Page 64 of Mercy & Her Devils

Pale moonlight streams through to mingle with the light from the spherical lanterns that swing from the ceiling like miniature moons.

The wooden walls are rough and natural, as are the ceiling’s beams. On the far side stands a tall wardrobe and chest of drawers, which have been painted moss green.

I edge close to the bed in the center of the room, as if drawn by an invisible thread.

I can’t resist.

I eye the bed, whimpering.

It’s the softest most inviting looking bed that I’ve ever seen.

How cruel is it, if Lark and I aren’t meant to sleep in it?

It’s an Alpha’s bed. It must be.

Fletcher and Dad would never let me sleep somewhere like that, no matter how much my body is crying out for it.

But Kai firmly told us to sleep well, beloveds.

Beloveds made me shiver.

The endearment, which slipped out in his rumbling voice, called to something deep inside me.

It made me want to kneel for Kai not because he demanded it but because he didn’t.

And that confused me even more.

He couldn’t mean for us to sleep on the wooden floor, right?

I take another step closer to the bed, which feels like it’s taunting me.

It’s large with forest green, velvet bedding that makes me want to rub my cheeks against it. There are more silk pillows of different shapes and sizes piled over it than I’ve seen in my life before. Some are embroidered with noble looking stags. Brightly colored star shaped throw pillows are piled in snuggly mountains at the head of the bed.

On the top pillow, as if he’s a mountaineer at the summit, lies a dog-eared teddy bear stuffie.

The bear is dressed like a miniature prince with a red cape and a silver crown. He’s even clasping a sword made out of silk.

My fingers clench, desperate to run over the fluffy ears of the teddy and feel the sensation of the fur.

Who does he belong to?

He looks well-loved with a missing button eye and worn off patches of fur like he has mange.

I bet that he’s Antonio’s.

I can just imagine a cute little Beta kid with silver curls and a mischievous smile, rampaging around whatever a mob home looks like, waging war with his royal teddy.

I bet that he gave him a deliberately scary name like Prince Growl, rather than something sweet.

Somehow, he doesn’t look like a Stuffington or a Tickles.

My smile widens.

It’s also just like Antonio to give up his childhood toy to make an Omega feel better.

When I peer closer at the bed, I can see that there are navy silk scarves woven between the throw pillows, which are definitely the same as the roguish ones that Antonio wears.

But then, my smile fades.

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