Page 2 of Of Wolves and Wives

“I’m aware of the law,” the Grey Prince snaps, his eyes burning with hatred as he whirls on her. “Do you think I’m such a fool to forfeit my kingdom, let alone my life? Do you think I’d dare threaten the lives of these men if I didn’t believe fate has finally awarded me with what isrightfullymine?”

With this he turns to stalk away from us, pacing back and forth as he lets out another growl of frustration. A strained silence fills the room as Helena watches him, a frown pulling at the corners of her mouth before glancing down at me.

“No one doubts your legitimacy, my dear husband,” she finally says. “However, at a time like this, when the kingdom is already in such a precarious place, we must not misstep. We must not give anyone reason to doubt. Therefore, as you’ve already achieved your task, and the human is now with child. You are not to touch her until the babe has been born. I will not allow you to bring further risk to the child’s life.”

“The child has no—”

“The child,” Helena cuts in, “is our future.”

The prince’s face twists with fury, but his mouth snaps shut at this. I can’t help but be impressed by the way Helena’s laid down her demands, and shocked that the prince is allowing it.

A wave of relief washes over me as I realize I won’t have to deal with the prince coming to me, taking me over and over again to remind me who may have sired the child I now carry. Though, I’m afraid I’ll never forget the long hours spent with him, the pain and torment of his touch, before he’d leave me for dead when my body and reactions no longer satisfied him.

The hairs at the nape of my neck prickle as I feel the prince’s eyes shift to me, and I make the mistake of glancing up at him.

There’s an unmistakable glint of lust in his eyes as he watches me. The relief that flooded my body at Helena’s demand drains from my body just as quickly as I realize her mistake.

By forbidding the Grey Prince from touching me, she’s me made me the one thing he can’t have. The one thing he’ll now do anything to get to. I’ve just become his greatest challenge, yet.

A chill works its way down my spine at this. Helena’s perceived kindness is anything but. Perhaps it was never meant as a kindness at all. Perhaps this all part of her plan to be rid of me, once and for all.

Gods forbid I understand anything about the ways of these beasts.

The prince’s mouth twists into a sneer full of promise that he will once again conquer me, though he says nothing of the sort with his wife standing so close.

“Very well,” the Grey Prince says, his eyes shifting his wife.

“Good, then I believe the best way to ensure nothing happens to the human or our child is to have her watched closely,” Helena says, clearly knowing her husband’s far too well, after all. “The Elite will be assigned to her care, to keep her out of harm’s way until the babe is born.”

“Absolutely not,” the Grey Prince hisses. “I will not have them anywhere near her.”

“She must remainalive, if the child is to survive,” Helena hisses right back. “It’s the only way.”

“Find another set of guards.”

Helena shakes her head, standing her ground despite the fury rolling off her husband in sickening waves. The prince’s rage only seems to grow as he takes a step toward her, attempting to stare her down.

Again, I can’t help but be impressed by Helena’s sudden bravery in the face of her tyrannical husband. Watching her straighten, her head held high, I know this isn’t an argument she’s going to let him win.

“No,” she says, her voice hard. “They have as much right to be near her as you. They will protect her at all costs. The other guards have no loyalty to her, no reason not to step aside at your bidding should you choose to disregard my wishes. It can only be them.”

“I will not have them touch her,” the prince snarls. “They have no true claim to her.”

“Until the child is born, they have more claim to her than you … or have you forgotten the scene you made in the courtyard on the night of the Hunt?” Helena reminds him, her voice icy.

“She is mine!” the Grey Prince growls, taking another step toward his wife. “I’ve filled her with my seed time and time again, certainly enough to relieve them of any claim they may have over her womb. She carriesmyheir. I will not allow them to defile her further by allowing them anywhere near her.”

“This is the only way,” Helena says after a long moment. “Until the child is born, they will watch over her.”

The prince glares down at her, murder in his eyes as his jaw hardens, and I’m almost afraid he’ll strike her down where she stands until he finally takes a step back.

“Fine, but I will not have them alone with her.”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked by his concession.

“Very well, they can watch her in shifts. Does this please you, husband?”

His eyes narrow on her, obviously displeased with the entirety of their conversation.

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