, I gave them a smug smile. “Are you happy now! Kyne is going to leave the territory as you requested, though warned he’d be back to check
up on the.”
“Good,” he growled.
Alex was relieved
“Is it true?” Olivia Carlisle couldn’t quiet the confusion she felt, deciding she’d get her answers from the source. “You’re Kyne’s beta”
“He’s not an alpha” her mate rejected.
I shook my head. “Actually, that is where you are wrong. Kyne is descended from a very powerful alpha bloodline. He just doesn’t know what pack.
as his parents left him abandoned in the Dark Lands when he was a child. But to answer your question yes, after he found me and I had time to recover, Kyne marked me as his Beta”
“Quite impressive,” she whistled impressed.
“You’re a beta,” I pointed out,
She shook her head in denial. “Actually no, I am only beta as I am mated to Alex, and I have trained hard in my youth to be a fierce warrior. For an uminued fenule to be beta, it’s never been done before.”
Very true. I thought.
“So!” Layla’s voice interrupted the conversation, bringing all of our attention back to her. Leaning forward in her seat elbows were braced at the table, as she watched me curiously. “Thear you and Daddy are trying to make me a big sister these days.”
In the process of sipping on the orange juice a servant had poured for me, I was taken aback by her question. Spewing juice all over the cable in my surprise, I jerked back at the realization of what she said. “Who told you that?”
“But you are,” was her counter remark.
Using the napkin draped across his thigh Kadden dabbed away the juice that’d spewed all over him. Having cleaned up the mess made of him, it was placed down on the table, as Kadden drank his coffee. “There’s no need for you to be cryptic, I tell my daughter everything. Mostly anyways. To answer your question yes, the need for an heir has risen and Von is fulfilling her duty in that regard.”
Layla considered me thoughtfully. “I wonder if it be a boy or girl. I’ve always wanted a baby sister.”
Witnessing the faraway look in her eyes, the yearning, I found myself thinking of the impressionable baby downstairs. My thoughts often came to the mysterious child hidden away in the bowel of the manor. Even while I’d been allowed nightly visits to the nursery, she hadn’t been allowed upstairs. I wondered if Layla knew about her baby sister. If Kadden had informed his daughter of the hule girl her mother had given birth to before her death. Would she experience the same level of happiness and excitement as the cul I’d one day breed!
