Page 67 of The Alpha

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Melvale put on his robes of office before he fully toweled himself dry. He didn’t know what to do, what to say! By the Creator, he finally had his mate, and he, of all people, was tongue tied!

He crossed the room, his robes rustling as he did. The decorative blue and silver fabric was heavier than the Sarian silk the rest of his official outfit was made from. It was almost crepe-like and was not silent.

He stood near the cushion he’d been using at the table. “Are you still hungry?” His voice almost cracked on the last word. Dash it all, the Alpha side of him had no problem communicating with her, ofthat,he was sure. The last thing he wanted was to appear like a buffoon in front of this beautiful creature.

Pari picked up a piece of donut and popped it into her mouth. She washed it down with what was left of her coffee all the while staring at him in awe. At least there was that. Now so long as his nerves didn’t cause his mouth to screw up, he might have a chance to talk to her without upsetting her. He had yet to tell herwhenthey were. Something he was sure no one else hadmentioned yet. If she came unglued, as Princess Shona was so fond of saying, then the Alpha side of him would rush to the surface, and he wasn’t sure he could get that side of him to behave. That part of him was liable to lop someone’s head off.

He knelt on the cushion. “Would you like more coffee?”

Pari—his Pari—stared at him. “You… you’re different.”

Melvale stilled. “Oh?” he said, trying to sound nonchalant. He made a show of examining her coffee cup. “Did you say coffee?”

“No, but I’ll take some.” She held out her cup and he filled it, then refilled his own. He let her add cream to hers first before putting some in his. Just two friends having coffee together, telling stories, yes, pretend this is that!

Melvale smiled at her as he took a sip, then watched her. She was scared, he could smell her fear. In fact, he could smell a lot of things, including the bits of her that thought he was attractive.

Okay, two points for me!

Melvale smiled again. “Can I get you anything else? Would you like to bathe?”

She swallowed hard, and her cheeks heated. The sweet scent coming off her was intoxicating. The Alpha side of him noticed, and a twinge of agitation struck, prompting him to take action. Like, take her in his arms and kiss her senseless.

Down boy!

But that side of him didn’t listen very well. Melvale’s eyes became glued to hers. They were big, blue, irresistible. There was an innocence lurking within them, but also pain. Lots and lots of pain. He didn’t dare allow his heart to feel it. Not yet. Not with the Alpha side of him trying to make it to the surface.

“You’ve been through a lot, Pari,” he said in a gentle voice. “You can get cleaned up; I can have clothes brought.” He sighed. “I can send for Raina.”

Her eyes lit up. “Yes, please!”

Melvale gave her the gentlest smile he could muster. His little Pari knew Raina and would feel more comfortable with her. Something struck him and he smiled. “Your name…”

“What about it?”

“I believe it’s Persian. Though I could be wrong. I’ll have to research it.”

“No, you don’t,” she said and looked at the table. “My mother read a lot of fantasy books. It is Persian.”

He smiled. “Fairy. It means fairy.”

She gaped at him. “How did you know that?”

“I told you; I speak many languages.” Maybe he shouldn’t have told her that, but it was already out so…

“How many?”

His eyebrows shot up.

“How many languages?” she prompted.

“At last count,” he said, his face screwing up as he thought. “One thousand and twenty-eight.”

“What?!” she screeched. “Are you kidding me?!”

Melvale shrugged. “It’s part of my job. Currently I’m learning five more.”

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