Page 75 of The Princess and the Pack

My packmate chuckles, wiping the few tears that have fallen. “What am I doing today, you violent, bossy fucker?”

Relief floods my veins, my earlier frustration dissipating at the familiar lightness of his spirit. “First, you’re going to send Tiernan and your brothers to assemble the court for a feast tonight. We inform them all at once. Second, you’re going to tell Prince Aspen and Princess Lily everything.”

“Everything? Are you trying to get me assassinated?” he cuts in, already mouthing off to me. “Why can’t Ciaran tell him? They’re…close. Might go over better.”

“Did Sloan knock all the sense from your head, brother?” Ciaran laughs. “You may be the king, but I want no hand in your dirty work.”

“Ciaran’s right,” I say “You need to face the Bancrofts on your own. The more they know, the better they’ll understand why this cycle needs to end.”

Cillian nods with reluctance in anticipation for my final task. “And third?”

I grin wide, knowing we’ll be a pack before the sun rises tomorrow morning. “You bond with our omega.”

Cillian looks away, some of the uncertainty still clouding his heart, no doubt.

“Fuck’s sake, Your Majesty,” another voice calls. Sir Liam, the ever-loyal, ever-composed captain, looks as though he’s about to tear out his hair. “Use that pretty face to your advantage. If someone who looks likeyoucan’t manage it, I pity the ugly fuckers of the world. They won’t stand a chance at wooing an omega.”

Silence settles over the room—tense, brief. Then, all at once, raucous laughter explodes from the lot of us. I’m certain Liam has never spoken with such irritated conviction before now, but thank fuck he did. Cillian needed to hear it from someone other than me.

“That settles it, then.” The normal fire and unwavering conviction I’m accustomed to seeing lights up Cillian’s features. “It’s time Namara meets her queen’s pack.”

I like the sound of that too fucking much.

Apprehension is a leaden weight on my chest as I stand outside Prince Aspen’s chamber doors.

Knowing he can’t do much to take Ivy away is a small comfort, but I’m more concerned about how his reaction will affect her. If he were to berate her for the choices we made as a pack, it would break her heart. While I’m prepared to mend any broken pieces this potential fallout could cause, my hope is we can avoid it altogether.

The truth Aspen will need to accept is that the damage has been done—though I’m loath to refer to something so beautiful in such an ugly way. Ivy has bonded with two of my packmates, her scent-matched alphas who will care for her, love her, make it so she lives a long and happy life. The only damage here is to the archaic traditions that have sent our kind to early graves.

If anyone tried to separate us now, it would condemn Ivy to the same fate. Given what I know of her brothers, I can’t believe they would want such a thing for their sister. I respect the Bancroft alphas for the way they raised Ivy and the rest of her siblings with so much love and care. It would be a shame if my admiration were to be tainted.

But regardless of Aspen’s reaction, I’ll never give her up. They will have to pry my mate from my cold, dead arms—and then the arms of Oran and Sloan. This visit is merely meant to mitigate shock at this stage. Iwillbe announcing our pack to my court this evening. Telling Aspen beforehand is a courtesy, an olive branch so we may maintain a good relationship. Ivy would want it. Still, I’m not looking forward to the encounter.

Foolish, though it may be, I’m holding on to some small ember of hope Fate would not place this gift at my feet if I weren’t intended to do great things with it. It’s my deepest wish that Aspen embraces the knowledge and our pack with open arms. While his opinion doesn’t hold the same weight as Hawthorn’s, it wouldn’t hurt to have him on our side.

The more of Ivy’s siblings who support us in this way of life, the better. The western kingdoms look to Lucernia as arbiters of culture and authority. Were they to adopt pack living themselves, surely others would follow suit.

Additionally, with Ivy’s impending heat, we may not be available to receive her family when they return in a few days’ time. Aspen—and Lily could be the only ones left to explain what has occurred to the rest of the Bancrofts. Their stance on the matter could help sway the rest.

Exhaling, I knock—once, twice, thrice—and wait for the prince to greet me.

When he opens the door, his handsome face is stern, devoid of the playful mischief I’ve come to expect.

“Your Majesty.” Resigned. His voice lacks any trace of surprise at my appearance. He opens the door wider, sweeping out an arm to motion me into his chamber.

“Your Highness.” I step inside, my gut sinking at the sound of the door closing. Now is the time. If I’m going to say it, I must do it before I lose my nerve.

To my surprise, Lily sits at a table near the fire, a cup of tea in her hands. Her eyes widen as she notes the tension that’s followed me into the room. It’s good she’s here—I now have one less trip to make. “Good morning, Princess.”

She smiles, coy and quiet—a stark contrast to her brother’s stormy demeanor.

The prince steps behind me as his palm lands upon my shoulder. He bends, letting me feel the silent threat of his warm breath at my ear.

Sweat beads at my brow, my hands flexing with unexpended anxious energy. Even swallowing is difficult—as though my throat is filled with rocks.

“Are you here to tell me about the two bond marks my sister wears? Perhaps about your secret pack?” Aspen’s voice is icy, lethally cold as his words settle onto my skin.

Fuck’s sake almighty. He knows. Nothing to do now but plead my case.

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