Page 33 of Alpha's Magic

“I know, but I couldn’t do it while they were here, could I?”

“No. Sadly, I would have had to fight for your honor then, I’m afraid. Even though they’re my oldest friends.”

He made a little hmmph sound and climbed out of bed to find the pot. After relieving himself, he sat back down beside me on the bed with his legs crossed. He looked so completely delicious, I reached for him, but he dodged my hand and laughed.

“No, I’m starving, and I need a bath. Grimora would be amazed to know how much I like them now. But they’re so much better in a tub than in a pond or one of the warm springs. And no little minnows nibbling at my private parts.”

“I’d be glad to fill in for the minnows, if you decide you miss them.”

He laughed and threw his arms around my neck, climbing onto my lap. “I bet you would, but we need to wait until after breakfast, so I don’t pass out.”

“So dramatic,” I said, reaching for the bell to call the servants.

Over the next hour or so, Harrison’s servants brought a tub and filled it with steamy water—which we shared. And they also brought us breakfast, which we didn’t share, as Leo hadn’t been kidding when he said he was starving. He devoured everything on his plate and a good portion of my food too.

“I didn’t know people ate this kind of food every day. I’d forgotten how good a real cook can make things taste,” he said with his mouth full.

I’m sure Grimora tried his best.”

His smile faded immediately. “I know he did. It’s wrong for me to be so happy now, isn’t it?”

“No, baby,” I said, reaching for his hand. “I didn’t mean it that way and he’d never want you to feel like that. I wish he could see you now. He’d be so proud. And I’m going to take you to the marketplace at some point to do some shopping for new clothes, so you don’t have to keep borrowing from Rory. And we’ll get that ring too.”

“Can I get a hat as well?”

“Maybe two,” I said, happy to indulge him. He’d had so little in his life up to now, and I wanted to change all that.

I put down my napkin and sighed. “I’m afraid we need to go talk to Harrison now, though, and it won’t be all that pleasant. Not with all you have to tell him about his late queen.”

“Will you go with me?”

“Try and stop me.”

He smiled and reached for my hand. “Then let’s go, if you’re feeling better, and get it over with.”

Chapter Thirteen

Leo

It was about an hour or so wait before we could get in to see the king. I spent most of that time talking to Rory, who had come along with Lex. He wasn’t going to stay for this meeting, but he said he wanted to see me to ask about our shopping excursion. Always happy to talk about clothes and rings, I told him that Asher had promised to take me but that he was welcome to come along.

We chatted about hats and colors a while and then Rory started whispering to me that he wouldn’t have come along on this trip at all if the queen had still been alive.

“How did she even come to be queen in the first place?” I whispered back. “Asher really likes the king and says he’s a good person.”

“I don’t know. Lex said he was engaged to be married to an omega named Lady Matildan, who was supposed to be really beautiful and sweet. Then Rozamond and her father came to visit and before you know it, he was engaged to marry her.”

He made a little face that made me laugh. His courtiers, who were all dressed in jewel-toned suits and all tall, handsome, preening young men had kept us waiting for a long time by now. They must have known we were gossiping because they kept shooting dark looks at us when they walked through the outer offices, always seeming to be in a great rush to go somewhere or other.

Lex, who Asher had told me was Harrison’s younger brother, finally stood up, held out his hand to Rory and then began to walk toward the outer door. When one of the courtiers ran after him, Lex brushed him aside.

“My brother is obviously far too busy to see us this morning. You can tell him I’ll be around later if he wants to see me and can find the time. He can come find me then and I’ll see if I can find the time.”

“Temper, little brother,” came a voice from behind us as the door opened at last. “I came as soon as I could, and I apologize for making you wait, but I have much to tell you. Stop being so mean to my poor courtiers.”

Lex rolled his eyes at the haughty creatures, who wouldn’t meet his gaze. Asher hid his own smile as he followed Lex into the royal offices, tucking my arm in his. I waved to Rory, who headed back to his rooms, and followed the lords in to see the king. The two of them may not have been intimidated and awed by everything in this grand palace, but I certainly was.

We took seats in front of a large, shiny desk, trimmed in gold leaf, and I scooted my chair a bit closer to Asher’s.

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