Page 39 of Queen of Ashes and Scars
“I’m sorry. My brain is just…imploding. But I think she’s not as unhappy as we think. I think she’s got someone, too.”
His face creases with a butt-load of skepticism, our old snarky dynamic clearly not totally behind us. “Who?”
“Garrett Beaumont. For all we know, he could even be the father of her kids.”
He whistles under his breath before staring off into the distance, his eyes draped in shadows. “That, I didn’t know. It would make for an interesting argument in our favor…”
“Do you think we need it?” I’d rather not have to use the information, the thought of outing Adele’s affair unpalatable at best.
My new husband seems to catch my unspoken question, and his eyes soften as he drapes an arm around me and pulls me closer. “Us? Looking so damn fine together? I don’t think so.”
Chapter19
Side Piece
ALEC
“Congratulations to the bride and groom,” Keenan says loudly, the angel’s voice booming in cheer as he raises his glass for the happy couple.
The other guests around the dining table echo his sentiment, and I fight off the urge to roll my eyes and avert my gaze as Emilia goads them into a public kiss.
Dining with newlyweds when you’re hot for the bride is awkward, to say the least. It’s been twenty-four hours since the wedding. I tossed and turned in my bed all day after an entire night of misery, knowing Arielle was with the redhead, the sly vampire probably trying to fuck me out of her mind.
I grab my forehead at my train of thought.You’re losing it, man. Why didn’t you want to be king, again? This could be you beside her, you moron.
From the happy fucking grin on Sebastian’s face, he certainly believes he succeeded. Him and his fucking wife are sitting on the other side of the table, but I can practically see his wicked hand sliding up her creamy thigh as we speak.
I bet he thinks he’s better in bed than me, which is a big fucking farce.
I would normally be standingbehind themand not be eatingwith them, but Arielle insisted for Keenan, Leo, and I to join them at the table for dinner. They skipped the reception last night and went straight for theconsummationpart, as is tradition for vampires. Jason and Emilia look confused by our presence, and the steak and eggs with a side of AB negative set me on edge. I’m a “drink from the vein and be on my way” kind of vampire, so the blood tasting throws me for a loop, the selection of forks next to my silver plate completely ridiculous.
As if I’d ever prefer to eat with a three-pronged toy than a proper fork.
“So…How did my dad take the news?” Sebastian asks Jason with a rogue smile that makes me want to punch his smug face.
Silence takes over the room for a moment, Jason’s grip tight around his cup of blood. “I don’t—What do you mean?”
Arielle and I exchange a glance.“What is he getting at?”I ask her telepathically, my unease growing when she answers with a discreet shrug.
Sebastian chuckles and sips on his cup, licking his bloody lips with a mix of humor and annoyance that only a high-born vampire can master so perfectly. “Oh come on, Jason. You called him as soon as the wedding was over. Covering your ass in case the vote goes against us.”
The master of the island fails to mask a cringe.
Sebastian stuffs a big piece of rare steak in his mouth. “It’s okay, dude. We can’t expect you to defy the whole court for our sake. Still…” wickedness blazes in his garnet eyes. “How did he react?”
Jason pats his mouth down with his fancy cloth napkin, holding Sebastian in suspense for a moment. “He was…surprised.”
“I thought your father would be thrilled. It’s not every day your only son weds the heir to the throne,” I say, my brows pulled together.
Sebastian’s breezy smile is wiped from his face. “Don’t talk about things you don’t understand, Beaumont.”
“Isn’t that what he wanted for you all along?”
Arielle’s eyes widen, and she warns me off the subject through thought-speech.“Alec—”
“No, I want to know why he’s making that face.” I gesture in Sebastian’s direction, at a complete loss as to why marrying the princess would slight his father.
Determination flashes in her deep blue eyes. “Alec, let it go. It’s none of your business.”
