Page 75 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

But what if it hurts her career?a small voice asks inside my head.

I grind my teeth, frustrated. I can’t seem to win. Maybe I should talk to her. Explain why I don’t want her working on this case. She might agree with me. She might be upset. Or maybe she was happy to see me.

The sudden, intrusive thought has me wondering if Alice ever missed me. How did she feel when she saw me? Seven years is a long time, after all. Maybe she forgave me when she moved on.

I lean against the wall, my eyes fluttering shut. I would have to be delusional to think that she could ever forgive me.

I saw the anger in her eyes when she looked at me, even though she was able to control her facial expressions. The fury that made her eyes sparkle. And yet, all I could think of during that meeting was how beautiful she looked. I wanted to touch her hair, play with the ends of it. I wanted to ask her when she cut it short.

I wanted her to smile at me.

My phone rings, and without thinking, I yank it out of my pocket, a strange hope filling me. But the name on the screen isn’t the one I want to see.

Willow.

Angry and annoyed, I finally answer her call. “I’m busy. What do you want?"

“Where are you?” My wife’s voice sounds strained.

“Why are you asking?”

Silence from the other end, and then she says, in a high-pitched tone, “I told you to tell me where you’re going at all times. Why can’t you understand that? You’re not staying at any of the royal residences. I checked. So, where are you, Darian?”

“You may be my wife, Willow, but don’t think for even a minute that you have any control over my actions or my life. Your job is to dress up and be presentable. There’s nothing more I want from you.” My tone is ruthless, and I can hear her rapid breathing on the other end. A vein in my forehead throbs.

“Serena came by today.”

“Why is the leader of the white witches’ coven coming to the royal palace? I explicitly made it clear that she is not to enter the palace grounds if I’m not there!”

“She’s my friend, Darian! You can’t tell me who I can and cannot see—”

“Yes, I can. You may be my queen, but you are still my subject. And if you cannot curb your extreme behavior, don’t think I won’t put you under house arrest. You are crossing lines, Willow.”

“She’s worried about us!” Willow cries out. “We need to produce a royal heir.”

“I’m not interested in that. I have other things to tend to.”

“Not interested?” She makes a choking sound. “What is wrong with you? I’m beautiful. I take care of myself. Why won’t you just—”

I cut her off, not wanting to hear the same drivel from her. “I don’t have time for this nonsense. I have work to do.”

“We were supposed to go on vacation last week. We were supposed to spend time together so that we could conceive a child!” Her voice is quivering. “I made the arrangements. All you had to do was show up. I waited for three hours. The cruise left, and you weren’t even answering your phone. You promised you would—”

“I didn’t promise anything,” I scoff. “You and your father tried to strongarm me into it. He said I would go; I never said I would. Your father may be involved in palace affairs, but I don’t recall the last time I let someone speak for me. I’m not going on any cruise; this kingdom isn’t going to run itself.”

“My father could look after things while we’re gone. You can trust him.”

I let out an amused laugh. “Trust your father? I don’t even trust you.”

A soft sob. “How can you say that? We’ve been married for seven years, Darian. Why won’t you give in? A lot of time has passed. I have been nothing but understanding. You and I… Look, wherever you are, just come home. Let me plan a romantic dinner, and then we will—”

“I’m not interested in sharing your bed. You don’t excite me, Willow.”

My harsh words have her pausing and then changing tune. “If I were Alice Lane, you would have no problem getting excited, would you?” The edge of her voice is laced with hysteria.

I bristle. “Don’t say Alice’s name to me ever again.”

“Why? If she were to spread her legs in front of you, you would fuck her without hesitation. I’m ten times more beautiful and a hundred times more cultured than that back-alley whore. What does she have that I don’t have? She’s dead, Darian! Just get over that bitch and come home. I’m your wife. And I’m the queen of the kingdom, not that redheaded tramp—”

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