Page 61 of Asking Fur Trouble

“Next time you decide to go detective hunting, take your bear with you,” he growled softly.

FORTY-TWO

The air in the basement crackled with the aftermath of violence. Blood spattered the walls outside the room she was locked up in, and the scent of copper mixed with the musky, wild odor of shifter combat. Bess watched in wonder as Charov’s massive bear form rippled and contracted, bones and muscle rearranging themselves until the man she knew stood before her, completely naked and splattered with evidence of the brutal fight.

His chest heaved with exertion, his blue eyes wild with primal energy that hadn’t yet dissipated. Despite everything, Bess couldn’t help but notice how magnificent he looked—his powerful muscles slick with sweat, his dark hair tousled, and his expression fiercely protective.

Charov didn’t seem to register or care about his nakedness as he worked at the ropes binding her body and ankles, his fingers still trembling with adrenaline.

The moment she was free, she threw herself against his chest, not caring about the blood or sweat or anything else. She buried her face into his neck, her entire body shaking with sobs she’d been holding back during her captivity.

“They were going to kill me,” she choked out, clinging to him as though he might disappear. “They said they’d make you think I went back to Earth. I thought—I thought I’d never see you again.” Her voice broke as she pulled back just enough to look at his face, needing to confirm he was really there. “I’m so sorry I went off on my own. I just—I needed proof. I needed something concrete so you’d believe me about them.”

Charov cupped her face in his large hands, his thumbs brushing away her tears. The tenderness of the gesture contrasted sharply with the carnage surrounding them.

“I should have trusted you,” he said, his voice a deep rumble that she could feel through her entire body. “You were trying to protect me and my kingdom while I was too stubborn to see the danger right in front of me.”

Bess shuddered, remembering the cold calculation in Nya’s eyes as she’d discussed precisely how to dispose of her body. “They had it all planned out. They were going to tell everyone that I couldn’t handle the pressure of being queen.”

“I would have never believed that.” Charov’s arms tightened around her, sheltering her from the gruesome scene behind him. “You promised you’d talk to me first. And I know my mate’s heart.”

My mate. The words sent a warm flush through Bess despite everything. She had come to this planet as a stranger, yet somehow this powerful man—this king—saw her as his equal and his partner.

“How did you find me?” she whispered, her hands clutching his shoulders.

A dangerous smile curved Charov’s lips. “The mate bond, of course.” His expression darkened. “And no one takes what’s mine. Especially not my queen.”

She clung to him, her body still quivering when the thundering of footsteps announced Oberon’s arrival. The bodyguard burst into the basement, weapon drawn, only to stop short at the sight of his king completely naked amid the carnage.

“Your Majesty!” Oberon’s eyes widened before he quickly averted his gaze, focusing on Bess’s tear-streaked face instead. “My lady, are you injured?”

Bess shook her head, suddenly aware of how she must look—disheveled, rope burns, mascara surely streaked down her cheeks. She realized she was still pressed against Charov’s naked form and felt heat rush to her face despite everything that had happened.

Oberon, ever practical, shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to Charov. “The transport’s ready upstairs when you are.”

Charov slipped the jacket on, which covered him just enough to be decent. “Oberon, I need you to contact the royal council immediately. The Nueles attempted to murder both the king and his intended queen. I had no choice but to defend us.” His voice was calm but carried the unmistakable edge of authority. “The petition will be nullified. Make sure the council understands the situation fully.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” Oberon bowed slightly, his eyes flicking to the bodies before returning to Charov. “I’ll handle everything.”

The ride back to the castle passed in a blur for Bess. The plush leather seat of the royal transport felt unreal after the cold concrete of the basement floor where she’d been certain she would die. She stared out the window at the alien landscape of Nova Aurora, still unable to believe that this was her life now—political intrigue, murder attempts, and a bear shifter king who had torn apart her captors to save her.

Charov, now dressed in clothes Oberon had retrieved from the vehicle, took her hand in his. “You’re safe now,” he murmured. “I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.”

Bess turned to look at him—this man who had risked everything to save her. “I was so afraid,” she admitted. “Not just of dying, but of never seeing you again.”

Charov’s eyes darkened. “Bess, I need you to know something.” He scooted closer, taking both her hands in his. “I don’t care how long I have to wait for your answer to my marriage proposal. A day, a month, a year—it doesn’t matter. There will never be anyone else for me but you.”

The raw honesty in his voice made her heart stutter. This wasn’t the polished king speaking, but a man laying his soul bare.

“You’ve shown me what I’ve been missing all these years,” he continued. “I thought adventure was about skydiving or fighting or traveling the world. But it’s not.” His hands squeezed hers gently. “Love is the greatest adventure—building a life with your mate, facing each new challenge together, and experiencing the worlds with someone who makes everything brighter just by being there.”

Bess felt tears gathering again, but these were different—warm and full of possibility rather than fear and despair.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Charov stilled. “Yes?”

She nodded, a smile breaking through her tears. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I’ll be your queen.”

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