Page 72 of The Royal Marriage Alliance

The Dragon Council

Stellan

Stellan

The soft sound of a door clicking shut wakes me up. I glance down at my wife, who is sleeping soundly. Her blonde hair spills around her, half covering both of us. She looks so peaceful, with her head resting against my chest. One of her arms is hung loosely around my waist.

I hear another noise from the other room—footsteps. I stiffen, letting my senses search out the intruder. I relax when I realize it’s only my dad, but then tense again, wondering why he’s coming to my room this early in the morning. He wouldn’t come unless it were important.

There is a soft knock on my door moments before it swings open. Dad freezes in the doorway when he sees me in bed with my still sleeping wife. I shoot him a glare.

“I need to speak to both of you. I’ll just wait in the sitting room,” Dad says, his voice low, barely above a whisper. He then retreats out the door swiftly.

I want to laugh at my dad’s awkwardness. He’s the onewho barged in here without waiting for me to respond. Then again, he probably wasn’t expecting me and Wisteria to be in the same bed together. Our marriage wasn’t exactly traditional, though if I had spent time with her before the wedding, no doubt I would’ve been excited to marry her.

I run my fingers down Wisteria’s cheek, trying to gently rouse her awake. My action only makes her snuggle closer to my chest. I can’t help but grin at her movement.

“Wisteria.” I caress her cheek again.

This time, her eyes open. She looks up at me with her big, purple eyes. She smiles at me, like she’s happy to see me, and her eyes change to a light color of pink that I now know means love. She loves so readily and easily—it’s a love that I’m unworthy of. If only she knew that one day I will break her heart.

“Good morning,” she says softly.

I brush her blonde hair out of her face and lean my head over so I can kiss her forehead. “You are unbelievably gorgeous first thing in the morning.”

Her cheeks turn a light shade of red, but her eyes are still pink as they watch me.

“My dad is waiting for us in the sitting room. He needs to talk to us,” I tell her, though I wish I didn’t have to yet. I want to keep her in here a little longer and enjoy having her in my arms.

Her eyes widen. “Yourdad? But I’m wearing pajamas. And my clothes are in my room.”

“It’s fine.” I untangle myself from her arms and push out of bed. I grab my sweats from the floor, not bothering to put on a shirt. “I’m not dressed either. Besides, you look gorgeous in everything, including your pajamas.”

She narrows her eyes at me, like she doesn’t believe me.If only she could see herself through my eyes, she’d never have a reason to ever feel self conscious.

“You could always move your stuff into my closet. I have plenty of room,” I say, trying to keep my tone casual.

She gasps, her lips parting in surprise. She doesn’t say anything for a long moment, she just watches me with eyes that are, once again, light pink. Eventually, she nods. “Okay.”

Did I just ask my wife to move in with me? My heart is somewhere between elated and panicked. While it’s true I’ve fallen for her, I’m being unfair to her. She doesn’t know everything. Even though I’ve subtly tried to mention soulmates to her, she doesn’t get it. And why would she? Fae don’t have soulmates. She hasn’t been taught about the mate bond her entire life.

I have to tell her, but right now isn’t the time. Dad is waiting for us and I shouldn’t keep him waiting any longer than I already have.

Wisteria gets out of bed and cringes as she looks at her pajamas. She runs her fingers through her hair, grimacing the entire time.

I grab her hand to stop her fidgeting and lean down to kiss her on the forehead again. She calms down at my touch, her shoulders finally relaxing. I don’t ask her if she’s ready before I open the door, pulling Wisteria with me. I keep a firm hold of her hand. If Dad notices our clasped hands, he doesn’t react to it. Though, us holding hands is nothing after he saw us in bed together—a mistake he won’t be making again.

“The council has requested that the both of you make an appearance this morning,” Dad says, his gaze only lingering on Wisteria for a moment before he looks at me. “This is not an option, Stellan. I will give the two of yousome time to get ready, but I expect you to be there within the hour.”

I pull Wisteria closer to me. “Why do they need to see Wisteria?”

Dad cocks an eyebrow at me. “Because they’ve heard that your wife is a hybridelf. They are curious.”

Wisteria stiffens. “Do they hate me?”

Dad simply shakes his head. “I believe they’re simply curious—and possibly elated that their crown prince is going to have children with elf blood.”

I relax at his words.

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