Page 5 of A Reign of Malice
Keys jingle in his hand as he moves around me. “Allow me,” he says smoothly, slipping a skeleton key into the lock.
The door opens effortlessly, and Aeson gestures for me to enter first. I don’t hesitate, stepping inside as my gaze sweeps the room. The industrial design doesn’t surprise me—the metal fixtures and sleek desk suit his personality. But what does shock me is the photograph sitting prominently on his desk.
It’s me.
A candid shot from the day I arrived in Venaris. I’m not even looking at the camera, my smile soft and unguarded as I turn toward something just out of frame. The intricate crown atop my head catches the sunlight, the polished metal glinting against the dark waves of my hair. The blue dress I wore that day makes my eyes appear brighter than usual, almost luminous.
All this time, I’ve been building this situation up, too afraid of the unknown and what I stood to lose. Because of that, I’ve failed to see the moments of calm and trust that, no matter what happens, everything is going to be okay.
I’ve been searching for a solution, and it’s been right here the whole time. I just didn’t want to believe it was the right one.
Aeson.
“Sloane?” His voice pulls me back to the present. He’s watching me with a mix of confusion and curiosity, his brow slightly furrowed. I must seem so strange to him, wandering the halls barefoot before dawn, my emotions written plainly across my face.
I turn to him, offering a small smile, one I hope conveys the clarity I’ve found. “I want to sign the treaty.”
His head tilts slightly, his expression unreadable. “You don’t have to rush into anything, Sloane. I’ll help your people regardless. I’m not trying to?—”
“This offer’s been on the table for months,” I interrupt gently. “I’m not rushing into anything. I know what’s in my heart, and this is the best solution for all of us.”
For a moment, a crease forms between his brows, but it disappears so quickly I might’ve imagined it. Then his lips curve into a broad grin, and he reaches for a stack of papers on his desk. “Then let’s make this official.”
He shuffles through the documents until he finds the treaty and slides it toward me along with a pen.
My fingers close around it without hesitation, and I begin signing, my initials marking the bottom of each page.
This is it. The questions, the doubts, they have to end here. That dream showed me what I needed to see. Being Aeson’s mate doesn’t have to be a death sentence just because we aren’t typical mates. He’s kind, eager to help, and no matter his reasons, he’s capable of doing things for my people when I’m not.
Finally, I scrawl my signature across the last page. When I look up, Aeson is grinning.
“Now we can plan our mating ceremony,” he says, his voice laced with satisfaction.
Before I can respond, my wolf howls within my mind. The sound is raw and sorrowful, a piercing ache that sends a chill down my spine.
My stomach twists, dread coiling low in my gut.
What have I done?
CHAPTER THREE
SLOANE
The soft chime of the castle bells marks the arrival of dawn, but I’ve been awake for hours. Sleep hasn’t come easily since I signed the treaty two days ago. My wolf is quieter now, but her sorrowful howl from that morning still echoes in my ears. I shift beneath the covers, trying to shake the restlessness that’s lingered since I placed my name on that final page.
I’ve done the right thing. I have to believe that. But my instincts whisper that I’ve missed something—a detail, a truth hiding in plain sight. I still feel the connection to Aeson, but it’s…faint. Yesterday, I expected some of the emotions from the dream to return when I was with him. They didn’t.
Maybe that will change after the ceremony. Even though our bond won’t carry the blessing of the gods, it will still tie us together in ways I can’t fully comprehend yet. Chosen mates are rare, and I’ve never had a reason to learn much about them before. Now, I suppose, I’ll need to start researching.
But one thing I do know: if my fated mate were toappear—if he found me after all this time—everything would change. Whatever feelings I might grow to have for Aeson would evaporate. That’s just how it is. A fated mate is an unbreakable connection, one that defies logic or desire. Leaving Aeson for my true mate would be the only choice.
I stare up at the ceiling and groan. Gods, this all seemed easier when I was hyped up on sexual tension from that damn dream.
There’s a soft knock on the door, but it creaks open before I can get up. Aeson steps inside, a tray of food balanced in his hands. His smile is radiant, his every movement exuding an unfaltering confidence. “Good morning, my queen-to-be,” he says, his voice warm enough to melt ice.
I sit up, forcing a small smile as he sets the platter on the bedside table. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries fills the room.
“You didn’t have to do this,” I murmur before a yawn slips out.
