Page 65 of Promised to the Alpha Prince

“Sorry,” he said.

She extricated herself, wrinkling her nose. She drew back, eyes widening. “How did you…? What the hell, Corentin? How are you an alpha?”

Corentin ran a hand over his head. His dark hair was cut close to his skull. He was wearing the uniform of the kitchen help in the castle, but I could see tattoos peering out at his neck and his wrists. Was he just covered in ink? “Uh, that’s a long story, Aurelie, but the point is that I am now. And now we can…” He looked at me for a long moment, and then he turned back to her. “Well, can we go somewhere to talk? You and me?”

Her lips parted.

“No,” I said.

She whirled on me, radiating surprise and hurt.

“Who is this guy?” I said. “Why is he here? Why is he wearing a kitchen uniform? What is going on?”

“He’s my… friend,” she said. “We grew up together. I’ve known him since we were kids. Our birthdays are only two weeks apart. We…”

Oh, shit. This was the guy. The only other guy she’d ever fucked. The beta who couldn’t get her through her heat. How was he an alpha? Why did he smell so damned good? I swallowed. “Uh, okay, well, let’s go to the breakfast parlor, then, so that you two can catch up and I can get to know Corentin.” I gave him a nasty smile. “You get yourself together.” I gestured to the fact that she was half-dressed. “I’ll walk him down there and call for some servants to bring us some pastries and tea or something. Okay?” I leaned in and kissed her, kissed her a little too hard.

She pulled away from the kiss, looking worried. “Are you sure?”

“Definitely,” I said. “He’s important to you, and I want to know him.”

Corentin let out a breath, and he eyed me, as if he was sizing me up to attack.

“We can all sit down and have a nice, civilized chat,” I said to him.

“Okay,” said Aurelie, smiling at me. “I’d like that.”

I went over to Corentin and slung my arm around him. We were about the same height. He was solid, too, muscled and tattooed and hard in a way that I knew I’d never be.

Was she attracted to this kind of guy? Really?

I practically dragged him out of the room. Once we were in the hallway, he shoved my arm off him, but he walked with me.

“The parlor’s this way,” I said, gesturing.

He fell into step with me. “I don’t need this to be an altercation. For you, she’s some trophy. You’re keeping her captive, never letting her out of your sight. Maybe you even think you care about her. But trust me, she and I are in love in a way that you can’t even understand. Just let her go.”

I let out a laugh. “You’re serious. This really is some attempt to try to steal my omega away from me? Try it. She won’t go anywhere with you. She’s not going to leave me. She’s my mate. Maybe you didn’t see my bite mark, but I’d be happy to show it to you if you need to see it.”

“She can’t feel for you what she feels for me.”

“How long have you been gone?” I said.

He winced.

We were at the parlor. I threw open the door. “After you,” I said with exaggerated politeness.

He sauntered inside, glowering around at the surroundings.

I went over to the circular table, which was empty at this time of the evening. I sent a text to the staff to have some refreshments brought up. “Please, sit down,” I said.

He hesitated, and then he did sit down.

We squared off, neither of us saying anything, just glaring at the other one.

Aurelie appeared in the doorway, looked at the two of us, and perfumed.

We both choked, even though I had gotten more and more used to her perfume over these past couple weeks. This had been more potent in some way. He did things to her, things I didn’t do.

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