Charged Up

Wanda Swan
Charged Up: The Queen’s Court, Book 2

Copyright © 2022 by Wanda Swan and Black Swan Publishing

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents, events, organizations and brands are
either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual
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Editor: Maggie Morris, Indie Editor

Cover Design: Stephanie Saw, Seventhstar Art

Proofreaders: Aislin Lynx, Megan Breininger

To Madison, and all the warrior women who never surrender.
Contents

Hear from Ash

Trigger Warning
Prologue

1. Chapter One

2. Chapter Two

3. Chapter Three

4. Chapter Four

5. Chapter Five

6. Chapter Six

7. Chapter Seven

8. Chapter Eight

9. Chapter Nine

10. Chapter Ten

11. Chapter Eleven

12. Chapter Twelve

13. Chapter Thirteen

14. Chapter Fourteen

15. Chapter Fifteen

16. Chapter Sixteen

17. Chapter Seventeen

18. Chapter Eighteen

19. Chapter Nineteen

20. Chapter Twenty

21. Chapter Twenty-one

22. Chapter Twenty-two

23. Chapter Twenty-three

24. Chapter Twenty-four

25. Chapter Twenty-five

26. Chapter Twenty-six

27. Chapter Twenty-seven

28. Chapter Twenty-eight

 Hear from Ash

Want to know what goes on inside the mind of a dragon shifter before he
claims his fated mate? Find out in Before the Beginning – Ashton’s Story.
This FREE download is a prequel to Power Hungry, Book 1 of The
Queen’s Court series and is available exclusively to my newsletter
subscribers. Join today to get Ash’s point of view.
Spoiler alert: When your dragon forces you to claim a pain-in-the-ass
princess as your fated mate...you fight it every step of the way.
Get it here: (https://BookHip.com/ZCKGCPH)
 Trigger Warning

This book contains non-consensual sexual touching and themes of violence.

Please be aware if these are triggers for you.

 Prologue

T ODAY, AT THE EARTHSIDE castle of Franco Rossi, Master Vampire

and Controller of Italy.
“What the fuck happened, Nicola? You let the Princess of Avalon slip
through your fingers.” Franco paces behind a large mahogany desk, hands
linked behind his back.
At the bar in the corner of the wood-paneled office, Nicky pours himself
and his father each a whiskey, neat. The dark amber liquid fills the bottom
half of the heavy tumblers. With a glass in each hand, Nicky strolls over to
his father and offers him one of the drinks. “Calm down. I’ll get her back.”
Franco swipes the drink from Nicky’s hand, the contents threatening to
slosh over the side of the glass, and levels a hard stare at his only son.
“You’ve disappointed me. She should be here already. Married to you. Our
family aligned with hers. Instead, the princess is married to Ashton
Mountcastle. You’ve jeopardized our plans to gain more Earthside territory
and increase the status of the Rossi name. So don’t tell me to fucking calm
down.”
Turning his back on his father, Nicky walks around to the other side of the
desk. Setting his drink down, he places his fingertips on the desktop and
leans forward, meeting his father’s dark glare. “Our plans will go forward.
Like I said, I’ll get her back.”
Franco takes a long swallow of the whiskey, before slamming his glass
down on the desk. “You said gaining control of her would be easy. I believe
the phrase you used was ‘Like a lamb to the slaughter.’ Apparently, you
miscalculated. She made a fool of you. She not only rejected you, she’s
formed an alliance with the Mountcastles, increasing their power. You
failed in the one thing I asked of you.”
Picking up his drink, Nicky takes a large gulp before holding up his glass to
study its contents, the light from the desk lamp reflecting off the cut crystal.
“I haven’t failed you, father. I already have a plan in motion. She’ll be
taking up residence here very shortly. I’ll regain control of her mind,
enthrall her, and then we’ll be married.”
Franco slaps his hands down on the desk impatiently. “You’ve allowed the
situation to become complicated, Nicola. Mountcastle is not simply going
to hand her over to you.”
“Leave Mountcastle to me.” Nicky straightens his shoulders, his eyes
hardening.
Franco straightens to his full height and points a finger at Nicky. “We need
access to her family’s power. The clock’s ticking. I’m ready to make my
move. It’s time for us to take our rightful place among the most influential
royal families. I don’t care what you have to do. Get this done.”
Picking up his whiskey, Nicky raises it to honor his father. “I won’t
disappoint you again. Saluti.”
“You had better not. There can be no more mistakes.” Franco lifts his glass
and takes a drink. “Saluti.”
 Chapter One

T HERE ARE VOICES IN my head.

Scratch that, the voices are in my room. But there is a terrible
pounding in my head. What the fuck happened? I’d been staring into Ash’s
eyes, enjoying my first real afterglow, when every muscle in my body
seized up. Unbearable agony held me in its tight grip as I silently thrashed
around the bed for what felt like forever.
Stretching gingerly under the blankets and I find the pain is fading, except
for the headache. I slit my eyes cautiously open and look for Ash. He’s
standing on the far side of the bed, a white bedsheet loosely wrapped
around his hips. Seeing my smoking hot new husband distracts me from the
pain and fear I’d experienced only moments ago. His broad shoulders and
muscular chest sport sexy dragon-shifter ink; his six-pack is actually a ten-
pack, and the V-cut muscles of his lower abs draw my eyes downward to
his sheet-covered groin. He’s so yummy!
Tipped off by the voices, it seems two of my best friends, Kat and Sofie, are
also here. I’m lying on my side, facing Ash, and their voices are coming
from behind me.
The cool touch of a metal device pressed to the warm, bare skin of my back
and I assume Sofie is examining me with her portable ultrasound. The small
device captures highly accurate, real-time images of the body’s internal
structures.
“Her heartbeat is strong, and her lungs are clear,” Sofie announces before
removing the device. “She seems to be resting comfortably now. Whatever
happened must have passed.” I can hear Sofie moving behind me, packing
up her equipment.
“What did you do to her?” Kat, my no-nonsense lawyer demands of Ash,
wanting answers pronto. She and Ash are not exactly on friendly terms. I’d
enlisted Kat’s help in trying to break Ash’s marriage contract and obtain an
annulment. Thankfully, we didn’t succeed. But she’d waged war on my
behalf in the kick-Ash-to-the-curb campaign and had hired a team of private
investigators to dig dirt up on him. They’d turned up some damaging
information from his past that we later found out was false. It caused some
bad blood between Ash and Kat. I’m sure they’ll be able to work it out.
They just need a little time.
“Nothing,” Ash snaps back, sounding more than a little pissed off.
“I need to ask you a couple of questions, Ash. Let’s start at the beginning.”
Sofie’s authoritative doctor voice is calm and efficient. “Were you two
trying anything experimental? Bondage? Choking? Anything like that?”
Ash rakes a hand through his hair, messing it up. “Are you kidding me? Of
course not! She was a virgin until a few hours ago. There was nothing
experimental. It was missionary. It couldn’t have been more vanilla.”
“Those scratches on your shoulders tell a different story.” Kat’s tone
contains a note of challenge.
Without missing a beat, Ash glares at her and replies, “I said it was vanilla.
I didn’t say it wasn’t passionate.”
“Did she orgasm?” Sofie’s voice is matter of fact, as if she’s working
through a checklist.
“Yes. Twice. What do you take me for? An amateur or just plain selfish?”
Ash sounds more annoyed by the second.
Sofie taps on her tablet a few times. “The female orgasm is more difficult to
achieve than the male orgasm. It’s a perfectly valid question, Ash. I wasn’t
trying to cast aspersions.”
“Is that when she started convulsing? After she climaxed?” Kat is not going
to be refused her cross-examination.
“Yes, she came, and everything was fine. She was fine. We were lying
together, and then she started shaking. I was trying to comfort her when you
two burst through the door like Batman and Robin.” Ash narrows his eyes
at my friends. “And here we are.” He pulls the sheet more securely around
his waist, a frown on his gorgeous face. “If she’s okay, I think we’re done
here.”
While they drone on about the state of my health, I’m starting to feel much
better. There’s a microchip implanted in my shoulder that checks, records
and transmits my vital signs to Sofie once every hour, which I guess is how
she knew I was in distress. I must have started having the seizure, or
whatever it was, right before a scheduled data send. The Queen insisted we
both get the chips a year ago as a defensive measure after there’d been an
assassination attempt on her life.
Truth be told, I’m much more interested in what’s under the bedsheet
wrapped around Ash’s waist than I am in this conversation. Watching Ash
through barely open eyes, I see the bedsheet jerk down. Ash’s eyes widen,
and his face registers surprise as he grabs the sheet firmly just before it
would have lowered enough to expose him. “What the? Princess, are you
awake? Are you doing that?”
Opening my eyes fully, I roll to my back and quickly sit up, holding the
duvet to cover my breasts. “I’m awake, but I don’t think I’m doing it.” I
look at the sheet again, and an invisible force tugs it sharply downward.
Holding the sheet in place, Ash smiles at me in astonishment. “Princess, it
is you. I can feel your power.”
“My power? You can feel it? What does it feel like?” My power has
arrived. Finally! Thank the gods!
“It feels like warm water running over my skin,” Ash says, rubbing his chin
in contemplation.
Just like the Queen’s power. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Sofie places a gentle hand on my naked shoulder. “Nina, how do you feel?”
I turn my head to look at her, and a painting hanging on the wall behind her
flies across the room and smashes to the floor. “Holy shit! I did not mean to
do that.”
Kat comes to stand beside Sofie. “Don’t worry about it. You just have to
learn a little control. It’s like learning to ride a bike. Takes a little practice,
but you’ll have it in no time, and then it’s second nature.”
I give Kat a grateful smile and then look at Sofie. “I have a headache, but
otherwise feel fine. I don’t really feel any different.”
Sofie gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll get you something for
the headache.” She retrieves a small pill bottle from her medical bag and
shakes out one pill. She hands me the pill, and I wash it down with a
swallow of water from the glass on the nightstand.
Sofie fixes me with a serious look. “Now close your eyes for a moment, and
focus your attention inward. Do you feel a slight hum or buzzing?”
I close my eyes and instantly become nauseated, but I push through it and
search internally. There it is! It’s a tingle. Like the feeling on my tongue
when I was a kid and one of the stable boys dared me to lick a nine-volt
battery. The longer I focus on it, the more forceful the tingling becomes,
until it’s almost painful. “I found it!” Opening my eyes, I find the bed and
all the furniture in the room floating in midair. “Holy shit! I didn’t mean to
do that either.”
As an enchantress, I can’t shift into another being.
Or use mind control and compulsion like a vampire.
I can’t make potions or cast spells like a witch.
I don’t have supernatural speed or strength, or cool abilities like flight or
conjuring items out of thin air.
My power cannot be used for healing, and I’m neither a demon nor a
goddess.
As an enchantress, I can manipulate energy, using its unseen presence with
the gentleness of a baby’s breath or the explosive force of ten thousand
sticks of dynamite. Or at least that’s how it’s supposed to work. The jury is
still out on me.
The air in the room becomes warmer and smells slightly of smoke. Ash’s
power. I can feel it pushing down on me, subduing mine, and all the
furniture settles gently back to the floor.
Two captains of the Gorm march in through the open bedroom door. The
Gorm are the Queen’s personal guard, and with the blue-and-green coloring
of their skin arranged into ornate patterns resembling tattoos, you really
can’t miss them.
The Queen enters right behind her guard, and without a word, the Gorm
separate so she can walk between them and stand in the middle of the room.
Kat and Sofie perform a deep curtsy in unison. I’m sitting naked in my bed,
so I bow my head and slide my eyes to Ash just in time to see him do a
respectful bow to the Queen as if he were not fresh from fucking me and
wearing a sheet. I choke back a giggle.
The Queen regards all of us before focusing her emotionless gray eyes on
me. “Princess Seraphina, your power, it is here.”
“Yes, that’s right.” I hold her gaze. Has she come to congratulate me?
The Queen purses her lips. “Finally. I was beginning to lose all hope.”
And there it is.
I reach down to find my power, and the Queen’s right shoulder wrenches
back like someone’s given her a good, hard schoolyard shove.
The smoky warmth of Ash’s power rushes over me, subduing my magic
once again.
“She doesn’t have any control,” Ash says quickly. “I’ll work with her.”
“We’ll all work with her,” Kat corrects, giving Ash the stink eye. “It just
takes a little practice. We’ll help you find your control.”
The Queen attempts to stare me down, but I don’t look away. I’ve never
been one to back down from a fight, even when I probably should.
“See that you do. The only thing more dangerous than being powerless, is
having power and no control. Especially around those with so . . . much . . .
more of it.” The thinly veiled threat is not lost on me. She didn’t appreciate
my shove, getting a little of her own back.
“I’m sure my mate will have command of her magic very soon. But until
she does, she has me to protect her,” Ash says firmly, not allowing the
Queen’s threat to go unanswered.
Yummy and protective. It’s a potent combination, and my libido strongly
approves.
Without any cue that I can see, the Gorm Guard turn on their heels and
march back out of my room with the Queen gliding elegantly after them,
head held high. She’d come to see for herself my power had arrived, that
the future of her court and legacy are secure. She leaves nothing to chance
when it comes to her empire. She didn’t even ask how I was feeling.
Typical.
Sofie grabs her medical bag, and the girls leave right after the Queen with
promises that we’ll talk more later, leaving Ash and I alone. I take a gander
at the sheet around his waist and can’t help giving it another tug. This time,
he doesn’t try to keep it up and it falls to the floor.
“What’s on your mind, Princess?” Ash grins at me, standing naked beside
the bed, his arms loose and relaxed at his sides.
I have Ash and my power. It’s celebration time. “I want to go again,” I say,
letting the duvet fall away to expose my boobs.
“What about your headache? I think maybe you better take it easy.”
“My headache is gone, and I don’t want to take it easy. I want to make up
for lost time. With you. With my power. I want to try everything. Do
everything.”
Ash throws back the covers and pounces on me, surprising a giggle out of
me, before taking my face in his hands and hovering his lips just a breath
above mine. “Gods help me. I’ve created a monster.”
I lean up and capture his mouth in a smoldering kiss that expresses exactly
what I want. “The monster was always there, Ash. You just awakened her.
And there’s no putting the genie back in the bottle now.”
 Chapter Two

W HEN A PRICELESS MING vase flies just over the mass of red
hair piled on top of Gia’s head and barely misses Kat’s butt before
smashing against the back wall of the ballroom, Sofie announces, “I think
that’s enough for one day.”
I’ve been flying dozens of tennis balls around the wide-open space of the
ballroom most of the afternoon. I’m getting pretty good at it, too, if I do say
so myself. Swooping them around in the air, throwing them up and down
the length of the room. Okay, yes, I’d pinged one off the back of Sofie’s
head, but she’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Completely not
my fault. But the vase? The vase hadn’t even been in the ballroom. I’m not
sure where it came from.
With a flick of my wrist, I use my power to gather all the tennis balls
together into a neon yellow cloud and position the cloud over a basket in
the corner of the room. Then I neatly rifle the balls into the basket. “What
do you think finally brought on my power, Sofie? Doing the deed with
Ash?”
Three sets of indigo siren eyes regard me, but it’s Kat who speaks. “Yeah,
about that. You’ve put me in a bad spot with your new husband. One
minute, you’re all ‘Get me out of this marriage to Mountcastle,’ and the
next you’re falling into bed with him. Falling in love with him. And now I
look like the bad guy for hiring those shitty private investigators. Did you
know he’s making all the decisions about your security now? Without
consulting me at all.”
“Whoa, hold up a minute.” I meet Kat’s grumpy-cat stare and choose to
ignore that she’s calling Ash by his last name now. “No one said anything
about the L-word, Kat. This is still an arranged royal marriage. And no one
thinks you’re the bad guy. Ash is just sensitive about having his integrity
called into question. I’ll talk to him. Smooth things over between you two.
You were only doing what you thought was best for me. He’ll come
around.”
“Both sides were guilty of being a little underhanded in the month leading
up to the consummation,” Gia reminds us. “But nobody was mad at Ben
when he took that photo on the sly at the wedding and then posted it to
Instagram without permission. Unofficially announcing the marriage. Even
though Nina said no cameras and didn’t want the news to leak.”
“Ash asked him to take that photo and post it, so I couldn’t be mad at Ben.”
I defend my brother-in-law. Ben is Ash’s little brother, and he’s a great guy.
He’s also a total shit disturber.
Sofie secures a blond tendril into her low-slung bun and seems to be
carefully considering my earlier question. “I don’t think it was the act of
fornication alone that brought on your power. Rather, the sex was a symbol
of something larger.”
“What do you mean, Sofie?” I ask, extending my hands to her.
Sophie takes my hands and looks into my eyes. “You’re no longer simply
the crown Princess of Avalon. The heir apparent to the Lady of the Lake.
You’re also Ash’s claimed, fated mate. You’re a princess of his court now,
too. One day, you could be queen of both courts. I think the act of giving
yourself to Ash, of aligning with him, took you out from under the Queen’s
influence, allowing you to come into your own power.”
When Kat snorts loudly, Sophie releases my hands, and we both turn to
look at her. “I think it has more to do with the fact that you’re standing up
for yourself. Standing up to the Queen. You’ve been different since you
returned from school. You’re no longer content to toe the line and recite the
mantra.” Kat makes air quotes. “As the Queen commands it, so shall it be
done.” She drops her hands to her sides. “You would have gotten your
power with or without Mountcastle. No female needs a male to come into
her power. Literally or figuratively. You’re your own entity now.”
“She may be her own entity, but she’s also got a six-foot-five, dragon-
shifter husband to contend with. As far as the old ball and chain goes, you
can’t get much bigger.” Gia giggles as she holds her hands about two feet
apart and raises a questioning eyebrow at me. “How big is he, Nina?”
Even though the four of us have been best friends since I can remember,
I’m not ready to share the intimate details of my sex life with Ash. It’s too
new, too special. I want to keep it private for a little while longer.
I laugh at Gia and playfully swat her hands down, then take a more serious
tack. “Ash is an important part of my life now. Just like you all are.” Then I
ask the question that I’m not sure I want the answer to. “I still have you,
right? You’re not planning on leaving me now that I’m all married up, are
you?”
“Absolutely not!” Sofie states unequivocally. “You’re ours to take care of.
And you need us now more than ever. You’re sexually active. You need a
doctor. Then there’s learning to control your new power. And the possibility
of a child one day. No, no, no, we’re in it for the long haul. At least I am.”
“I am, too.” Kat adjusts her glasses and tucks her long black hair behind an
ear. “As you expand your role and take on more royal duties, you’ll require
solid advice and guidance. Who’ll provide that if I’m not here?”
“Count me in!” Gia exclaims, throwing an arm over my shoulder. “As a
princess of two courts, I’m going to need to step up my PR game. Talk you
into accepting some of those Earthside magazine cover shoots.”
“I hate to bring this up,” Kat says, putting on her lawyer face. “But there is
also the matter of the threatening emails you’ve been receiving. We need to
substantiate how credible those threats are.”
The Queen has been the subject of death threats for years, and at least one
assassination attempt that I know of. Recently, I found out that I’m also
receiving threats of some kind. “Do you know anything else about them,
Kat?”
“That’s all I know.” Kat shakes her head slowly. “The Queen’s lawyers had
them originally, but when I asked to see them, I was informed everything
had been sent to Mountcastle. That he’s heading up the investigation on
them. Like I said, he’s taking over all of your security. I guess he doesn’t
trust me to do it. I think the three of us should have a sit-down. As your
lawyer, he needs to keep me informed. He can’t cut me out.”
Before Ash had come onto the scene, Kat would have conducted the
investigation and collaborated with the head of the Gorm Guard on my
security arrangements. I choose my words carefully, not wanting to add any
more fuel to this fire. “I’m sure he’s not trying to cut you out. It’s most
likely a case of aligning my security more closely with his. That’s all. I’ll
ask him to share the threats with both of us. I want to see them, too.” I only
recently found out about the threats. Now that I know about them, I’m not
going to sit by and let others handle them with no input from me.
Kat gives a tight nod of her head in grudging acceptance, not exactly happy,
but letting the subject go for now.
“That settles it. We’re not going anywhere.” Sofie puts her hands on her
hips and beams a smile at me.
“And the fact is, Nina, you’re a Scorpio, and Ash is a Taurus,” Gia says.
“You’ll need us around to drink wine with every time you and him have a
fight. Which we all know is your favorite thing to do.”
“Second favorite, now, Gia.” I waggle my eyebrows at my friends and
we’re all laughing as we share a group hug.
 Chapter Three

A FEW DAYS AND a lot of broken glass later, Ash and I decide to
take my magic training outside. We’re walking with Steel and Silver
in a gently rolling meadow on the edge of a forest, not far from the stables.
I haven’t spent much time at the stables since Northstar was kidnapped just
over a week ago. It’s too painful.
“Thinking about Northstar?” Ash asks in a quiet voice.
“I think about him every day,” I reply, looking down at the ground.
“I know you do. I’m sorry we haven’t found him yet.” Ash takes my hand
in his. “We haven’t received any ransom requests so at this point, it seems
unlikely we will. But between the Queen’s network and my contacts, there
are a lot of people looking for him. I’ve also asked my father to put his
resources behind the search. We’ll get Northstar back.”
“Thank you.” I grip his hand a little tighter. “Do you think we should offer a
reward for information? What about ten million dollars?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. All a reward will do is generate a lot of
false leads.”
“You’re probably right.” I can’t say anything more or the tears crowding my
eyes will spill out. In my heart, I know Northstar is alive. He’s out there
waiting for me to find him. To rescue him. And I swear to the gods I will.
Looking at Ash’s profile, I broach a topic I’ve been putting off. “Kat told
me you took over my security. She’s feeling a little left out. That used to be
under her direction.”
Ash glances at me before looking back down the path at the dogs. “That’s
right. I did. I told you back in New York that it’s my job to protect you now.
And I meant it.”
“Kat wants to be part of the investigation into the threats I’ve been
receiving.” I kick a small stone off the trail into the long grass. “And so do
I. I want the both of us to be included in any conversations about my
security.”
“I don’t want or need her help. Not after the stunt she pulled hiring those
incompetent private investigators to look into my past. And the threats are
ugly. Are you sure you want that in your head?”
“I need to be aware of what’s going on. And you and Kat are going to have
to find a way to move forward. The girls are more than friends. They’re my
family. I need all of you in my life.” I stop walking and tug him to a stop as
well. “Please, Ash, for me,” I say, blinking up at him with big eyes, using
my feminine wiles.
Ash takes my chin and tips my head up to more fully meet his hazel gaze,
the sunlight bringing out the shades of brown and green. “Fine, I’ll include
Kat in your security. And I’ll book a meeting so the three of us can talk
about the threats.” He raises an eyebrow, and his tone takes on a slight edge.
“But, Princess, just because I’m hopelessly in lust with you, doesn’t mean
you’re going to lead me around by the dick. You’re not always going to get
your way by batting your eyes at me.”
Not caring for the word lust or the scolding tone of his voice, I add a little
steel to mine. “And I think you know I’m not going to stand for having
decisions made for me. I’m not going to sit on the sidelines or be kept in the
dark. I’m also not going to choose between you and my friends.”
“No one’s asking you to.” Ash removes his hand from my chin and holds it
up in front of my face, showing me the smallest distance between his thumb
and index finger. “But I’m this close to telling the guards to restrict their
access to our apartment. The swinging door on our bedroom has to stop.”
I put my hands on my hips. “So why haven’t you?”
“The fact that you’re prone to seizures. I want you to have quick access to
medical care if you need it. Day or night.”
“I’ll talk to the girls about our privacy. I guess they could start knocking.
And I’m not prone to seizures. That’s overstating things.” I roll my eyes.
“You’ve had two in the month I’ve been here. And that doesn’t include
Nick Rossi’s attack on you. So don’t roll your eyes at me.” The command in
his voice makes all the nerve endings in my body stand at attention. My
core clenches, and I wish we were back in our bedroom.
We stare at each other, challenge evident in our narrowed eyes and rigid
stances, sexual tension arcing between us. If he touches me, I’ll tear his
clothes off, even though this is not an appropriate time or place. Anyone
could stumble upon us. When a few heartbeats pass and he doesn’t close the
gap between us, I’m able to tamp down my desire. Bending down to pick a
blade of grass, I break eye contact, and even though the sexual pull between
us dissipates, the butterflies in my stomach remain.
Ash shakes his head as if he’s clearing his thoughts and then grabs a tree
branch off the ground. “Why don’t you use your power to throw this for the
boys?”
Deciding I made my point about my friends, I let the argument go. And
since we’re not going to make out, practicing my power is the next funnest
thing to do. I reach down to find my power, and it’s not there. Deep breaths.
Don’t panic. It can’t be far. I try again. Nothing. “My power seems to be on
vacation today. I can’t find it.”
Ash starts down the path again, his long strides carrying him away from me.
He calls over his shoulder, “I don’t know a lot about enchantress magic, but
I don’t think you’d just lose it. Why don’t you tell me more about your
family line, about your power?”
Skipping along to catch up to him, I begin the tale. “Enchantresses are
created from the combined magic of a witch and a fae. But we’re a
completely different race from either of those, and our power is energy
manipulation. Not every witch and fae pairing will create an enchantress. It
all depends on their chemistry. My line was born in water. At the root of my
family tree, there was a Celtic water witch named Coventina, and she fell in
love with Drave. A not-so-faithful aquatic male fae. When Coventina was
pregnant with their first child, a daughter, she found out that Drave was
having an affair. Several, actually.”
I look to see whether Ash has any reaction to the adultery. But he’s looking
straight ahead, watching the dogs run, a nonplussed expression on his face.
“The betrayal, of course, broke Coventina’s heart, and she killed Drave with
a spelled iron dagger in a fit of jealous rage.”
He shifts his eyes to me with a bemused look. “I guess it’s true. Hell hath
no fury like a woman scorned.”
“Anyway, Coventina’s love for Drave, heated by the flames of jealousy,
mutated and enhanced the energy of her unborn daughter, whom she named
Viviane. After the baby was born, Coventina fell into a state of deep
depression. To end her suffering, she walked into a lake with Viviane in her
arms and drowned herself. But the baby’s altered power allowed her to
survive, and water fae sheltered her underwater until she came of age.
When Viviane emerged from the water, my great, great, great grandmother,
the first Lady of the Lake, was crowned. Lady of the Lake is a title and is
passed from mother to firstborn daughter. The Queen has held the title for
about 200 years.”
“So, the moral of the story is there are powerful, jealous-ass females
swinging from the branches of your family tree.”
I smile at his summary. “Yes, and you should remember that. Now tell me
about your power. I know almost nothing of dragon magic and fated
mates.”
Ash uses the branch he picked up as a walking stick and keeps an eye on
the dogs running ahead of us. “Sure. What do you want to know?”
“Everything. What does it mean to be a fated mate? Does every shifter have
one? Do you have to be fated to be mated? Spill the tea.”
“So many questions, Princess. No, not every shifter has a fated mate.
Actually, it’s pretty rare. And you can be mated or bound to someone and
not be fated mates. My parents aren’t fated, but they’ve been married a long
time and are devoted to each other.”
“Is it based in magic? Do you know why your dragon chose me?”
“Yes, it’s based in magic. And I don’t have any idea why my dragon chose
you.” Ash looks to the sky as if seeking an answer from the great beyond.
“Well, you don’t have to say it like that,” I huff, crossing my arms over my
chest.
He puts his arm around my back and smiles down at me. “Hey, don’t get me
wrong. I’m glad he chose you. And I’m happy we’re mated, but I can’t
explain why he chose you. Sometimes magic takes time to reveal itself.”
I reach for my power again and find the tingle, right where it should be.
“Let me have the stick.”
Ash holds the stick out for me, and I use my power to float it in the air
before twirling it like a baton. It’s much heavier than a tennis ball, but I’m
able to throw it the length of the meadow. The boys dash after it in hot
pursuit.
“How is being a fated mate different than being a regular mate?”
“One day, you’ll be able to call my power to you. Use it if the need arises.
Some fated mates can also talk to each other using only their minds, no
matter how far apart they are. And someday, you may even be able to call
on the power of my entire clan.”
The dogs run back to us, an end of the stick in each of their mouths. They
drop the stick at my feet, bright eyes and wagging tails begging me to throw
it again. I use my power to pick it up and hurl it down the field. The dogs
take off running after it, barking in happiness. “When will I be able to do all
that?”
Ash laughs. “Greedy much? You just got your magic and haven’t even
figured it out yet. And you’re already looking for more? It’ll happen in
time.”
“Can I talk directly to your dragon? Does he have a name? Do you know
anyone who has a fated mate? What happens if one of us dies?” I’m looking
up at Ash, but he’s staring out over the top of my head.
And then I hear what he’s already sensed. A creaking noise followed by a
thunderous boom as a giant red maple tree is ripped from the ground along
the edge of the forest about a hundred feet in front of us. The dogs drop
their stick and race back down the path to Ash and me.
The red maple, with roots and dirt clod attached, flies up into the air as if
carried by an invisible tornado and then drops back down before hurtling
down the path toward us.
“Take the dogs and run to the stables,” Ash says, watching the tree twisting
and turning on its approach.
“I’m not leaving you,” I say as the dogs circle my legs.
“Can you do what you’re told for once?” He gives me a not-so-gentle
shove, pushing me behind him as far as he can. Calling his dragon and
doing that thing where he half shifts, Ash bulks up and goes into a low
crouch, bracing for impact.
The dogs stand protectively on either side of me as I try to call my power
again. Maybe I can stop the tree, or at least slow it down. But my power is
not there. It’s disappeared again. No matter how hard I look, I can’t find it.
Just when I think the trunk of the tree will crush Ash, he thrusts his hands
out and deflects its course. The tree careens off the path under its own
momentum and crashes to the ground, skidding along the meadow, ripping
up the ground behind it until it comes to a shuddering stop.
“What was that? Was that my magic?” I ask, watching the bigger, badder
version of Ash straighten to his full height.
Yellow dragon eyes stare back at me, and Ash’s voice is a few octaves
lower than normal when he says, “No, it didn’t feel like your magic. My
mother is a witch, and to me it felt like a witch’s spell. A spell that was left
here for someone, most likely you, to trip. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Are you?” He nods his head as I run my hands over his chest
and shoulders. Then I look at the huge red maple lying on the ground. “That
tree could have killed me.”
“Which is why I told you to run. Listen to me next time,” he grinds out in
his extra-low voice.
“I thought I could help,” I defend myself.
“Until your power stabilizes, you’re probably not going to be able to call it
when you’re stressed or emotional. You’ll need to gain control to do that.”
A squad of the Gorm Guard storm the meadow, looking for the source of
the magic.
“Take the dogs, and a couple of the guards and go back to the castle. I’ll tell
the Gorm captain what happened and find out if there’s a witch on Avalon.
One powerful enough to create an attack spell like that. We’re going to need
to tighten your security until we find out who’s behind this. And if it’s
connected to the threats you’ve been receiving.”
I want to stay with him and be part of the conversation with the captain.
When I don’t move, Ash orders, “Do it now, Princess. I need to know your
safe.”
I turn on my heel and march away. Fuck! I hate being told what to do. But I
don’t know how far I can push Ash’s dragon, yet.
 Chapter Four

A SH FINDS OUT FROM the Gorm captain that there isn’t a witch on
Avalon right now, but the recently departed Spanish jaguar-shifter’s
entourage did include one. The Queen released the jaguars a week ago, so
they are no longer here to question. As I walk behind two guards to the
office Ash and I share, I adjust the shoulder strap of my dress and eye the
other two guards behind me. The extra security Ash ordered is a pain in the
ass. The only time I don’t need four guards is when I’m in my apartment or
with him.
Ever since Ash and I started working together on a review of the Queen’s
Earthside real estate holdings, I’ve taken extra care getting ready in the
morning, wanting to look cute for him. Today, my short white dress has a
row of large hook and eye closures down the front of the bodice and a puffy
skirt. Gone is my university uniform of sweats, no makeup and hair in a
messy bun every day.
In the six weeks Ash has been at my court, a pattern has developed. We
can’t be in the same room for five minutes without fighting or fucking. And
since we consummated our marriage, we’ve been doing a lot more of the
latter.
Dismissing the guards and pushing through the door of our office, I spy Ash
at his desk, brows furrowed at something on his monitor. He always starts
earlier than me. He’s at his desk no later than seven, and I roll in around
nine. I’m not much of a morning person.
Hearing the click of my heels on the marble tile, he turns and gifts me with
a thousand-watt smile that causes my breath to hitch and my center to go
instantly molten. How does he do that? He’s got you thinking with your
pussy, my inner sex goddess shouts. Not that I’ll be telling him that.
“Before you sit down, Princess, would you mind taking a look at
something? I think there’s a discrepancy in the valuation you completed
yesterday on that property in upstate New York.
Moi? A mistake. Can’t be! I may be a couple of credits shy of getting my
economics degree from Brown, but I do know what I’m doing with these
valuations. “Let me take a look.” Bypassing my desk, I head over to his,
putting more sway in my hips than is strictly necessary. “Show me the
error.” I lean down to get a look at his monitor while also giving him a nice
view of my cleavage.
Ash takes a moment to enjoy the boobscape before turning his attention
back to his laptop. “It’s the property taxes. There’s no way they’re that
low.”
“That number is correct. The property is zoned as farmland. A tree farm,
actually. It’s a tax loophole, but it’s definitely correct.” I make a grab for his
mouse to show him the zoning designation when our hands touch and
sparks of delight shoot through me. When my eyes meet his, it’s game on.
He hauls me into his lap, and starts kissing me like we haven’t had sex in a
year, even though we did it before our eyes were even open this morning.
My dress gives Ash easy access to my body, and he takes full advantage.
After undoing the first few hook and eye closures of my bodice, his lips
close over one taut nipple. I arch into him. When he uses his teeth to tease
that nipple while pinching the other, the edge of pain turns the thinking part
of my brain off and my pleasure center snaps to attention. Every time we
have sex, I think, This time will scratch the itch, or Just one more time and I
won’t crave him so much. So far, I haven’t been able to prove this
hypothesis. In fact, every time I have him, I only want him more.
Without warning, he stands up with me in his arms and lays me on his desk,
my dress gaping open. Placing his hands on the sensitive backs of my
knees, he pulls my legs wide, exposing my panties. He rips them off as if
they’re made of tissue paper, baring me to his gaze and the cool air of the
office. “Put your legs over my shoulders,” he directs before palming my ass
in his hands and lowering his head between my legs.
I do as I’m told, and he leans in to tongue my opening. This is another
pattern I’m noticing. Ash always makes me come at least once and
sometimes two or three times during foreplay. He says I’m so small, he
wants to make sure I can take him comfortably. Who am I to argue?
“You taste so fucking sweet,” he says, flicking my clit with the tip of his
tongue. He alternates between licking my clit and tongue-fucking me.
Before long, I’m writhing on his desk, squeezing his head between my
thighs, coming hard.
When I get my wits about me, I relax my legs and open my eyes. “Are you
going to fuck me on your desk?” I ask hopefully.
Ash kisses the insides of my thighs and then stands up. “Not today. I want
you on top.”
“Me? On top?” I’ve never been on top.
He helps me get off the desk. “Yes, I want you to ride me.”
I give him a mischievous smile. “Riding? Why didn’t you say so? I’m an
expert-level rider.” Grabbing his belt, I yank him toward me and tilt my
face up to his for a kiss.
He presses his lips to mine, and I taste my arousal, which amps me up even
more. Undoing his pants, I push them and his underwear down until his
massive erection springs free. Before I can get my hands on it, he sits in his
chair.
“Come here,” he says, his hand extended.
He guides me into his lap, and I sit facing him with my knees tucked along
the sides of his hips.
Grabbing his thick cock in one hand, he holds it straight up while using his
other hand to position my hips. “Lower down onto me.”
Even though this is my first time on top, my body knows exactly what to
do. I lower down until I can feel the head of his dick at my slick entrance.
After he adjusts the angle, I slowly bounce up and down, working myself
onto him. Using the strength of my thighs, I control the rise and fall, riding
him for several minutes as if I’m posting a trot. When I’m fully impaled on
a down motion and he’s pressing against my A-spot, my inner muscles
clasp around him in a sharp climax. When I open my eyes, I’m looking into
the depths of his, which appear more golden today. “It’s deep this way,” I
murmur.
“Feel good?” He nudges up inside me.
“It feels fucking fantastic,” I reply, changing from a bouncing to a rolling
rhythm. As if I’m sitting a canter, I still my shoulders and move my hips in
a back-and-forth motion, grinding my clit against his pubic bone. I throw
my head back, savoring this new sensation.
“Hey, this just came for you. A wedding present . . .” I hear Ben’s voice
behind me in the open door to our office.
Note to self: remember to close and lock the office door before sexy time.
“Is this what you two call work?” Ben’s tone is more than a little amused.
Without turning around to acknowledge Ben, I pull up the strap that has
fallen down my shoulder. No part of me is exposed, so I’m not worried
about my brother-in-law seeing a part of me he shouldn’t. Do I care that
Ben caught us in the act? Not really. I’m a junkie, and Ash is my fix. When
he’s inside me, I don’t care about anything else. Burying my nose in Ash’s
neck, I inhale his warm, fresh scent. It’s like salted caramel and a Christmas
tree had a baby. His scent brings my third orgasm within grabbing distance,
so I can’t help myself as I continue to rock back and forth on him.
“Ben. Out.” Ash’s deep voice booms through the office as his arms close
protectively around me, one hand resting on the back of my head.
“Seriously, it’s not even lunch. This doesn’t qualify as a nooner or afternoon
delight.” Ben laughs, not sounding the least bit embarrassed to have found
us in this very compromising position.
“We’re newlyweds. We don’t care. And if you watch my mate come, I’ll be
forced to kill you,” Ash growls.
The threat of death must have put some spring in Ben’s step, because I hear
the door snick shut and his laughter receding down the hall.
Then I’m coming again and can’t hear or see anything with the ringing in
my ears and the fogging of my vision. The only thing I’m aware of is Ash’s
hands moving to my hips as he lifts me just enough so he can pump up into
me several times and join me in orgasm town.

The next morning, I’m getting ready to leave for work when I receive a last-
minute meeting invite from Ash. Conference room. Nine o’clock. Don’t be
late, Princess.
Is this the meeting he said we’d have about the threats I’ve been receiving?
I check the invite list, and it includes all my girls and his close advisors,
too. Interesting.
Dismissing my guards at the door to the conference room, I stride in with
my head held high and note that everyone is already in their seats. Ash is
seated at the end of the conference table farthest from me, with Sofie, Gia
and Kat seated on one side of the table and Ben, Luke and Max seated on
the other. Kat is seated as far away from Ash as possible. It’s exactly one
minute after nine. What can I say? I like to make an entrance.
As I take my seat at the end of the table opposite Ash, I can feel his eyes on
me, and for several beats, it’s like we’re the only people in the room. His
hot gaze singes me with waves of desire as he checks out my navy-blue,
pinstripe suit. The skirt barely covers my butt, and the “jacket” is a bustier
with a zipper running the length of the front. It’s not exactly work
appropriate.
“Ash, if you would stop eye-fucking Nina for a minute, maybe we could get
this meeting started.” Ben’s taunting of his big brother brings me back to
the conference room.
I love that it takes Ash a few more seconds to pull his eyes away from me.
“Sorry for the last-minute meeting, everyone, but I asked you here because
I have an announcement to make. This morning I found out that a deal I
was working on before coming to Avalon is now ready to close. I’m going
back to my home court.”
What? He’s leaving me? All my confidence from just a couple of seconds
ago vanishes into thin air. I’m once again the little girl who always gets left
behind. When I was growing up, the Queen never had time for me. She
traveled constantly across the planes, managing her business interests and
maintaining her alliances with other royal families. Well, I’m tired of being
left behind, and I’m not going to stand for it from Ash.
“You can’t leave,” I announce, looking down the table at Ash, my power
rattling the chandelier overhead.
Ash raises an eyebrow at me before using his power to stop the sway of the
chandelier. “Oh, really, Princess? And why is that?”
Each part of my body reacts.
Brain: Because even though this is a royal marriage, I’m crazy about you.
The thought of you leaving is like a punch in the stomach, making it
impossible to breathe.
Heart: Because I hate waiting even a few hours to see you. And who’s going
to call me Princess in that way you do and tell me when I’m acting like a
brat.
Vajayjay: Because I’m addicted to you. I need you inside me.
But I say none of that. Instead, what comes out of my mouth is, “Because
you’re contractually obligated to get me pregnant. And you haven’t
performed up to the contract. Yet.”
Ash furrows his brow and sets his jaw in what I’ve come to learn is his
annoyed face. And for a split second, I see what I think is a flash of pain in
his eyes. I hadn’t meant to call his masculinity into question, if that’s what
the hurt look is about. Or maybe he wanted to hear a different answer
entirely. Either way, knowing I have the power to hurt him is a surprise.
Ash schools his face and leans back in his chair as he taps his pen on the
wood table. “Princess, we only consummated our marriage two weeks ago.
We’re still sportfucking. When I want to put a baby in you, believe me, I
will.”
Sportfucking! Is that what we’re doing? Apparently, he has the power to
hurt me, too.
“Medically speaking, Ash, you don’t put the baby in her. Your sperm
fertilizes her egg—“ Sofie chooses this moment to give him a lecture on the
birds and the bees, breaking the tension building in the room.
Ash’s eyes take on a devilish twinkle, and his teasing grin is back in place
as he says, “Thanks, Doc. I know how babies are made.”
Sofie meets his gaze and continues to deliver her discourse on reproduction.
“The egg is fertilized in one of her fallopian tubes and travels—“
Then Max, Ash’s normally reserved personal physician, adds with a straight
face, “I can recommend some instructional videos, Ash. If that would be
helpful.”
Turning in his seat, Ben gives Max a high five. Max’s color instantly
heightens, as if he can’t believe he just made a joke at his boss’s expense.
Ben cackles like a hyena. “If what I walked in on yesterday is any
indication, they’re figuring it out. No videos required.”
Ash smiles at Max and Sofie. “Thanks to all the doctors in the house. I got
it.” Then cuts his eyes to Ben. “Shut the fuck up.” Ash pushes back his
chair and slowly walks the length of the table toward me, his eyes piercing
my soul as he says, “Anyway, Princess, you’re coming with me. I want you
to spend time with my parents. The rest of my family.” As he passes Ben,
he slaps him on the back of the head. “Don’t let Ben put you off. Everyone
really wants to get to know you.” Ash slides his hands into his pants
pockets as he stops beside my chair.
I swivel my seat to face him. “In the future, how about instead of telling me
the plan, you consult with me first.” Even though I hope my gray eyes are
serious, relief and something else, happiness maybe, surges through me.
“It came up fast, and there’s not a lot to discuss. I have to go, and you’re my
mate. Leaving you behind is not an option. It never even crossed my mind.
I’m surprised it crossed yours. I’m sorry if I upset you. Listen, after I take
care of some business and you spend some time with my family, we’ll go
on a honeymoon. Somewhere really special. Does that sound good?”
I check out my manicure as if mulling it over, considering my options.
When of course, there is only one option. “I’ll go with you to your court.
But next time, I want to be asked, not told. I mean it, Ash. No more making
my decisions for me.”
Ash gives me a single nod of agreement followed by a sexy smile.
The room erupts into chatter as the two sides of the table discuss what
needs to be done to make my trip to Ash’s court happen.
“Lots of opportunities for fresh social content.” Gia raises her eyes as she
looks at Ben across the table.
Ben nods back at her. “I was thinking the same thing. We should map out a
communication plan and align their social calendars. Are you free for a
working lunch?”
Kat puts her elbows on the table and addresses Ash’s lawyer. “Luke, in
order for Nina to leave Avalon for an extended period of time, we’ll need to
get the Queen’s approval. Let’s put our heads together and come up with
some talking points for the negotiation.”
Luke checks his watch. “Okay. Let’s meet in my office, in say, an hour.”
Never one to concede a point, Kat responds, “The hour is fine, but let’s
make it my office.”
“I will also be attending that meeting, and it’ll be in here.” Ash locks eyes
with Kat.
“Fine,” Kat says, and then adds something under her breath I can’t quite
make out but sounds an awful lot like “high-handed bastard.”
“I’ll be in that meeting, too,” I say. “It’s my life we’re talking about.” Plus,
I may need to referee if a war breaks out between my bestie and my
husband.
 Chapter Five

A FTER A QUICKIE IN our office where Ash does fuck me on his

desk, we’re once again sitting at the conference table along with
Luke and Kat. We’re brainstorming objections the Queen could have to me
accompanying Ash to his home court and running through the rebuttals.
“I’ll be leading the negotiations,” Ash says in his “this is not up for debate”
voice.
“Wait a minute,” I say, a fraction of a second before Kat and Luke both say,
“I object.”
“What’s on your mind, Princess?” Ash leans back in his chair, linking his
hands behind his head.
I gather my long brown hair in my hands and flip it down my back. “She’s
my mother. My Queen. I know her better than anybody. It makes sense for
me to do it.”
“You have a shrewd mind and are very good at expressing your point of
view, but sometimes you lose your temper when dealing with the Queen.”
Ash raises his eyebrows at me.
“As much as I hate to agree with anything Mountcastle has to say, I do
agree with him on this. You tend to be a little hotheaded where she’s
concerned,” Kat says, looking directly at me.
“Do you blame me?” I ask Kat. She knows all the shit the Queen has pulled
on me over the years.
“No, of course I don’t. She has a heavy hand,” Kat replies and then turns
her attention to Ash and Luke. “But with my experience dealing with the
Queen as Nina’s long-term lawyer, I’m the natural choice.”
“I disagree.” Luke shakes his head. “I represent Ash’s interests in all things.
And his interests now include Nina.” Luke nods his head in my direction.
“Nina falls under my purview now. And if your LinkedIn profile is any
indication, I have more arbitration experience than you do, Kat.”
Kat opens her mouth to launch into a tirade, I’m sure, but Ash leans
forward in his chair and places his hands on the table. “Like I said, I’ll be
leading the negotiations, and the Princess will be at my side.”
Kat pushes her glasses into place and gives Ash a death glare. “I’ve heard
how arrogant dragon shifters can be, but I swear to Zeus’s balls,
Mountcastle, you take the cake.”
Ash returns Kat’s hard stare. “This isn’t arrogance, Katherine. If something
goes sideways with the Queen, I only want myself to blame. I’ll need you
both present to witness the talks and record the outcomes. I want whatever
agreement we make filed for future reference.”
“I’m a lawyer, not a fucking notetaker,” Kat says, her shark eyes flashing.
Ash puts his hands behind his head and smiles sweetly at her. “Well, if you
don’t want to be there—”
“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? I’ll be there,” Kat retorts.
I shake my head at Ash and Kat. Gods, these two. They’re acting like
children fighting over the same toy.
“Princess, do you think you can charm Stewart into getting us on the
Queen’s calendar tomorrow?” Ash asks. “I don’t want to waste any time.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I say, picking up my phone to text the Queen’s
chief secretary. After some back and forth, I’m able to wheedle a late-
morning time slot from Stew. Stew is devoted to the Queen, but he’s always
been kind to me, doing me little favors when he can. Having to wrangle an
appointment to see my own mother, such is my life.

After our meeting yesterday with Luke and Kat, Ash was on video call after
video call about his business deal back home. He worked late into the night
and was gone before I woke up this morning.
We’re in court for our audience with the Queen. She’s sitting on her throne
on the dais, looking down on us. She’s dressed casually today in a green-
and-white patterned vintage Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress. Her hair is
curled into soft waves, giving her an approachable air. But I’m not fooled
by this personable and, dare I say, friendly vibe she’s putting out. This is her
classic “you don’t have anything to fear from little ole me” guise. The
facade falls away pretty quickly when you say something she doesn’t like.
Because you don’t speak to the Queen unless she speaks to you first, we
wait for her opening gambit while she confers quietly with Stew. She’s
using an old-fashioned quill dipped in an inkwell to sign a stack of papers
with red seals in the bottom-right corners. I’ve seen these plenty of times
before. They’re death warrants, and she’s signing them in magic blood.
Hers. The Queen uses her spelled iron dagger to slice a small wound in her
wrist and fill the inkpot when it empties. The dagger is the same one our
ancestor once used to kill her unfaithful fae lover. Once she’s signed the
warrants and Stew’s small, thin frame bobs a curtsy, the Queen gets the
meeting underway. “Princess Seraphina, Ashton. Tell me how you are
settling into married life. Are you finding it pleasant?”
Since we consummated our marriage, Ash has been fucking my brains out
on the daily. And the nightly. If that’s what she means by pleasant, then
there’s only one reply. “It’s very pleasant.” I’m careful not to look at Ash as
I respond. I’m afraid I’ll fangirl all over him and embarrass us both.
“Yes, very pleasant indeed.” Ash, too, keeps his eyes on the Queen, but he
makes the word pleasant sound a little bit dirty somehow.
“So, you admit now, Seraphina, my choice of Ashton for you was right all
along? And you were foolish to disagree with me?” The Queen gives me a
condescending, “I told you so” look.
Foolish? As I open my mouth to give her a piece of my mind, Ash
intervenes. “I think we can all agree that things worked out for the best for
everyone. But we’re not here to talk about the past, Your Majesty. We’re
here to talk about the future.”
The Queen gifts Ash with a warm smile. “Do continue, Ashton.”
“The time has come for me to return to my home court. Six weeks ago, I
dropped everything, including several important real estate deals, to come
here and claim the Princess. I need to turn my attention back to my work.
Back to my home court.”
“What about the work you are doing for me?” the Queen asks.
I can feel her power amplifying and wonder whether Ash notices it, too.
The normal, warm water feel of her power increases in pressure and
temperature, causing an uncomfortable burning sensation on my skin.
Ash stands tall beside me, oozing confidence. “It’s complete. The Princess
and I reviewed your entire real estate portfolio and have made our
recommendations. The consort has the full report.”
“I see. I commend you for your devotion to your family’s court and
business dealings.” The Queen cuts her chastising eyes to me for a moment
before continuing, “If you must go, then I wish you well.”
Ash folds his hands in front of him. “Of course, as my mate, the Princess
will be coming with me.”
The Queen sits forward in her throne and folds her hands lightly in her lap,
her face devoid of emotion. But I feel her power swirling around me,
around the room. I glance down and am surprised to see that my hair and
dress are not blowing around in the maelstrom.
“I am not sure that is the best idea, Ashton.” The Queen regards us,
unblinking.
This is sooooo like her. She marries me off against my wishes. Then when I
start to like my new husband and find a tiny scrap of happiness, she tries to
separate us. When will she leave me the fuck alone? When will she stop
trying to control my life?
Before I’d been able to attend an Earthside university, I’d had to present a
business case about how my time at Brown would benefit her court, and it
had taken months of negotiation before she finally approved. I don’t have
that kind of time now. “You have no right to keep me a prisoner here,” I
snap, unable to control my temper, my breath coming hard and fast.
Ash places his large, warm hand on the small of my back, and the
smokiness of his power fills my nostrils. Instantly, I’m steadier, and the
force of the Queen’s power on me also diminishes, reducing the burning
sensation to almost nothing. Breathing in Ash’s power, I’m able to get my
anger under control. Why do I allow her to get to me?
“Your Majesty, can you please share your concerns? We’ll have to find a
way to mitigate them because I’m not leaving without her.” Ash’s tone
holds the perfect pitch of deferential and determined.
He’s not going to leave without me. Deep breaths. In and out. The Queen,
like bees and dogs, can smell fear. I have to keep it together.
The Queen’s unwritten motto is: Never Complain. Never Explain. So, I’m
more than a little surprised when she answers Ash’s question. “There are
several considerations. Seraphina’s power, for one. She has no idea how to
control it. And we do not even know how much power she actually has. She
should remain here until her power is established.”
“She’s been practicing.” Ash doesn’t miss a beat. “Her friends and I have
been working with her. She’s already showing signs of improvement in her
control. And it may be years before we find out what her true power
potential is.”
Big kiss to Ash for saying I’m showing signs of improvement. Truthfully,
my improvements are incremental. And my power continues to be glitchy.
I’m a mess, magically speaking.
The Queen shifts her icy eyes to me. “Most importantly, she is my sole heir,
and there are threats being made against her. As such, I am not comfortable
with her going to a foreign court. How long are you planning on staying
there?”
“I don’t know how long we’ll be there. I can’t commit to a time frame right
now. Besides, it’s not a foreign court. She’s my mate, part of my clan. It’s
her court now, too. And you thought it was safe enough for her to visit
when you brought her there as a child,” Ash counters calmly.
“That was different, Ashton. I was there to protect her.” The Queen pins
him with an Arctic stare.
“It’s my job to protect her now and I will, with my life.” Ash doesn’t appear
intimidated in the least. “My family will also see to her security. She’ll be
safe there. You and my parents have been allies for many years.”
The Queens silently regards us but doesn’t look convinced.
“Your Majesty, you have to see that Avalon is no longer safe for her. She’s
under attack here. As you know, her hellhounds were poisoned and almost
killed, Northstar was kidnapped, and then we tripped a spell not far from
the stables. The Princess could have easily been walking or riding there by
herself. And if she had been, she would have been killed.”
“Yes, I heard from the Gorm you think that was witch magic. The jaguar
entourage included a witch. Do you suspect it was them?” The Queen gives
Ash her full attention, leaning forward in her throne.
“Anyone who looks at a map can see Spain is not very far away from Italy.
Perhaps Nick Rossi has leverage over the jaguar Controller of Spain, or
maybe Rossi promised him something in return for coming here and
terrorizing the Princess for breaking their engagement.
We have to present a united front to the Queen, but inwardly I roll my eyes
at Ash’s theory. I don’t think Nicky would go to all that trouble over me.
The gray of the Queen’s irises bleeds out, coloring the whites of her eyes.
“If the Rossi family or the Spanish jaguars had anything to do with the
incidents of late, I will find out and they will be punished. Maybe it is best
for the Princess to visit your court. But there are conditions that must be
met.” The Queen taps and holds her index finger on the armrest of her
throne. “First, she brings the sirens with her.”
“All three?” Ash asks, looking at Kat out of the corner of his eyes.
The Queen simply nods.
“Agreed,” he says, but the opening and closing of his fists at his sides tell
another story.
She taps and holds her index finger and middle finger on the armrest.
“Next, she takes a contingent of the Gorm Guard. Two dozen will suffice.”
I’m not in love with the idea of showing up on my in-laws’ doorstep with
twenty-four Gorm in tow. They don’t exactly blend in. They’re imposing
and wear the threat of violence like the swirls in their blue and green skin.
Ash raises an eyebrow at this. “I’m not sure my parents will allow a foreign
armed force within the walls of their court.”
“Leave your parents to me. They will accept it.” The Queen bares her teeth
at Ash in a semblance of a smile.
I’m not sure Ash picks up on her implied threat. If his parents want him
back home, they’ll have to accept the guards. Once you’re on Avalon, the
Queen can keep you here indefinitely.
“Fine, but I’ll choose the guards,” Ash bites out. Maybe he did pick up on
the threat.
“And finally, Seraphina cannot be away from this court for more than six
months at a time.”
“As I said earlier, I can’t commit to a firm timeline right now,” Ash
responds carefully.
“Your timeline is your own. Her timeline is no more than six months away.”
Only six month away? Who am I? Persephone? For Persephone, it’s six
months in the Underworld with her husband before she must return to
Mount Olympus and her mother. For me, purgatory and my mother are one
and the same.
Before Ash can say another word, the Queen holds up a silencing hand. “A
good businessman knows when he has struck the best deal he is going to
get. This is your best deal, Ashton. Take it before I change my mind.”
Ash looks up at the Queen and must see the same thing I do. The cold,
calculating eyes of a predator. If he wants me, he’s going to have to meet
her conditions. “It appears the negotiations are concluded,” he replies
graciously with a shallow bow.
Once we’re outside of court and heading back to our office, I say in a quiet
voice, “You never told me you suspected Nicky.”
“Would you have believed me, Princess?”
“Maybe.” Probably not. “Ash, you have to stop springing stuff like this on
me in public.”
Ash stops walking and turns his face to me, a face so beautiful it would
make angels cry. “Fair point. I’m only trying to shoulder the burden of these
threats against you. To protect you.”
I’m not going to be dazzled by his good looks. “I want us to be a team.”
“I want that, too.” Ash sighs, looking thoughtful and then he begins heading
down the hall again. “Can you be ready to leave tomorrow? Around noon?”
“No problem.” I wave a hand in the air. “I just have to pack.”
 Chapter Six

T HE NEXT MORNING, ASH is long gone before I wake up, and I’m
left feeling antsy and frustrated. We didn’t have sex last night or this
morning, which means it’s been two whole days. This business deal of his is
a serious cockblocker, and we aren’t even at his court yet. My power may
run hot and cold, but my newly awakened sex drive only has one setting—
boiling over. He’s kept me dick drunk since I handed him my V-card, and I
have no desire to sober up. I’m fully in Ash’s sexual thrall, and if this is
what it feels like to be enslaved, I’ll happily extend my wrists and be
shackled for life.
If I didn’t have packing for this trip to distract me, I might hunt Ash down
and have my wicked way with him. Surveying my room, I realize I’m
probably not as far along in packing as I should be. My room is awash with
half-packed suitcases, open trunks and outfits that are on the bubble—to
bring or not to bring; that is the question. Grabbing my phone, I check to
see whether Ash has texted me. He hasn’t. Then I check the time, eleven
thirty. Fuck. Ash wants to leave at noon, and I’m still in my sleep shorts and
tank top. I’d been hoping he’d swing back by for a quickie this morning
before we left for his parent’s place, but no such luck.
“What’s all this?”
As if summoned by my thoughts, I turn to find Ash standing in our
bedroom door. Though we’d spent our first night together in his apartment,
he’d since moved his stuff into mine. It’s far more spacious.
“I’m packing, of course.” I smile, delighted to see him.
“I can see that. I can also see seven suitcases and three trunks.” He wanders
over to one of my trunks and looks inside. “Do you really need this many
pairs of black shoes?”
“Yes, they’re all different. And you missed my jewelry case over there.” I
point in the general direction of my dressing area. “And my makeup case in
the bathroom,” I say, swinging my arm toward the bathroom door. “So, I’ll
have nine suitcases in total, plus the trunks,” I supply helpfully before
adding, “We could be gone for up to six months.”
He tilts his head to the side and gives me a small bemused smile. “I’m
going to go out on a limb here and say you’re not going to be ready to leave
in twenty minutes.”
“What makes you say that?” I ask, wondering why he’s wasting his time
looking at my luggage when he could be looking at my nipples, which are
clearly visible through this thin, white tank top.
Ash rolls his shoulders back, stretches his arms up and interlocks his fingers
behind his head. “Because you’re not showered, you’re not dressed, and
you’re only half-packed.”
What’s his problem? “This won’t take long to pull together.” With a flick of
my wrist, I dismiss the mountain of clothes, shoes and purses that still need
to find a home.
Ash drops his arms and looks around at the chaos. “Why didn’t you get the
girls to help you or some of the household staff?”
Because I thought you might come back and fuck me. “I like to pack by
myself. Think it through. Make sure I’m not forgetting anything. I’ll get a
couple of maids to help me finish up. The girls are busy with their own
packing.”
“Oh yes, that’s right. They’re coming with us. Along with your own private
security force. How could I have forgotten that?” Ash shakes his head and
exhales loudly as he closes the distance between us. Then he palms my ass
and pulls me toward him.
Finally. I close my eyes and lift my face to his for a kiss. When I feel his
warm, soft lips on my forehead, my eyes fly open. What the fuck?
“I’m going back to the office while you finish getting ready. What should
we say our new estimated time of departure is? I’ll let everyone know noon
is no longer on the table.”
“Four o’clock . . . ish,” I say sheepishly. “I want to look nice for your
parents.”
“Okay, four, Princess. Not a minute later. I’ll be back then.” As Ash walks
away, I swear I hear him mutter something about time management skills
and me being the death of him. I could have been hearing things, though.

At four o’clock sharp, Ash strolls into our bedroom and stops dead in his
tracks. “Holy shit,” he murmurs, wide eyed.
“What? You saw it all before.” It actually ended up being ten suitcases,
instead of nine. I needed a bag for the dogs’ toys.
“It just looks like more all piled up together, I guess.”
I stand back with Ash and take a look. Three large trunks for gowns, purses
and shoes, ten suitcases of various sizes, along with Steel and Silver, each
in their own travel crate. Oh, and my travel purse. Seems about right to me.
“Some of it’s yours,” I say, looking at his two suitcases and small overnight
bag sitting off to the side.
He ignores my comment about his luggage. “I didn’t know you were
bringing the dogs.”
“I can’t very well leave them here. The girls are going to be with me. The
dogs would be lonely.” When I was away at university, the girls split their
time between Avalon and Earthside. Whoever was on Avalon would spend
time with the dogs. It’s not just a matter of watering and feeding them. Any
of the household staff could do that. They’re my boys. They need love.
Ash presses his hands together in front of his face like he’s praying for
patience and silently touches his index fingers to his lips once, twice, three
times.
I walk into the middle of the room and do a little spin. “Instead of checking
out my luggage, why don’t you check me out. Tell me I look good. Bolster
up my confidence before we meet your parents.” Although I’d met the
Mountcastles as a child, this is my first time seeing them as an adult, as
Ash’s wife. Because the trip was last minute, I hadn’t had a chance to
overthink the meeting until now. What if they don’t like me? What if they
don’t think I’m good enough for him? My own mother doesn’t like me. I’ve
never been able to win her approval.
Ash told me his court isn’t formal, that I could wear jeans and fit right in.
But I want to dress up. I want to make a good first impression with my in-
laws. Taking a page out of the Queen’s book, I’d chosen a bold green Diane
von Furstenberg dress with nude, strappy sandals. My hair is down and
straight as a pin, my makeup is light with an extra swipe or two of mascara
and some lip gloss.
Ash looks at me, really looks at me for what I feel is the first time since
announcing we were leaving. He holds his hand out to me, and when I take
it, he pulls me up against him and nuzzles my neck. “You look spectacular.
You take my breath away. You always do.”
“Thank you.” I smile shyly at his praise. He does know the right things to
say, I’ll give him that.
His arms tighten around me. “Don’t be nervous. My parents, my entire
family, they’re going to love you.”
Do you love me? “I hope so. It’s been so long since I’ve seen them.”
“I wish we had more time. I want to peel that dress off you. See what kind
of fancy underthings you’re wearing,” he breathes into my ear.
I pull back and look up into his hot eyes. “They are pretty fancy,” I say,
giving him a shrug of my shoulders and a “you missed out” look.
“I guess I’ll just have to wait till tonight.” He leans in for a kiss, but I dodge
out of the way.
“I don’t think so! You’re not wrecking my hair and makeup right before we
leave. Where’s everyone else? Shouldn’t they be here by now?”
“I sent everyone ahead. They were ready, and it didn’t make sense for them
to wait. It probably worked out better like this anyway. Ben texted me a few
minutes ago, letting me know my mother settled your girls into a guest
house on the estate and my father has already deployed your guard outside
the main house. Did you say good-bye to your mother?”
“No. Why would I?”
“I don’t know, because she’s your mom.”
“She’s never been my mom, Ash. To me, like everybody else, she’s always
been the Queen.
“Okay. Are you ready? Let’s go.” Ash takes my hand, and with a flash of
light, we leave Avalon and travel to his home court, Westmoreland, another
island country on the preternatural plane and the seat of his family’s power.
 Chapter Seven

T HE TRIP TO WESTMORELAND is almost instantaneous, our

energy moving through time and space at the speed of light. Our
luggage lands with a thump in front of us in the grand foyer of an elegant
castle. The floors are covered by slabs of white marble; the walls, painted a
soft cream, are covered by colorful portraits, and the extra-high ceilings are
coffered with intricate woodwork. The effect is stunning, but it’s also
comfortable and inviting.
In transit, the luggage had become stacked with the trunks on the bottom,
the sturdy dog crates next and then the suitcases piled precariously on top.
“Ashton? Sweetheart, is that you?” An unseen female voice calls out from
the other side of Mount Luggage.
Ash gives my hand a reassuring squeeze as he looks down at me and calls
out, “Yes, it’s us, Mom.”
Just then, one of the top suitcases falls to the marble floor, scaring Steel and
Silver, who instantly stand in their crates and bark aggressively. The rattling
of their cages causes the rest of the suitcases to start toppling like a game of
luggage Jenga.
“What’s all the racket out here?” A male’s voice is added to the fray.
The dogs, unsettled by the falling luggage, new environment and strange
voices, take the barking to a whole new level.
This is not the entrance I was hoping to make.
“Steel, Silver, you’re fine. Lie down,” I command the dogs. With a few
grumbling growls, they lie back down in their crates.
Still holding my hand, Ash leads me around the trunks, dog crates and
scattered suitcases, and presents me to his parents. “Mom, Dad, you
remember Nina.” Ash turns to me, “Nina, my parents, Mari and Reg.”
Ash’s mother has a mane of long, curly blond hair, brown eyes and a warm
smile. There’s an alluring quality about her, as if she has a million friends
and is always looking for one more. Ash’s father’s hair is jet black with a
little gray threaded through it, and his hazel eyes miss nothing. He wears his
powerful frame with ease and seems to be going out of his way not to be
intimidating. I don’t sense their power at all.
Ash’s mother speaks first, “Of course we remember Nina. Welcome to the
family, darling!” She throws her arms around me and gives me a big hug.
She’s taller than me, probably five foot nine to my five six.
When she releases me, Ash’s dad enfolds me in a light embrace. “Yes,
welcome to the family.”
“Thank you, Marigold and Reginald,” I say, not comfortable with calling
them Mari and Reg. It’s so familiar.
A meaningful look I can’t identify passes between Ash’s parents before
they turn their attention to him.
Ash gives his mom a hug, and I hear her whisper, “It’s so good to have you
home.” Then Ash’s dad grabs him, and they slap each other loudly on the
back. From a distance, I thought Ash and his dad were the same height, but
up close, Ash is a couple of inches taller, putting his dad around six foot
three.
Ash wasn’t kidding when he said his court is informal and he comes from a
family of huggers. All this affection is going to take some getting used to.
When the hugging stops, I lower my eyes and bow to Ash’s parents in
respect for their rank as I have been trained to do. His parents are the same
rank as the Queen.
“I thought you kids were going to be here earlier. What happened, Ashton?
Run into traffic?” Reginald smiles broadly at us.
OMG. Is that my first dad joke?
“I got caught up at work. I wanted to clear off my desk before leaving
Avalon.” Ash covers smoothly for my lack of time management where
packing is concerned.
A point to Ash!
But then he adds, “Not to mention, the Princess decided she needed to bring
everything she owns with her.” Ash heaves a long-suffering sigh and turns
to eye the luggage spread out over the entryway.
Fuck! It is a lot of luggage. This is embarrassing. I look at Marigold, and
my stomach drops when I see her forehead crease in what appears to be
censure. So much for making a good first impression. I pull my shoulders
back and prepare for whatever rebuff Marigold is about to dish out.
“Ashton, a girl can’t be expected to travel without her things.” Marigold
turns her look of censure on Ash.
“She packed twelve pairs of black shoes,” Ash deadpans, throwing me
under the bus once again.
“They’re all different,” Marigold and I say at the exact same time. I can’t
hide the smile that takes over my face at Marigold’s surprising support. In
the Queen’s eyes, I always come up lacking.
“Don’t bother, son. You’re fighting a losing battle.” Reginald slides his
hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels. “Have you heard the
saying ‘Happy wife, happy life’?”
Marigold gives Reginald a playful swat, and all this family banter stirs a
longing in me. I’m envious of their easy camaraderie and the loving
relationships they share. It’s light-years away from my family experience.
I’m saved from any more reflection on my lonely upbringing when a tiny
child races across the entryway and launches herself at Ash with a screech,
“Ash’s home!”
Ash catches her in midair and then cuddles her close. “Here’s my favorite
girl. I’ve missed you.” Ash gives her an extra squeeze before stretching
back so he can look at her face. “Dahlia, there’s someone special I want you
to meet.”
Dahlia leans forward and buries her face firmly in Ash’s chest.
“Don’t play shy. You’ll like her. She’s a princess, like you,” Ash whispers.
Dahlia peeks at me from the safety of Ash’s arms, brushing her blond
ringlets out of her brown eyes.
“Dahlia, this is my mate, Nina. And Nina, this little bundle of trouble is my
baby sister.”
I knew Ash had a three-year-old sister, but I was unprepared for how loud
my biological clock would start ticking when I saw him holding the toddler
in his arms. Tick tock! Tick tock!
I hold out my hand to Dahlia. “Pleased to meet you.”
She slides her small hand into mine and says with a serious voice,
“Charmed, I’m sure.”
All the adults in the room crack up and Marigold comes over and rubs
Dahlia’s back, while she remains in Ash’s arms. Marigold turns her
laughing eyes to me. “This one’s a handful. She picked that phrase up from
one of my aunts and now says it every chance she gets.”
Then Dahlia notices Steel and Silver. “Whose puppies are those?”
I smile at Dahlia, delighted by her quick wit. “They’re mine. Do you want
to meet them?” I turn to look fondly at my boys. “Ash, can you help me get
them down?”
Reginald strides over. “We’ll put the crates on the floor, and then you can
let them out.”
When Ash and his dad lower the heavy crates to the floor, I open them up.
The dogs exit their crates, and we all watch them stretch and shake
themselves out. They do me proud by coming to sit at my feet without
being called. “They’re very friendly. This is Steel, and this is Silver.” I give
each of them a head scratch in turn.
“I want down,” Dahlia demands, wriggling around in Ash’s arms.
“No, you stay with me while you meet the puppies.” Ash bends over just
enough so that Dahlia can pet the head of each dog.
“They’re nice. I like them,” Dahlia exclaims.
“They are nice, but they are not toys. You have to be gentle with them,”
Ash says with just enough firmness to catch and hold Dahlia’s attention.
Watching Ash be so effortlessly loving with his little sister causes my heart
to skip a beat. One day, he’s going to make an excellent father.
“Ash, why don’t we take the dogs outside. Walk the perimeter. Let them get
accustomed to their new home,” Reginald suggests.
“I want to go too, Daddy,” Dahlia shouts with glee.
Ash strolls over and puts his hand on my lower back. “You’ll be okay for a
little bit?” he asks in a low voice.
“Of course. No problem,” I say, not wanting to look clingy but nervous at
being left to make small talk with my new mother-in-law.
“She’ll be fine, Ashton. I’ll show her to the rooms you’re staying in and
have the luggage brought up. Go ahead. I’ll take good care of her,”
Marigold announces.
Ash gives me a kiss on the cheek. “You’re in good hands. I won’t be long.”
Marigold and I stand side by side, watching Ash, with Dahlia in his arms,
and Reginald walk away with the dogs in tow. I wonder if my new mother-
in-law can tell I’m totally checking out her son’s ass.

After the guys leave with Dahlia and the dogs, a housekeeper appears, and
Marigold asks her to see that all the luggage is brought to the Wyverns
guest wing. Then Marigold takes me on a tour of some of the castle,
showing me where the family apartments are located. She explains that
when Ash and Ben visit, they normally stay in a guesthouse. But for this
trip, she’d asked Ash to stay in the castle so she and Reg would get to spend
more time with us.
When we arrive at the guest wing, it turns out to be very private and
situated well away from the family’s quarters. The luggage is already there,
along with two maids who have started the unpacking.
“I’ll leave you to get settled in,” Marigold says, standing in the doorway.
“Dinner is at six. We eat early because of the baby.” Just as she’s turning to
leave, she stops and adds, “I’m really looking forward to getting to know
you better, Nina.”
“Me too,” I reply with a smile, finding I mean it. Could Ash’s mother be
any more different from mine? “Thank you, Marigold.”
“Call me, Mari. I insist. You could also call me Mom, if you want,” she
says with a hopeful lilt in her voice.
I’ve never called anyone Mom and don’t think I can start now. But I also
don’t want to hurt her feelings. “Thank you, Mari,” I say, infusing my tone
with all the gratitude I feel for her warm welcome.
The maids have everything unpacked and put away in no time at all. With
everything organized and Ash outside with the dogs, I decide to take a nap
before dinner. I slip out of my dress and slide between the cool sheets of the
largest bed I’ve ever seen.
 Chapter Eight

“P RINCESS, IT’S TIME TO wake up.” I hear Ash’s voice as the bed
dips and the back of his hand skims my cheek.
“What time is it?” I yawn and stretch, enjoying his touch. “Where are the
dogs?”
“I left them at the girls’ place. They asked if they could keep them
overnight, and I didn’t think you’d mind. It’s almost six. I let you sleep as
long as I could.”
I leap out of bed. “Why didn’t you wake me sooner? Dinner is at six.”
“You looked so peaceful. Nobody will care if we’re a couple minutes late.”
“I’ll care. I’m not showing up late to my first dinner with your parents.” I
want them to like me.
Ash doesn’t say anything. He just stares at me. My lingerie, to be specific.
I run my fingers under the waistband of my black tulle Gucci panties and
then along the delicate cups of the matching bra. “I told you they were
fancy.”
“We’re going to be more than a couple of minutes late.” Ash pulls his
phone out of his back pocket. “As a matter of fact, we’re not going to make
it at all. I’ll text my mother. You have a headache.”
I shake my head. “No way, Ash.”
“Okay, fine. I have a headache.”
“We’re going to dinner with your family.” Turning my back to him, I bend
over and run my fingers through my hair to fluff it up after sleeping on it.
When I stand up and flip my hair back over, I hear Ash’s breath catch.
“What are you wearing to dinner?” I ask.
He stands up from the bed and looks down at his jeans and gray T-shirt.
“This. And a hard-on apparently,” he says, adjusting his erection in his
pants.
I look at him over my shoulder and smirk. “If you’d woken me up earlier, I
could have helped you out with that. Maybe it’s you who needs lessons in
time management.”
“Touché, Princess.”
“Did you ask your mother to put us in this apartment? Away from your
family? With this massive bed?”
“All our furniture is custom made. We’re dragons. We like things big and
comfortable.” Ash lifts an eyebrow at me. “And yes, with how loud you are
in bed, I wanted the most private apartment possible.”
“I am not loud in bed,” I scoff. Then I tilt my head to the side and furrow
my brow. “Am I?”
“Yes, you are.” Ash laughs before his voice takes on a bass tone. “You’re
very passionate and responsive. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Deciding I can live with that, I change the subject. “Should I put my dress
back on? Or just go casual in jeans?” I want to make sure I fit in with his
family.
“It’s up to you. But whatever you’re planning to wear, you’d better put it on
fast or we’re not leaving this room. You have to the count of ten.” For every
number he counts down, he takes a step toward me, stalking me. I grab my
favorite jeans, a black button-down shirt and a pair of black boots from the
closet. I barely make it into the bathroom and close the door with a giggle
when he reaches “one.” I love it when he’s playful.
“I’m going to think about your fancy underthings all through dinner,
Princess. You’re in trouble when we get back to this room.”

Even though I rush, we’re a couple of minutes late to dinner. When we walk
into the dining room, Ash’s family is already seated at the table, and I spy a
teenage boy and a distinguished-looking gentleman I haven’t met yet.
“And what have you two been up to? Why are you late for dinner?” Ben
shouts across the dining room, looking inordinately pleased with himself.
Then he turns to the teenage boy. “I could tell you stories about these two,
Cal.” Ben lifts his eyebrows suggestively.
My cheeks flame. Fucking Ben!
Ash laughs and kisses me hard on the mouth, lending credibility to Ben’s
insinuation about what we were doing upstairs.
“Bennet, stop embarrassing Nina,” Mari says, buckling Dahlia into a
booster seat.
“Grandfather, I didn’t know you were coming to dinner,” Ash happily calls
out to a slightly older version of Reg before taking my hand and leading me
over to him. “Grandfather, this is my mate, Nina. Nina, this is my
grandfather, Archie.”
Archie is handsome with salt-and-pepper hair, a fit frame and a knowing
smile, as if he recognizes me, but when he lifts his eyes to mine, I see they
are a milky white.
“Avalon’s enchantress. And Ashton’s fated mate,” Archie says as he holds
his hand out to me.
Placing my hand in his, he kisses the back of it as if he’s a knight of the
Round Table.
“Lovely to meet you, Archie,” I say, deciding I must get comfortable with
the use of such familiar names.
The steadiness of his hand and the way he holds himself indicates his
blindness should not be mistaken for a sign of weakness. “The pleasure is
all mine, Nina. Word to the wise. Dragons are arrogant and overprotective
by nature. Be patient with my grandson.” Archie tilts his head to Ash.
“You’ve always liked a challenge, Ashton. And you certainly have one
here. But let an old dragon give you some advice. Don’t try to tame her.
First off, you never will.” Archie laughs softly, releasing my hand. “But
more importantly, she doesn’t need taming. She needs a partner. Feeling her
power, she’s more than you know. I suspect she’s more than she knows.
Your dragon has chosen well for you. Don’t make him wait.”
“I’ll remember your wise words, Grandfather.” Love and respect are
evident in the tone of Ash’s voice and the bow of his head.
I’m more than I know? Ash shouldn’t make his dragon wait? What does any
of that mean? I don’t normally appreciate being talked about as if I’m not
standing right here, but this is Ash’s grandfather, and even though I don’t
know what he’s talking about, I also don’t pick up any implied insult. My
attention is pulled from Archie when Cal pushes back from the table and
comes to stand beside Ash.
“Great to meet you, Nina.” Cal extends his hand, and we shake. He’s the
only Mountcastle sibling with Reg’s black hair.
“Charmed, I’m sure,” Dahlia chirps from her spot at the table.
“Callum’s a first-year at my alma mater, the University of Melbourne. He’s
the brainy one and is staying Earthside to work on a research project while
school is out. He’s going to be a doctor one day,” Ash says with a proud
smile at his younger brother.
“Boys, come sit down. I’m starving. Practically wasting away.” Reg winks
at me as we find seats at the table.
On his way past Ben, Ash punches him in the arm.
“Ashton Reginald Archibald Mountcastle, stop hitting your brother at the
dinner table,” Mari says, her voice containing no heat.
Ash is named after his father and grandfather. Is that a dragon shifter
tradition? There’s so much I don’t know.
Dinner with the Mountcastle clan is a loud, spirited affair. Everyone talking
over everyone else and calling out for something to be handed down the
table. The clatter of serving spoons on porcelain adds to the din. While
marveling at the quick work the guys make of the meal—steak, twice-baked
potatoes and assorted side dishes—I think about Archie’s comment about
me being more than I know.
A hush falls over the room as Mari walks in with a giant, lit birthday cake
in her hands. She’s singing happy birthday, and everyone joins in.
Fun! A birthday! Whose is it?
“Happy birthday, dear Ashton. Happy birthday to you,” the group sings.
Mari places the cake in front of Ash. “Since you were away on your actual
birthday, I thought we’d celebrate tonight.”
Oh fuck. I forgot his birthday. I’m a terrible wife. My wide eyes meet Ash’s.
I rack my brain, trying to remember his birth date. It’s listed in our marriage
contract. I wish I could text Kat. “Refresh my memory. When was your
birthday again?” I ask in a hushed voice so his family doesn’t hear.
“Two and a half weeks ago.” He smirks at me.
Two and a half weeks ago, I’d been accusing Ash of plotting against me and
swearing I’d find a way to annul our marriage. “Of course! Happy belated
birthday!” I beam a smile at him.
He raises a sardonic brow. “Thanks.”
“I didn’t forget, you know.” I had totally forgotten.
“Yes, you did. But you can make it up to me.”
“How?”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” he says with a glint in his eye as he
cuts the cake.

Later that night, when we’re back in our room, I do think of something to
give Ash for his birthday. With short notice and no time to shop, this seems
like the best idea. And I think he’s going to like it. I just hope it fits.
“I want to give you your birthday gift now,” I breathe out as he kisses the
side of my neck.
“I’m already enjoying my gift. I just need to unwrap it.” He unbuttons the
first three buttons of my shirt.
“I have a different idea. Why don’t you take off all of your clothes and go
lie on the bed?”
So far, Ash has been the one in charge of our sexcapades, which is more
than fine with me. But since I’d forgotten his birthday, I want to do
something for him.
“What do you have in mind, Princess?”
“What would you say to a birthday blow job?” This is the first time I’ll take
Ash in my mouth.
“I’d say happy birthday to me.” He grins.
I grin back. “Okay, then. Strip down.”
“As the Princess commands it, so shall it be done.” Ash whips his T-shirt
off and throws it across the room. When he kicks off his shoes and undoes
his pants, he stops. “Since it is my birthday gift, I want you in nothing but
your fancy underthings.”
“Fair enough, birthday boy.” I undo the remaining buttons on my shirt, kick
off my boots and shuck my jeans. Then I pull my shirt off my shoulders and
let it drop.
Ash is already undressed and is standing unabashedly naked with his
massive erection in his hand. His body is magnificent—smooth skin, sexy
tattoos, firm muscles, jutting cock. I can’t wait to taste him.
Walking up to him, I place my hands over the intricate, abstract designs on
his shoulders. Each tattoo covers his entire shoulder, upper arm and a
portion of his chest. Going up on my tiptoes, I give him an open-mouth
kiss, darting my tongue over his. “Go lie on the bed.”
“How about you give me my gift right here? Get on your knees, Princess.”
“I can’t kneel in front of you or anybody else, Ash. Today or any day.”
“What? Why not?”
“I come from a long line of queens. And one day, I’ll be a queen. There’s
only one person I can kneel in front of, and I don’t particularly want to
think about my mother right now.”
He cups the side of my face in his large palm and kisses me quickly. “Only
you would negotiate a blow job. Whatever you want, Princess. However
you’re comfortable doing it.” He grabs my hand and leads me toward the
bed.
“Lie down,” I direct. “Put your hands behind your head, and keep them
there. I want to do all the touching.” If he touches me, he’ll end up taking
control, and I want to focus on him.
Ash complies with no further complaint, and I sit cross-legged on the bed
beside him. I take his huge dick in my hands and wonder if I’ve bitten off
more than I can chew, so to speak. He’s immense, and I’m inexperienced.
But the gods love a trier, right?
He closes his eyes as I wrap one hand around the base of his cock. My
fingers and thumb don’t touch. Then I begin working both my hands up and
down his thick shaft. I lean down and lick up the side of his dick. I continue
to lick my way around him, leaving my saliva behind. Then I go up on my
knees and take the broad head of his cock in my mouth. I bob up and down,
taking as much of him as I can, while my hands grip and stroke the rest of
him. Thank the gods, I don’t have a sensitive gag reflex and am able to take
him deep in my throat. I’m surprised by how good he tastes and how much
I enjoy his moans of appreciation. I feel incredibly powerful controlling his
big body, watching it react to my touch. My nipples tighten and I drench my
panties with the pleasure of it. When I taste his precum, I pick up the pace.
“Princess, you’re going to make me come.”
On the spur of the moment, I decide I want him to come in my mouth and
so don’t pull away to finish him with my hands. “Okay,” I say around him
before taking his cock as deep as I can, sucking and licking him like he’s
the most delicious Popsicle in the world.
I feel him swell before ribbons of hot come hit the back of my throat,
forcing me to swallow several times in quick succession.
“Holy fuck, Princess. Holy fuck.” His vocabulary is significantly reduced.
He pulls me up the length of his body with a growl to kiss me long and
hard. He grabs a fistful of my underwear-covered ass. “If you want to save
your fancy underthings, I strongly suggest you take them off now.”
“This is supposed to be about you.” I love his mouth on me. He knows it. I
know it. This feeble protest isn’t fooling anyone. And it’s made even
weaker when I push my panties down past my knees and unhook my bra.
“Going down on you after you blow my mind is the very definition of
having my cake and eating it, too.”
Then Ash shows me just how much he likes eating cake after he licks off all
the frosting.
And by the time he’s done having dessert, it’s time for the main course.
 Chapter Nine

T HE NEXT MORNING, I get out of the shower and wrap my body

and hair in fluffy white towels. Ash has gone to talk to his parents and
Ben about Westmoreland court business. When he gets back, he’s going to
show me where the girls are staying so I can see them and pick up my dogs.
My phone vibrates on the bathroom vanity. It’s a call from Ben. That’s
weird. Ben’s never called me before. Is Ash calling from Ben’s phone?
I grab my phone and accept the call. “Hello?”
There’s no response, but I hear Ash’s voice. Then I hear Mari and Reg’s
voices, too. Ben must have butt-dialed me from the meeting. I’m about to
hang up when I hear Ash say, “She may be a little quiet at first.”
Holy fuck! Is this meeting to talk about me? There’s no way I can hang up
now.
Mari: “We remember her, Ashton. She was a shy child, but she was always
friendly. And she’s grown into a well-spoken, beautiful young princess.”
Ash: “She sees the world a little differently than we do. She was brought up
in a very formal court. Raised by sirens her mother hired who became her
only friends. She’s led a very sheltered life.”
Reg: “She seems comfortable with us. She’ll get along just fine, son.”
Ash: “She doesn’t understand big, loud families like ours. She’s an only
child. Just go slow with her. Don’t crowd her.”
Ash is making me sound like an abandoned puppy he’s brought home from
the pound who might nip someone or pee on the rug. I’m going to kill him!
Then a quote I recently read springs to mind, If you listen at doors, you hear
what you deserve.
Ben: “Ash is making a big deal out of nothing. Nina’s great. You just have
to get to know her.”
Thanks, Ben!
Ash: “She is great. I just don’t want her to feel overwhelmed.”
Reg: “You’re very protective of her, Ashton. Which is natural for a mated
dragon. But it does make me wonder why you haven’t marked her as yours
yet.”
What? Marked me?
Ash: “It’s too soon. I’m waiting for the right time.”
Mari: “Does she even know what being marked represents to a shifter?”
Ash: “She knows my dragon has chosen her as my fated mate, but she
doesn’t know anything about the marking.”
Mari: “I don’t like this. I think you should tell her. This feels a little
untruthful. You weren’t raised this way, Ashton.”
Ash: “I’m not lying to her. I’m easing her into our ways, our customs.”
Mari: “A lie of omission is still a lie.”
Reg: “I’m sure he has his reasons, Mari.”
Ash: “We’ve had a lot to overcome. Without her knowledge, her vampire ex
marked her and used his magic signature to control her mind and attack her
through her dreams. His magic is gone now, but I don’t want to rush her
into another marking. Especially since she only recently accepted our
binding. She doesn’t even really understand what it is to be a fated mate.
She didn’t grow up in a shifter culture. She needs time to adjust. Marked or
not, she’s my mate, and I want her treated with all due respect.”
Reg: “Slow down, son. Obviously, you’ve both been through a difficult
time, but you’re home now. You’re with family. And so is she. She’s our
family now, too.
Ash: “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll mark her when she’s ready and not before.”
Mari: “She’s stronger than you’re giving her credit for, Ashton. She would
have to be to survive. Her mother is a force to be reckoned with, and I never
got the sense she was overly maternal.”
Reg: Consider this, Ashton. The longer you wait, the more restless and
unsettled your dragon is going to become. Making you a treat for her and
everyone else to live with.”
Ash: “What I choose to do, or not do, with my mate is my concern. End of
discussion.”
Reg: “Message received, son. Let’s move on to other business. The
Huntsville project, how’s that looking?”
I end the call and put my phone down on the bathroom vanity.
The marking must have been what Ash’s grandfather was referring to when
he said, “Don’t make your dragon wait.” I have a lot of questions about
what I overheard. Is a dragon shifter mark anything like a vampire mark? I
know Ash would never intentionally hurt me, so I assume they’re totally
different. Is there another reason he hasn’t marked me? Is it because I’m his
dragon’s choice and Ash is the one who isn’t ready? Am I on some kind of
mate probation period? Is he still deciding whether to keep me or not? I
can’t ask Ash any of this. He obviously doesn’t want me to know. I also
can’t ask the girls. Dragon shifters are notoriously secretive, and not much
is known about their magic. Kat is also not Ash’s biggest fan right now, and
if she finds out he’s holding information back from me, she’ll be in his face
in no time. I’ll have to talk to Ben.
This is like finding an engagement ring in your boyfriend’s coat pocket.
You have to put it back and pretend you don’t know. You can’t tell him you
found it, or he’ll know you were snooping around. So you wait on pins and
needles for him to pop the question. Every day wondering, Will today be
the day? What if days, weeks, months go by and nothing happens?
I can’t live like that. I have to find out more about this marking business.
Once I know what it is, I can drop subtle hints to let Ash know I’m ready. I
have to take matters into my own hands, give Ash a push. But first, I need
to find out what I’m pushing him toward.

Ash comes back up to the room as I finish getting dressed. Even though my
mind is whirling with everything I overheard, I greet him with a smile.
“Ready to go?” he asks, bending to kiss me.
I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him back. Then I can’t help going
on a little fishing expedition. “Yes, all ready. Are you okay though? You
seem a little distracted. Anything on your mind? Anything you want to talk
about?”
He turns his head to the side slightly and narrows his eyes at me before
slowly saying, “Everything’s fine. Why do you ask?”
Smooth, Nina. Real smooth. “No reason. You just seem a little tense.” I give
him an impromptu shoulder and neck massage.
Ash stares at me, and I panic a little, thinking I overplayed my hand. But
then he blinks and says, “As good as this feels, I want to show you around
the house and the grounds. So you can come and go as you please. Go
exploring on your own if you want. You’re perfectly safe here.”
Is he alluding to the threats I’ve been receiving? “I know I’m safe here, and
I want to see where the girls are staying. We still have to have that meeting
about the threats.”
“I’ll book something for tomorrow. And yes, before you ask, I’ll include
Kat,” Ash says.
He shows me around the inside of the castle first, focusing on what he
considers the most important rooms. The castle is equally impressive in
scale and luxury to mine, but it has more of a relaxed, family vibe. Ash
starts with the two huge kitchens.
“Is that all you think about? Food?” I ask, trying to pinch an inch on his
waist and failing.
Ash grabs a handful of my ass. “It ranks right up there, but it’s not what I
think about the most.”
I try to swat his hand away. “Someone will see us.”
Ash just shrugs his shoulders and kisses me.
There’s a large, central kitchen for the family to hang out in and another
commercial-style, stainless steel kitchen where meals are prepared by the
staff. There is also a spacious, state-of-the-art media room for movie nights
where Ash promised to take advantage of me under a blanket very soon.
Next, he shows me the great room, which boasts vaulted ceilings, a huge
wood-burning fireplace and a large-screen TV.
Then we head outside to the backyard. There’s a heated pool, hot tub and
gourmet outdoor kitchen with three grills. The perfect place for
entertaining.
The outside of the castle is a cream-colored stucco, cheerful in comparison
with the dreary gray stone facade of the castle I’d grown up in. And while
Avalon features acres of grassy hills, dales, meadows and forests,
Westmoreland offers a much more rugged landscape. As we walk, Ash
points out the jagged mountain ranges to the north and the miles of
coastline to the south.
The coastline is rocky and covered by dry grasses and scrubby bushes.
When we reach the edge of the cliff overlooking the water, the view is
spectacular. “It’s exquisite,” I say in awe of the magnificent seascape. The
cliff is a sheer rock face and white water seethes below.
“That water is for looking at only. It’s beautiful, but it’s also dangerous.
Even if you could pick your way down the two-hundred-foot rock face,
which you can’t unless you packed rappelling equipment in some of those
suitcases, the water is cold and shark infested. The waves are treacherous,
and there are jagged rocks right under the surface of the water.”
I’m mesmerized by the sights and sounds of the waves crashing up against
the cliff. I could watch it all day. “It’s breathtaking,” I say, almost
hypnotized by the water and height of the cliff. The trance is broken when
Ash takes my hand. “Come away from the edge. Sometimes the rock is
loose and crumbles. Come on, I’ll show you where the girls are staying.”

The flat inland is nice for walking and is planted with vineyards, acres and
acres of them.
“My mother is a successful winemaker,” Ash says as we stroll between the
gnarled grapevines.
“How long has she been making wine?” I ask.
“She started when I was a baby. As a green witch she has an affinity for
plants and it was a hobby that turned into a passion. My father traveled a lot
for business and politics, and she wanted something of her own to focus on.
Outside of raising us, of course.”
“I’m happy your mother found her passion, but that’s not the life I want,
Ash. I don’t want to sit home while you’re off conquering the universe. I
want to conquer the universe, too.”
Ash doesn’t respond and we continue in silence until we come upon a stone
path that we follow toward the mountains. At the base of the mountains
overlooking the vineyards, there are several guesthouses. They are all
smaller versions of the main house. Ash lets me know they make up the
family compound and there is a village outside the compound for those who
work directly for or are aligned with the Mountcastles in some way.
Ash points to a house off the stone path. “That’s where the girls are staying.
Go on ahead. I’m going to see Ben.” Ash indicates another guesthouse
further down the path.
“Where do you live when you’re not on Westmoreland?”
“I have several homes Earthside. I spend the most time in my condo in
Perth. We’ll go there once we spend a couple of days here. I’ll pick you up
on my way back from Ben’s.” Ash gives me a quick kiss good-bye and
heads down the path. I stand there for a moment, checking out his butt as he
walks away. He has the best ass, like two firm melons.
I walk up the steps to the front door of the girl’s guesthouse and give a
quick knock on the door before walking in. “Hello!” I yell. There’s no
answering hello, but the dogs greet me. I hear music coming from the back
of the house. Pushing the door open, I step inside. The house is open
concept, and I can see across the main floor right to the glass French doors
leading out to the pool area.
Kat, in a purple bikini, and Sofie, in a teal one, are out by the pool, and
that’s where the music is coming from. I walk further inside the house, past
the living room and kitchen to the French doors. With my hand on the door
handle, I watch Kat rub some lotion on Sofie’s back before leaning down to
kiss her neck.
I blink several times to clear my eyes. My brain tries to compute what I’m
seeing. Refocusing on the girls, I see Kat untie Sofie’s bikini top and then
throw it on a nearby lounger. Sofie gives Kat a flirty smile over her
shoulder and says something that has them both laughing. What is going on
here? My question is answered when Sofie turns and kisses Kat on the
mouth, Kat’s hands cupping Sofie’s breasts.
“I didn’t know you were a voyeur, Princess.” Ash’s voice right behind me
makes me jump and scream at the same time.
“You scared the shit out of me.” I look back out to see if the girls heard me.
But they’re fully engaged in each other, open-mouth kissing with their
hands in each other’s hair.
“What are you doing?” Ash takes my hand and pulls me back from the door
a few feet.
I ignore his question. “Kat and Sofie. I think they’re a couple.”
“They are a couple,” he says with a nod of his head.
My mouth falls open. “I had no idea.”
“Don’t you ever notice the way they look at each other. Talk to each other.
Don’t you wonder why they always turn up at the same time. Like the other
morning when your power came in. They showed up together in our
bedroom at seven a.m.”
“How did I not see this?”
“You didn’t see it because you weren’t looking for it. Together with Gia,
they’ve been your caretakers, almost like surrogate mothers, for your entire
life. You didn’t see them as sexual beings, I guess.”
“What about Gia? Are they a throuple?”
“No, I don’t think so. I thought her and Ben might be talking, but he says
they’re just friends.”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Ash lifts his chin in the direction of the French doors. “The girls probably
thought you knew. I think they’ve been together for a long time.”
“How do you know?”
“I talk to the guards. Gorm gossip like little old ladies.”
I look back out to the pool area. Kat and Sofie are still kissing, their hands
roaming all over each other. Sofie removes Kat’s bikini top and lets it drop
to the ground. Then Kat takes Sofie’s hand and leads her to a lounger.
“They’re so beautiful together. I can’t believe I didn’t see it.”
Ash takes me by the shoulders and steers me toward the open front door.
“Give them their privacy. Before you see something you can’t unsee.”
But I’d already seen something I couldn’t unsee. Love. Two of my best
friends are in love.
I leave the girls a note that I’ve taken the dogs, and we head back to the
castle.
 Chapter Ten

W HEN THERE’S A KNOCK at our apartment door, I open it to

admit Kat. She’s come to discuss the threats I’ve been receiving
and is dressed to intimidate in one of her ball-busting lawyer suits. Ash and
I are casual in jeans and T-shirts. Ash takes one look at the way Kat’s
dressed and the I-mean-business look on her face and gives me a subtle eye-
roll as if to say, “Here we go.”
After welcoming her in, Kat and I sit on the love seat with Ash seated in a
chair opposite us. He opens his laptop and spins it around so Kat and I can
see the screen. “This is one of the milder ones.” His eyes are laser focused
on me.
I look at the screen and gasp at the image displayed there. “Is that a dead
body?”
“No,” Kat says. “I think it’s a sex doll.”
“Kat’s right. It’s a high-end, silicone, customizable sex doll. They are
available online, and there are several companies who make them.” Ash’s
voice is matter of fact.
The lifelike doll is in a seated position with her back against a wall. Her
dress is unbuttoned, exposing her breasts. Her legs are bent, and her panties
are pulled down below her knees, revealing her anatomically correct lady
bits. There’s something shoved inside her, and there’s a substance that looks
like blood spattered in random patches on her.
“She’s very realistic,” I murmur, not knowing what else to say.
“I think that’s the point,” Ash replies.
“And she bears more than a passing resemblance to you, Nina.” Kat pushes
her glasses up on her nose. “Small frame, long brown hair, gray eyes.”
“She also resembles the Queen. How do we know this wasn’t meant for
her?” I pull my eyes from the screen to look at Ash.
“It came to the email address Gia uses to field your Earthside media
inquiries. The Queen’s email servers filter out any suspicious emails, and
they’re sent directly to her lawyers and the head of the Gorm,” Ash
explains.
I wave a dismissive hand in the air. “They’re probably coming from some
mentally unstable human fascinated by our magic. They may be a prank or
someone just looking for attention.” But behind my brave words, I have to
admit this is kind of creepy.
“Possibly,” Ash says carefully. “But I’m not dismissing these as idle
threats.”
Kat leans closer to the laptop screen. “It’s hard to tell if this is a rape threat,
a death threat or both.”
“I think we should err on the side of caution and consider these threats of
rape, bodily harm and death,” Ash says.
“What’s inside of her?” Kat squints at the screen.
“I’ve had the photo blown up, and it appears to be a light bulb,” Ash says,
maintaining a neutral tone.
Kat glances from the screen to Ash. “It’s supposed to be a broken one if the
fake blood between her legs is any indication.”
“How many emails are there? What are the others like?” I ask, keeping my
voice nonchalant. I already know where this conversation is going, and I
don’t like it.
“There are fifteen in total. You’ve been receiving one or two a week for the
last three months,” Ash explains. “This is one of the earlier ones, and the
others are . . . worse. But they’re all variations on the same theme.”
“Do you think Nicky is behind this?” Kat asks.
“He’s definitely a suspect.” Ash’s voice turns frigid at the mention of my
ex.
“If Nicky is the culprit, it could just be him working through our breakup
with a new form of creative expression. It may all be harmless.” Ash can’t
stand my ex, so Nicky being a suspect is not surprising. But while Nicky’s a
temperamental asshole—I mean artist—he’s not a homicidal maniac.
“Harmless?” Ash snaps. “Have you forgotten how he terrorized you with
nightmares for weeks and attacked your mind?”
“How can I forget? You bring it up every chance you get.” I take a deep
breath. “I’m trying to put him behind me.” In truth, I feel foolish for ever
believing Nicky cared about me. Our relationship had always been toxic.
He gaslit me, manipulated me, and took advantage of me, but he never
physically hurt me. And every time Ash brings him up, it’s as if he’s
rubbing salt in the wound. I just want to move on. “Who else is a suspect?”
I ask.
Ash leans forward, bracing his elbows on his widespread knees. “Anyone
and everyone who has come into contact with you over the last little while.
We’re looking at students in your classes and any recent visitors to your
mother’s court, including the jaguar shifters.”
“The jaguars came after the threats started,” I say.
“Doesn’t mean they didn’t send them,” Ash states in his deep voice.
Kat sits back in the love seat. “If they’re coming by email, can’t we trace
them?”
“No, we tried. There are lots of ways to send untraceable email.” Ash leans
back in his chair, crossing an ankle over a knee. “Burner email accounts,
sending emails using a virtual private network, services that bounce emails
through nodes so the IP address isn’t traceable, to name a few.”
I stand up and walk into the middle of the room before turning around to
face Ash and Kat. “Well, I’m not going to be held hostage by this. I still
have a life to live. I’m not going to be kept under lock and key.” I’ve only
just been liberated from the Queen, and I’m not going back into a cage.
Even if it’s a cage of Ash’s making. No matter what.
Ash stands and walks toward me. His arms out and hands low as if he’s
trying not to spook a skittish colt. “We just need to take some precautions is
all. Tighten your security. No one’s saying anything about locking you up.”
Then he adds in a quiet voice, “There’s no need for you to feel trapped.”
“A little more security doesn’t seem unreasonable, Nina.” Kat nods in
agreement with Ash.
Great. These two finally agree on something, and it’s extra security for me.
Just fucking great.
Well, I’m done being corralled. Standing my ground, I give Ash a mulish
glare that stops him in his tracks. “My extra security better fade into the
woodwork. And if you turn into my jailer, it’ll be jailbreak time for me.”
Ash drops his hands and looks me dead in the eye. “I know that, Princess.”
I shift my eyes to Kat. “Let me walk you home. I want to talk to you and
Sofie about something.”

Kat and I decide on the walk over not to share the details of the threats with
Sofie or Gia. They’ve never been involved with my security before and
there’s no need to worry them now.
When we enter the girls’ guest house, Sofie is in the kitchen pouring a glass
of wine.
“Just in time,” she says. “Can I pour you a glass? It’s from Mari’s label.”
“Yes, please.” I smile at Sofie.
Kat simply nods her assent as she shrugs out of the blazer of her power suit.
After we’ve each taken a sip of the cool, crisp wine, I dive straight in. “So,
why didn’t anybody tell me?”
Sofie busies herself putting the wine away in the fridge. “Tell you what? I
don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says from the other side of the
open fridge door.
“Sofie, she knows,” Kat says. “She obviously saw us together yesterday
when she came to get the dogs and left us the note. Let’s talk about this like
adults. Nina, what do you want to know?” Kat has another sip of the wine
and takes a seat at the breakfast bar.
I join Kat at the bar. “Are you two a couple? Why did you hide it? Did you
think I wouldn’t understand? Wouldn’t accept your relationship?” I’m
butthurt they kept me in the dark, didn’t share this important part of their
lives with me.
“No, nothing like that,” Sofie says quickly, her eyes shining with concern as
she comes to stand in front of us on the other side of the breakfast bar.
“When we came to the Queen’s court and had you to take care of, we put
our relationship on hold for a little while. We grew up with you, remember?
And we wouldn’t trade a single day of that time.”
Kat hitches an elbow on the back of her chair. “But you’re all grown up and
married now, so we rekindled our relationship.”
“I feel kind of shitty to be the reason you two broke up,” I say, turning my
wineglass back and forth on the bar.
Sofie reaches across the bar and places her hand on mine. “Don’t be. And
we didn’t break up. We just took some time to focus on you. Twenty years
is nothing to a siren. A mere blip on the radar.”
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all of that.” A soft look crosses
Kat’s face as she looks at Sofie. My hard-as-nails lawyer has a romantic
side.
I glance between my two lifelong friends. “I want you to have some time
alone for sacrificing the last two decades for me. Let me send you on a trip.
Anywhere you want to go, as a thank-you.”
“Just the other day, we all said we were in this for the long haul. We
couldn’t possibly—” Sofie starts.
“I’ve been wanting to go back to Greece for awhile now,” Kat breaks in.
“Sofie, come on. It’ll be fun.”
“I know you’re committed to me, but everybody needs a vacation.” I give
Sofie’s hand a loving squeeze before shouting, “You two are going to
Greece!”
“But what about you?” Sofie asks, her eyebrows lowered.
“I’ll be fine. I have Ash.” I smile thinking about my new husband. “We’re
going to be going on our honeymoon soon anyway. And if you’re worried
about me getting pregnant, Sofie, don’t be. You know that’s going to take
time. Could be fifty years from now. And if anything else happens, I’ll let
you know.”
“What about the Queen? She wanted us with you.” Sofie is putting up a
good fight, but I can tell by the gleam in her eye she’s excited at the idea of
alone time with Kat.
Kat spins her head to me, eyes wide. “Mountcastle. That sneaky bastard.
During the negotiations with the Queen, he made a fuss about bringing us
and the Gorm. The Queen only stipulated he had to bring us to
Westmoreland. Not how long we had to stay or where we could go from
here. I took the notes and filed the paperwork myself. It’s all in black and
white.”
“It’s settled then. You two, private villa in Greece to rediscover each other.
Gia and I will make the arrangements.”
We raise our wineglasses and because we’re in Ash’s informal court, we
clink them in a toast to their trip. Then I watch Kat and Sofie’s eyes meet
and hold over their wineglasses. They only have eyes for each other.
 Chapter Eleven

G IA AND I PULL together the Greece trip for Sofie and Kat in a
single day, and Mari decides to throw a champagne brunch to give
them a proper send-off. In addition to Gia, Ash and me, Ben, Mari, Reg and
Dahlia, as well as Luke and Max are there to say bon voyage to the girls.
For the brunch, Mari has the family kitchen decorated in a beautiful white
and blue theme, reminiscent of a postcard from Greece. I’m wearing a
yellow sundress and flat sandals to complement the theme. The menu
includes eggs Benedict, spinach quiche, orange-almond scones with
assorted jams, and mini fruit tarts and cream puffs, which I swear Ash and
Ben each eat two dozen of. There is also a mimosa and Bellini bar. Brunch
is lively and festive, with conversation and drinks flowing.
When it’s time to say goodbye to Sofie and Kat, I’m feeling a little tipsy. I
watch as Ash gives Sofie a warm hug and exchanges a firm handshake with
Kat. Some time apart might be good for those two. After everyone else has
wished them well, Gia and I walk Sofie and Kat to the foyer where they’ll
jump to Greece. After several rounds of hugs and reminders to “send pics,”
Sofie and Kat depart in a bright flash of light. Selfishly, I’m a little sad to
see them go even though it was my idea. It’s always been the four of us. I
guess we’re all entering a new chapter.
After the girls leave, Ash and I decide to take a walk to the coastline. I need
a little fresh air to clear my head. I’m once again dazzled by the spectacular
seascape and happily breathe in the salty air. Standing close to the cliff’s
edge with the wind in my hair and the water churning below, I feel as if
each slap of the waves on the cliff face is calling to me, luring me forward
an inch at a time.
My power slams into me, filling every cell in my body with the familiar
tingle, like high-voltage electricity. I throw my arms open, rejoicing in it.
Unexpectedly, my brain starts calculating wind speed and the distance to
the water. I look down into the crashing surf below and can sense where the
rocks are. Even the ones under the surface of the water.
I’m weightless and strong at the same time—like a bird.
And like a bird I want to fly.
“Princess, come back from there. It’s dangerous.” Ash is holding his hand
out to me, but I’m too busy picking my spot to pay him much attention.
I know what I have to do. I walk along the edge, searching. And then I see
it, my entry point. There are no rocks hiding below the surface. Without a
word of warning to Ash or even so much as a backward glance, I execute a
perfect swan dive off the cliff.
“Nina! No! No!” I hear Ash shout as I throw my arms out wide and arch my
back at the beginning of my dive. It’s as if I’m flying.
Hurtling through the air, I bring my arms over my head and press my hands
together. Then I’m cutting through the water like a knife. Ash lied. The
water isn’t that cold. It’s lukewarm and reminds me of being in the presence
of the Queen’s power. Except instead of being disapproving and judgy, it’s
welcoming and buoyant, encouraging me. Is the Queen somehow here with
me? No, impossible. But yet, I feel her presence.
I open my eyes, and once the bubbles clear from my dive, I’m able to get
my bearings. The cliff is right in front of me, so I turn in the opposite
direction and swim out into the open water.
It’s strangely silent and peaceful. A whole different world, and I love it. I
swim and dive, playing like a seal. I have no need to break the surface for
air, so I stay under and enjoy my new playground.
Ash hadn’t lied about the water being shark infested though, and soon I
have company. Two large sharks come up out of the dark depths to swim
alongside me. I’m no marine biologist, but they looked like great whites to
me. Except twice as large. Instead of the expected twenty feet long, they’re
more like fifty feet. Prehistoric megalodon? How cool would that be? They
don’t seem particularly interested in me, so I bob and weave between them,
enjoying their silent company.
Looking up through the azure water, I decide I’m definitely coming back
here. I don’t care what Ash says. This is awesome. A light pressure in my
lungs lets me know it’s time to breathe, so I swim to the surface. Floating
on my back, I close my eyes and enjoy the warmth of the sun on my face.
My two companions stay just under the surface.
All at once, the world goes black. I open my eyes to find out what happened
to the sun, and panic momentarily tears through me as a pair of large,
taloned claws reach for me.
I flip over and attempt to dive back under the water but am not fast enough.
The talons encase my rib cage in a viselike grip and then I’m being lifted
out of the water. Over my shoulder, I see that I’m being carried through the
air by a large dragon. Ash? Of course, who else would it be? Well, he’s
going to get a piece of my mind for ruining my good time.
On second thought, flying is pretty amazing too. I take in the magnificent
view as Ash flaps his leatherlike wings, taking us high above the water.
When we soar over the top of the cliff, he lowers me to the ground until my
feet can almost touch, and then he hovers for a moment before releasing
me. My bare feet hit the ground, and I fall to my knees, catching myself
with my hands.
Standing up, I brush the twigs and little stones from my scraped knees.
That’s when I get my first good look at him. He’s standing about fifteen feet
away. He’s huge, as big as a school bus. His body is covered with thick
green and black scales, with the odd red one mixed in. His head and spine
are covered with bony spikes of various sizes, and his strong wings are
folded at his side.
“Ash? Is that you?” I ask, tiptoeing toward him. But I can sense it’s him.
In answer, he strides to the edge of the cliff on four muscular legs, stretches
his neck out and roars just before a long, wide line of fire shoots from his
open mouth like a flamethrower. The muscles of his back bunch tightly as
he whips his powerful tail around him.
Although he can’t talk in this form, I think he’s trying to tell me he’s less
than impressed with my newfound cliff diving abilities.
“Can I touch you?” I want to so badly, but his spiked tail is still swishing
around him angrily.
He swings his head aggressively in my direction and then stands tall,
looking down on me with bright yellow eyes from twenty feet above.
Yes, he’s definitely not a fan of mine right now.
“Your dragon is beautiful. Please let me touch you, Ash. Please.” I’m not
too proud to beg.
He squints at me but then lowers his head so that I’m able to reach up and
touch his cheek. He’s surprisingly warm, and I want to touch more of him.
I’m shivering, standing here soaking wet.
He lays his head at my feet, and I trail a hand along him as I stroll down the
length of his body. When I reach his middle, I lean my forehead against his
side and then turn my head as I press my body against his. He’s warm all
over.
“Would you let me sit on you? Ride you?” I walk back up the length of him
to stare into his yellow eyes. “I want to fly with you again.”
“No, Ashton. She’s been drinking. She could fall.” Mari’s voice is quiet but
commanding as she walks up behind me and places a towel around my
shoulders. I’d been so awed by Ash’s dragon, I hadn’t noticed her approach.
Giving my towel-covered shoulders a friendly rub, she says, “Nina, why
don’t you come up to the house. Ashton will be able to change back a lot
faster if you’re not so close to him.”
But I don’t want to leave him.
“Come.” Mari uses her mother voice, leaving no room for argument.
Pulling the towel more closely around me, I follow Mari back up to the
castle, turning around countless times to get one more look at Ash.
 Chapter Twelve

B ACK IN OUR ROOM, I grab a shower to warm up and realize for

the first time how much I must have scared Ash by jumping off the
cliff. I’m not sorry I did it. I’d do it again. But I would warn him first and
let him know I have my magic. After toweling off, I dress in white track
pants and a matching hoodie. I don’t bother with panties or a bra. The
sweats are so thick and baggy that none of my body parts are discernible. I
pile my hair up into a knot on the top of my head and secure it with an
elastic before going back downstairs to await my fate.
I find Ben and Dahlia sitting together on the couch, watching an animated
movie I don’t recognize. I can hear Reg and Mari talking with hushed
voices in the kitchen. Eying a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the coffee
table, my stomach growls, and I snag two before plopping down in a chair
to watch the movie.
“Are you sure you don’t want something more substantial? That could be
your last meal.” Ben nods to the cookies in my hand and chuckles before
turning back to the movie.
Dahlia climbs down from the couch and makes her way over to me, her
blanket dragging on the floor. “Up,” she says, lifting her arms. I scoop her
up and cuddle her in my lap, enjoying her warm little body in my arms. I’m
polishing off my second cookie when I hear the glass of the patio doors
rattle and Ash says angrily, “Where is she?”
Time to face the music. Or the dragon, in this case.
From the kitchen, I hear Mari say, “Ashton, she wasn’t hurt.”
And then from Reg, “Nina is totally fine. She’s in the family room. Go see
for yourself.”
Getting up, I carry Dahlia back to the couch and deposit her into Ben’s
waiting arms. Ben and I make eye contact just long enough for him to
mouth, “You’re in trouble now.”
“Where you going, Nina?” Dahlia asks.
“She has to go to bed early, sweetie,” Ben answers for me. “She’s been a
bad, bad girl.”
Fucking Ben!
“Night, night,” Dahlia says without looking at me, fully engrossed in the
on-screen antics of her cartoon.
“Night, night,” I reply, tousling her curls. Turning away from the couch, my
eyes clash with Ash’s golden stare as he stands in the entryway of the
family room. He’s doing that half shift thing. He may have changed back,
but his dragon is still very close to the surface.
Standing stock still, I try to assess how much trouble I’m actually in.
“Seraphina, come here,” Ash calls quietly, and I know it’s bad. He only uses
my full name when it’s serious.
Not one to be intimidated, I march right over and stand in front of him, my
hands on my hips.
Before I know what’s happening, he drops down and throws me over his
shoulder. I don’t want to make any more of a scene than we’re already
making, so I say nothing. Not even as he delivers a sharp swat to my ass as
he walks up the stairs.
“Put me down,” I demand once we’re in our apartment and the door is
closed.
Ash gives my ass another slap before setting me on my feet and stalking
away. “What the fuck were you thinking?” he yells as he turns to face me.
“I can explain.” I try for the cool, calm and collected approach that always
works so well for him.
He ignores me. “I took my eyes off you for a second. A second. At first, I
thought you’d fallen. That the edge had given way under your feet. Do you
have any idea how I felt? Thinking you’d fallen to your death. You scared
the fucking shit out of me!”
“I’m sorry. That was not my intention. If you would let me explain—”
Ash scrubs his hands over his face. “I ran to the edge, hoping to grab you.
Save you. And guess what I saw? You! Showing off. With some kind of
fucking swan dive. Like you didn’t have a fucking care in the world.”
If I could get a word in edgewise, I could make him understand. “Standing
on the edge of the cliff, I felt my power surge through me, and it was
amazing, Ash. I felt so strong. Invincible. I looked down into the crashing
surf below and could sense where the rocks were. Even the ones under the
surface of the water. I knew I could make it. I just knew. I realize now, I
should have said something to you. But I was just so caught up in the
moment. You know?”
Ash stalks back toward me, his yellow eyes flashing and his body bulkier in
half shift. “No, I don’t know. Here’s what I do know. From that height, if
you had hit the water at the wrong angle, you would have died from the
impact alone. And you barely missed the rocks at the bottom. You could
have fucking killed yourself.” Ash runs a hand through his hair. “Of all the
reckless, selfish stunts.”
Okay, scolding time is over. “Selfish? I didn’t ask you to save me. I didn’t
ask you to do anything. I was in control of the situation the whole time.”
He puts his face right in mine, his yellow dragon eyes boring through me,
and grabs my shoulders. “You. Are. Reckless. And. Selfish.” He gives me a
tight, controlled shake for each word.
That’s Ash, so controlled, even when his dragon is running the show. But
I’m not controlled and I’m tired of the cool, calm and collected approach. I
slap the palms of my hands on his bulging pecs and give him a strong push
back. As kids, I’d punched him in the face once when he thought it’d be
funny to put a snake down my dress. I wouldn’t do that today, but I need to
get his attention and break the hold his anger and his dragon have on him.
Like when you have to slap someone who’s hysterical.
“What was that for?” Ash says, sounding more like himself again.
“You called me selfish. And you’re not listening. If you would put your
dragon away for a minute and calm down, you would hear me apologizing.
Can we please talk?” I hold my hand out to him. He looks at it for a few
heartbeats, leaving me hanging.
I extend my hand farther and wait.
When his eyes return to normal and his body loses its dragon proportions,
he finally takes my hand and lets me pull him over to the bed. When we’re
both sitting, I try to explain again. “I know it’s hard for you to understand.
You’ve had your power for a long time. But mine is new and it’s so
exciting. When I have it, I feel like I can do anything. I was never in a
moment’s danger. I know it didn’t look that way to you. But I wasn’t. I
swear.”
“Not even when you were being hunted by two megalodons?”
I clap my hands. “I knew they were megalodons! They were so cool up
close. And Ash, everyone knows large sharks don’t hunt in packs. Don’t
you watch Shark Week?”
He scowls at me.
I sigh and continue. “I know this sounds strange, but I felt my mother’s
power when I was in the water. Like she was with me. Like she sent the
sharks as envoys. I felt close to her in a way I never have before. Which is
why I’ll be swimming there again.” I chew on a fingernail and smile coyly
at him.
“From now on, you need to tell me before you throw yourself off a cliff.
Literally and figuratively. Do you know what would happen to me if
something happened to you? I know the concept of a fated mate is new to
you but if you die, my dragon won’t want to go on. I won’t want to go on.
Do you understand what I’m saying?”
The thought of Ash and his magnificent dragon suffering because of me is
devastating. Fuck. Perhaps I had been a little selfish.
“I’m really sorry. In my exuberance, I may have been, inadvertently,
selfish.”
“I’ll work on forgiving you, but it may take awhile. And in the meantime,
you’re going to have to kiss this better.” He points to his heart. “You almost
gave me a heart attack.”
I lean in and press a kiss to his chest, right over his heart. “I’m sorry for
scaring you.”
“When I thought I lost you, I couldn’t think rationally. I was running on
pure instinct. And I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and
not feel that way again.”
Holding his face in my hands, I press my forehead to his in silent
acknowledgment of his words before giving him a slow kiss. “And you
have some kissing of your own to do. My knees got skinned when you put
me down on top of the cliff.”
“Let me see. I pride myself on my expert landings.” He comes in for
another soft kiss.
I lay back on the bed and shimmy out of my sweatpants. “See. Look.” I
point to my knees, but Ash’s eyes are trained a little farther north.
“Yes, I definitely have some kissing to do.” He leans across me and kisses
the tiny scrapes on each of my knees. Then he drops little kisses up the
seam of my thighs.
“The scrapes don’t go up that far,” I deadpan.
“It’s best to be thorough in these situations.”
“What situations are those?”
“Situations where you’re half-naked.”
He tongues between my folds at the apex of my thighs and teases my clit
into awareness. Then he sucks it into his mouth, and I spread my legs with a
moan.
Putting my hand on the back of his head, I alternate between playing with
his hair and tugging it.
He slides a finger into me, quickly followed by a second and then a third.
Gently pumping his fingers into my pussy, he continues to lick and suck my
clit from his side-on position. My belly flutters in pleasure. When he hooks
his fingers and massages my G-spot, I feel weightless for a moment as if
I’m on a roller coaster right after the drop. Then I come violently, my hips
bucking wildly.
When my hips stop moving, Ash lifts his head, his fingers still inside me as
he gentles me down from my orgasm. “How are your knees?”
“What knees? I can’t feel my legs. They’re Jell-O.”
Ash withdraws his fingers from me and gets off the bed. “Take off your
sweatshirt, and go up on all fours.”
Sitting up in the bed, I wrangle off my sweatshirt. Then I go up on my
hands and knees, positioning my butt toward him. Looking at him over my
shoulder, I watch his pupils dilate as he yanks off his clothes.
He gets on the bed behind me and fills me completely in one smooth stroke.
“Yes!” I gasp. He’s never done that before. He normally takes a lot of time
working his big cock into me. If it wasn’t for the finger play and my
massive orgasm, which left my pussy soaking wet, he wouldn’t have been
able to do it so smoothly.
Grabbing two handfuls of my ass, he spreads me wide. Then he pulls out
almost to the tip before plunging back into me as he hauls me back toward
him. “Princess, don’t you ever—”
“Harder,” I groan.
He pulls out and slams home. “Scare me.”
“More!” I yell.
He pulls out and slams home a third time. “Like that.”
He pulls out. “Again.” He slams into me and holds himself deep.
“Rail me, Ashton.” Apparently, he’s still working on forgiving me. If these
are the consequences of my actions, then I’m all for it. I lay the side of my
face and chest flat on the bed, putting more of an arch in my back.
He resumes his pounding rhythm, and with my back arched, he’s hitting my
clit with each pump of his hips, bringing my second orgasm within striking
distance. He keeps up the fierce tempo until the walls of my pussy are
clenching around his cock in the free fall of climax, and my leg muscles are
barely able to support me.
I’m so sated and limp, all I want to do is crawl under the covers and fall
asleep. But Ash has other plans, wrapping his arms around me, he pulls me
up, pressing my back to his front.
“I’m not done with you,” he whispers in my ear as he continues thrusting
into me.
My sensitive flesh grips him tightly as he moves in and out. I can feel
another climax building. The angle is new, and he’s hitting a different spot
inside me. I drop my hand between my legs and play with my clit. My third
orgasm is elusive, staying just out of my reach until he puts his hand around
my neck. The gentle pressure of his hand on the sides of my throat causes
me to scream in euphoria as my core melts on his dick. Then he swells and
comes deep inside of me.
Ash stays partially hard inside me as we both catch our breath. When he
pulls out, I fall onto the bed, exhausted and exhilarated.
“Am I forgiven?” I ask sleepily.
“You’re forgiven, Princess. This time.” Ash’s low voice rumbles with spent
anger and passion.
I manage to get into bed, too tired to even clean up, and I’m already half
asleep when he says. “But don’t put yourself in jeopardy like that again. I
might not always be so understanding.”
 Chapter Thirteen

I WAKE BEFORE ASH the next morning and indulge myself with a few
moments of watching him sleep. He usually gets up before me, so I
don’t often get this chance. He’s on his back, his beautiful face relaxed and
peaceful, his lips a little fuller in slumber. His large body, which is always a
few degrees warmer than mine, tempts me to snuggle up against him. But I
resist the urge. I’ve learned snuggling up to Ash in the morning is a one-
way ticket to orgasm town. Normally, I want him to punch my ticket, but
this morning, I’m a little tender from my “funishment” last night.
He turns over onto his stomach and manhandles his pillow into a ball,
signaling he’s waking up.
Better go while the going is good. I need a hot shower. Badly. Slipping
naked from the bed, I give an experimental stretch and find delicious aches
and twinges all over my body. I smile, thinking about how rough he’d been
with me. Walking to the bathroom, I scoop up my comfy white track suit
and decide it’s good enough to slip on after my shower.
Standing under the spray, I wash away the evidence of last night’s
festivities. The soap and hot water sting my tender bits a little. Yes, I
definitely need a break, at least until tonight. After toweling off, I dress and
head back out to the bedroom to find Ash awake and propped up against the
headboard, sprawled out like a lazy lion.
“Come back to bed,” he purrs.
I stand at the end of the bed, strategically out of grabbing distance. “I’m
starving. Aren’t you hungry? Why don’t you get dressed so we can go to
breakfast?”
He looks me up and down. “I know I was rough with you last night—“
“Last night was amazing. I love that you take control in the bedroom, Ash.
It’s when you do it outside of the bedroom that’s a problem. Being your
alpha-male self during sexy time is more than fine with me.” Did I just use
the word love? I hope he didn’t notice.
He gets out of bed and prowls naked toward me. Lifting my chin with a
finger, he kisses my lips with his extra-soft morning ones and says, “I’ll
remember you said that. Just don’t pull that kind of stunt again.”
“I thought I was forgiven.”
“What you did is forgiven, yes. Forgotten, no. You probably took a hundred
years off my life.”
I look up into his eyes but don’t apologize. I apologized yesterday, and I’ll
be diving off that cliff again, so he’s going to have to get used to it.
Especially since the water seems to be a conduit to my mother and I’m able
to communicate with her in a way I’ve never been able to on dry land. I
should probably ask her whether what I did yesterday is normal for
enchantress power. Is she able to sense unseen objects under the surface of
the water or swim for extended periods of time without needing to breathe?
After Ash throws on some sweats of his own, he grabs his phone off the
nightstand.
“Are you kidding me? You can’t go downstairs like that.” I say, getting a
look at his gray sweatpants.
“What?” Ash asks, looking down at his clothes.
“I can see the outline of your dick through your sweats. Strap that thing
down. Put on some boxers.”
“I’m at home. It’s just my fam—“
“Gia might be there, and I don’t want her seeing your dick print. Your dick
belongs to me, and I don’t share. Ever.”
Ash throws his hands in the air and goes back into the dressing area.
Once he’s presentable, we head downstairs. When we get to the family
kitchen, Mari, Reg and Dahlia are already eating. Gia and Ben must have
both slept in.
After we fill our plates from the large buffet, we join Ash’s parents. I catch
Mari’s eye across the table. “When I was swimming yesterday with the
megalodons, I thought I felt my mother’s power in the water. Is that
possible?” I don’t mention how almost friendly the Queen felt in her watery
form.
Mari takes a sip of her coffee. “Yes. The sharks were a gift from her. They
arrived here in a large tank infused with your mother’s magic. She’s a close
ally. Her magic is welcome here.”
As animals become extinct Earthside, preternaturals and the gods take the
remaining pairs and give them as gifts to those they want to impress. These
gifts are considered the highest of honors.
Ash’s phone vibrates on the table with several incoming texts. “Who’s
blowing up my phone?” he grumbles, checking to see who it is. “Holy shit.”
“Ashton, language,” Mari scolds, looking pointedly at Dahlia.
“Sorry,” Ash says to his mom and then looks at his dad. “The Huntsville
project is ready for kickoff meetings. The team must have been working
overtime to make this happen so fast.”
“Already? That’s way ahead of schedule. That’s great,” Reg says and then
moves his eyes momentarily to me before continuing, “Why don’t I go? I
can take care of it, no problem.”
Ash looks up from his phone, his eyes sharp. “I appreciate the offer, but it’s
not your project. It’s mine. You don’t know any of the details, and it would
take too long to get you up to speed. No, I have to go.”
“I know how important this project is to you, son, but you’re not the only
one who can handle it. Ben and I can go in your place,” Reg suggests.
“Ben? No way.” Ash laughs. “I don’t trust Ben to take care of a goldfish, let
alone a billion-dollar construction project.”
“Go where?” I ask, looking between Ash and his dad.
Ash stands up and offers me his hand. “Let’s go for a walk.”
I take his hand, and we go out to the pool area.
Looking up into his face, I use my hand to shield my eyes from the sun.
“What’s going on? Are we going somewhere? Should I start packing now?
You know how long that takes.” I make a joke at my own expense.
Ash isn’t laughing. “I’m going Earthside for a couple of days to keep the
project moving forward. I’m sorry, Princess, but you can’t come this time.”
“Why?” I ask, trying very, very hard not to feel rejected. He’s leaving me
behind.
“I’m going to be working around the clock. I don’t want you sitting alone
in my condo day and night.”
“I can find things to do. I don’t need you to entertain me.” I want to stomp
my feet and demand he take me. Who’s the three-year-old, me or Dahlia?
Right now, it’s too close to call.
“More importantly, I don’t have time to get your security in place. I’m
leaving as soon as I throw some things in a bag. The sooner I go, the sooner
I’ll be back. And I need you to stay here where I know you’re safe.”
“I could bring the Gorm.”
“Because they blend in so well and get along so well with humans. No,
Princess, you know that’s not an option right now. My mother is still
working on an invisibility potion for them, and I haven’t finished briefing
them.” The Gorm are notoriously violent toward humans, and Ash will have
to drill it into their heads that no humans can be harmed.
“Besides, if you’re there, I won’t be able to concentrate on work. I’ll be too
busy wondering what you’re up to. I don’t want to come back to the condo
only to find out you’ve done a backflip off the penthouse balcony into the
pool, just because you felt like it.”
And here it is. The real consequences of my actions. He’s leaving me behind
to teach me a lesson about being reckless.
I turn away from him and stare into the water of the pool, sunlight glinting
off the smooth, blue surface.
Ash wraps his arms around me from behind and rests his chin on the top of
my head. “It’s only for a couple of days. Two days max. I’m going to be
working the whole time anyway. You’d be bored. Stay here. Get to know
my family better. Ben will be here. Torture him as much as you want.”
Nodding my head silently, I continue to stare into the pool, telling myself
it’s the glare of the sunlight making my eyes sting.
 Chapter Fourteen

T HE NEXT COUPLE OF Ash-free days pass quickly. I take long

walks in the vineyards and along the coastline, where I practice
calling my power. Sometimes it responds, and sometimes it doesn’t. Ash
made me promise not to dive off the cliff again until he gets back. I agreed
only because, without him here, I have no way to get back up the cliff face.
I spend lazy afternoons by the pool with Mari, watching Dahlia flutter
around in her water wings, and hang out with Ben and Gia.
Although I’m able to occupy my time, I would much rather be with Ash. I
send him a couple of texts, asking how things are going and get one-word
responses back like, Fine. Busy. KK.
On the morning of the day I expect him to come back, he texts me bright
and early.
Ash: I’m staying an extra day. Or two. I’m sorry. There’s more to be done
than I thought. Be back soon.
I read his text but don’t respond. I’m done waiting around for him to come
home like a good little wifey. I spring out of bed. I’m going to talk to Ben.
After showering and slipping on shorts and a tank top, I head downstairs.
The large family kitchen is empty. I smell coffee and help myself to a cup
from the carafe on the breakfast bar. I add a small splash of cream and spy
Ben sitting on a large sectional under the shade of an umbrella in the pool
area.
As I approach Ben, I call out, “Mind if I join you?”
He looks up from his phone and smiles. “Not at all. Please do. So Ash isn’t
coming home today. You okay?”
I take a sip of coffee. “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” But my voice has a little
too much edge in it.
Ben’s eyes take on a devilish glint, and he lets out a low whistle. “He’s
definitely in the doghouse.”
“No one’s in the doghouse. Everything is fine. I’m fine. He’s fine.” I don’t
need Ben texting Ash that I’m miserable. I don’t want Ash to know how
much I miss him. I have my pride.
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” Ben smirks as he quotes a line
from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Ignoring his teasing, I grip my coffee tightly and change the subject. “Can I
ask you a question?”
“Shoot.” Ben’s laughing eyes meet mine.
“When we first arrived, there was a meeting between you, Ash and your
parents—”
Ben lowers his brows and cuts me off. “Before you say anything else, I’d
like to say something first. I know I butt-dialed you that day. I realized after
the meeting what I’d done. But you stayed on the call. I can only assume
you listened to what was being said. That was a private meeting, Nina.”
“You were talking about me,” I defend myself.
“You can ask me anything, except about what you overheard that day. Ask
me for my super-awesome hot sauce recipe, I’ll gladly give it to you. But I
won’t give you the information you’re looking for.”
“You don’t even know what I was going to ask.”
“I have a pretty good idea, and I’m not getting involved in my brother’s
relationship. He told us to stay out of it, and that’s what we’re going to do. I
won’t betray him, Nina. No matter how much I like you.”
“I’m sorry. Of course I don’t want you to betray your brother. I’m just
trying to understand more about being mated to a dragon shifter.”
“Hey, I’m sorry, too. Didn’t mean to get all serious on you. Ash wants to
give you time to adjust, to ease you into our customs. He’s doing what he
thinks is the best for you. He’ll tell you more about what you overheard
when he feels the time is right.” Then Ben tilts his head from side to side,
seeming to consider something. “Okay, I can tell you this because we were
both there, so it’s not like new information. Remember that day I walked in
on you and Ash in your office?”
I lower my eyes to my coffee and blush at the memory of me riding Ash
and Ben catching us in the act. “Yes, I remember.”
“Do you remember what Ash said? That he would be forced to kill me if I
watched you come. Well, I know you probably thought he was joking, but
he wasn’t. Not really. He was at least partially serious.”
“He would never do anything like that, Ben.”
“He wouldn’t want to, but you’re his dragon’s fated mate. His dragon is
very protective of you. And his dragon is going to be volatile until . . .”
“Until what?”
“That’s what you need to talk to Ash about. But you’ll have to be patient
until he’s ready to tell you. Now I’m going to forget all about this. And the
fact that I butt-dialed you in the first place.”
“You’re not going to tell him I overheard that conversation?”
“No. He told me not to interfere. So I’m not going to. I’m just going to sit
back and watch.” Ben grins at me.
“You said earlier I could ask you something else, right?”
“Yup, whatever you want,” Ben replies.
“Good because I need to ask a favor.”
 Chapter Fifteen

T HE FAVOR I ASK of Ben is for him to jump me Earthside so I can

see Ash. My power is still unreliable, and I don’t want to get lost
jumping between the planes. Ben lets me know that Ash is scheduled to fly
into a private airfield outside of Perth, Australia, at five o’clock local time.
An hour before that, Ben jumps me Earthside and arranges a limo for me
with the car company all the Mountcastles use when in town. Although Ben
had offered to escort me, I told him there was no need. I’m an adult, for the
love of the gods, I don’t need hand-holding. Now I’m sitting on the tarmac
in the back of the car, waiting for Ash’s flight to arrive. There is another
black limo parked alongside mine.
A white, private jet shoots down the runway and comes to a stop about a
hundred feet from where I’m parked.
The driver lowers the dark glass separating us, and I meet his eyes in the
rearview mirror. “Would you like to get out of the car, Mrs. Mountcastle?
I’ll come around and open the door for you.”
“No, thank you. I’m surprising my husband, and I don’t want him to know
I’m here yet.” I smooth a hand over the black pleated skater dress I’m
wearing. It has small white polka dots, a shirt collar and buttons all the way
down the front. I open one more button, allowing the edge of my black lace
bra to show.
“When you want to get out, just tap the glass, and I’ll come around for
you.”
“Thank you,” I say as he raises the glass, leaving me to watch the jet.
The door at the front of the jet opens, and a small stairway unfolds and
touches down on the tarmac. I watch in anticipation, and then there he is.
Ash ducks as he emerges from the small doorway of the plane. Standing on
the first step of the stairway, he rolls his shoulders back before doing up the
button on his suit coat. Even from a distance, he oozes sex appeal—his
blond hair shining in the sun and the tailored suit fitting his muscular body
like an expensive second skin.
After taking a few steps, he stops and turns, holding out his hand to
someone else who’s deplaning.
It’s a female.
A tall, white-blond, stunningly beautiful female.
They’re smizing at each other and holding hands as Ash helps her navigate
the plane’s stairway. It’s no wonder she can’t walk on her own. Her black
leather dress is so tight, I can see the outline of her pubic mound from here.
And her five-inch fuck-me shoes are only appropriate for wearing when
lying down.
Is she the reason he’d come Earthside without me? Or worse, is she the
reason he hasn’t marked me?
The familiar hum of my power fills me. I direct it at the private jet and
watch as the jet’s stairway jerks slightly. It’s enough for the blond Amazon
to stumble and require even more assistance from my husband. Not well
played, Nina. Ash looks around, probably wondering what the hell that was.
Well, let him wonder.
When they reach the bottom of the stairs, Ash looks around again as she
puts her hand on his upper arm. Get your hand off him! She’s very tall, and
with the addition of the shoes, she’s almost as tall as Ash. They make a
striking couple.
Fuck that! I fling open the back door of the limo and hop out of the car, my
power swirling around me. Ash’s head snaps around, and our eyes meet. He
doesn’t look happy to see me. He says something to the Amazon. She
laughs, and they cross the tarmac toward me.
Don’t they look cozy?
When he’s close enough, he takes me by my elbow and gives me a
perfunctory kiss on the cheek. “Princess, this is a surprise. I’d like you to
meet a business associate and friend of mine, Jessica Winters.”
He turns to the Amazon. “Jess, this is my mate, Nina.”
She holds out her hand to me. “Oh yes, the Princess of Avalon. How nice to
meet you.”
I want to ignore her outstretched hand, but years of training won’t allow me
to. So I do the next best thing and school my expression into a mask that
mimics the Queen’s resting bitch face. It’s a face I know well. I take
Jessica’s hand. “Charmed, I’m sure,” I say, stealing Dahlia’s line. Have I
lost my mind?
I can feel Ash’s eyes burning a hole through me, but I can’t look at him
right now. I’m so insanely jealous, royally pissed off, impossibly insecure—
all of the above.
Jessica looks down at me with ice-blue eyes. “Are you just here to say
hello? Sorry to say, but I’ve got Ashton’s time pretty well booked up for the
foreseeable future.” She gives me a fake smile and shrugs her shoulders.
Ashton? Only his parents call him that. Or me when I’m trying to get his
attention.
Ash clears his throat. “Jess, I’m going to take Nina back to the condo and
let you handle this next meeting on your own.”
Jessica puts her hand on Ash’s upper arm. Again. “I really need you there,
Ashton. You know so much more about the financing of the project than I
do.” Then she looks at me and smirks. “I’m sure Ash has told you, I’m a
very demanding work wife.”
Clouds cover the sun, dimming the light as my power takes on a life of its
own, crackling in the air around us like a lightning storm. “He’s never
mentioned you, and I’m his real wife.” I slam my power into the ground.
Ash’s smoky magic instantly smothers mine, extinguishing it, but not
before the earth rolls under our feet.
Jessica tightens her grip on Ash’s arm as she teeters on those ridiculous
shoes.
I give myself a mental head slap. When will I learn?
Ash wraps his free hand around the back of my neck and gives me a little
shake, like a mama cat scolding a kitten.
“What was that?” Jessica looks at Ash.
“A small earthquake probably. Here let me walk you to your car.” He slips
out of her grasp and gestures toward the other waiting limo.
Like a hawk, I watch Ash escort her to her car, and then I climb into the
back of mine, leaving the door open. When Ash comes back, he takes off
his suit jacket and tosses it on the seat before getting into the back of the
limo.
Once seated, he rolls up his sleeves and grabs his phone from the inside
pocket of his jacket. He places a call and holds the phone to his ear.
“Who are you calling?” I ask.
“My father,” he grinds out. “You used your magic to cause an earthquake in
his territory. You were out of control.”
When Earthside, we’re not permitted to flex our muscle with over-the-top
displays of magic. The humans don’t like it, and so our leaders don’t like it,
particularly the Council of Seven. The council is the highest law in our
land, and the Queen and Reg are both members.
He turns his attention back to the call. “It was Nina. An accident. I know.”
Ash listens.
“It was a power surge. She’s very sorry.” He gives me a hard stare as he
talks to his father. “She wants me to tell you it won’t happen again. I
understand. Let me know of any damage, and I’ll make it right.” Ash ends
the call. “I feel like I’m asking you this a lot lately, but what the fuck were
you thinking?”
“I saw you smizing at her and holding her hand when you were deplaning. I
didn’t like it.”
“Smizing? What does that even mean? What you saw was me helping a
friend and colleague down a staircase. A staircase made unstable by you, I
might add. You read the situation entirely wrong.”
“Is she the reason I couldn’t come on this business trip?” I say the last two
words with exaggerated slowness and use air quotes to drive the point
home. “The reason you’ve barely answered my texts? The reason you’re
staying here longer than expected?” The reason you haven’t marked me?
“This is a business trip, Princess. And I’ve been working eighteen-hour
days trying to wrap things up here so I can return home to you. I’m sorry I
can’t Snapchat you every ten minutes. And the trip got extended because
there’s so much fucking work to do.” Ash gives his head a little shake
before piercing me with sharp eyes. “How did you get here?”
“I asked Ben to help me.”
“Where is he? How long have you been Earthside with absolutely no
security?”
“I told him I was fine to come on my own. I’ve been here maybe an hour or
two. No one knows I’m here. Stop trying to change the subject.”
Ash raises his eyebrows. “Your security is the only subject that matters.”
I ignore his comment. “I don’t like her. The way she calls you Ashton, the
way she looks at you, touches you. I don’t like you working with her. Or the
way you call her Jess.”
“Well, those are our names,” Ash says as if he’s talking to Dahlia. “I’ll talk
to her and tell her to cool it. But you’re going to have to get used to us
working together because that’s not going to change anytime soon.”
“I don’t want you to talk to her about me or anything else. I want you to
stay the fuck away from her.”
“She’s the lead structural engineer on this project. Without her and her
team, I don’t have a building. I’m not throwing a year of work and a billion
dollars away because you don’t like her.” He exhales loudly. “You once said
you wouldn’t choose between me and your friends. Well, neither will I.
She’s a friend and business partner. A very important one. You’re going to
have to come to terms with that.” Ash looks out the window and shifts in
his seat before meeting my eyes again. “And there’s something else you
should know.”
“Go on.” I hold my breath.
Ash exhales slowly. “She’s the last female I slept with before my dragon
chose you as his mate.”
My blood runs hot. I lean forward and rap on the glass separating us from
the driver. The window comes down, and I say with outward composure
that doesn’t betray the fire burning in my veins, “Stop the car, please.”
Ash waves to the driver. “Hello, Anthony. I see you’ve met my wife. Don’t
stop the car until you receive a text from me telling you to do so.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Mountcastle,” the driver says as he closes the window,
leaving me alone in the back of the limo with Ash.
“Did you fuck her? On this trip?” The green venom of jealousy chokes me
as I say each word.
Ash clasps his hands together and steeples his fingers. “I’m going to let you
think about what you just asked me and give you a chance to take it back.”
I set my jaw, my gray eyes shooting poison-tipped daggers at him. “Answer
the question, Ashton.”
“I’ll say this one time. And one time only. You’re the only female I’m
fucking. You have nothing to fear from her or anyone. We hooked up. It
was casual. A friends with benefits situation.”
He said I’m the only one he’s fucking, but he didn’t say I’m the only one he
wants. The words he’s not saying speak the loudest. “Is that your idea of
making me feel better?” I shout. There must be steam coming out of my
ears. My blood is at a full rolling boil. “You’re obviously still friends. How
do I know there aren’t still benefits?”
“Because I just told you.”
“That’s not good enough.”
He takes off his tie and places it on the seat. “Princess, just like you, I had a
life before we were mated. Now hold out your hands.”
“What for?”
“Because I told you to.”
“I most certainly will not. And I’m not done talking about this.”
“You are done. The conversation on Jess is closed.”
“The conversation has not even started—”
Then his hands are on either side of my face, and his mouth is on mine in an
almost violent kiss. His full lips press forcefully against mine, showing me
who’s in control. I push back into his bruising lips, pouring all my jealous
rage about Jessica into the kiss. Our tongues clash, and my already heated
blood soars in temperature. My anger at Ash and my passion for him
becoming one.
He pulls back. “Give me your hands, Princess. Do it now.”
The command in his voice makes me shudder with a thrill of pleasure. My
lips part on a breathless sigh, and I hold out my hands to him, palms up.
He picks up his discarded tie from the seat and weaves it between my wrists
before knotting it. Then he uses the tie to lift my arms in the air as he
secures the loose ends around the grab handle over the door closest to me.
Lifting me from the seat, he settles me on his lap. His hands grab my hips
before moving under the short skirt of my dress. He hooks his thumbs under
the sides of my thong and slides it down my thighs. “You won’t be needing
these.” He leans to the side to pull my panties down my legs and over my
black heels. Then he tucks my panties into his pants pocket.
Everything Ash does is captured in the reflection of the glass separating us
from the driver.
He slides his hand under my thighs and lifts each of my legs over his knees
so I’m spread wide. “Leave them there,” he says in a low voice, his breath
tickling the shell of my ear.
I’m captivated, watching our reflection as Ash slowly undoes each button
down the front of my dress. He opens my dress up and tucks it behind my
legs, exposing me. Then he tugs down the cups of my bra, and my boobs
pop free. He captures my breasts in a caress before pinching and pulling my
nipples.
Moaning quietly, I arch my back and wriggle in his lap. I need more of him.
Of this.
His hand moves between my legs. He slides his index and middle finger
into my folds, massaging on either side of my clit. Then those fingers
slightly tighten around the center of my pleasure, deepening the massage.
It’s been days. I’m going to come quickly the first time. I close my eyes and
focus on my impending orgasm.
Ash stops playing with me, and his hands move to the insides of my thighs.
I open my eyes and watch us in the glass as his hands knead my thighs,
pressing on the sensitive tendons there, but it’s not enough to get me where
I want to go. Moving restlessly in his lap, I make small sounds of need.
I watch as Ash traces a finger around my entrance in the gathering
moisture. Then he trails his finger up to my clit and gently circles it, barely
touching it. My eyes close again, and I flex my hips back and forth, trying
to get his finger where I want it. Then he takes his hand away, massaging
the inside of my thighs once again.
When I stop moving, he slides a finger into my wet pussy and then makes
small, luscious circles directly on my clit, this time with more pressure.
My eyes slide closed, and I groan shamelessly.
He repeats this pattern a few more times until I’m panting with need. I open
my eyes and find his in the glass. “What are you doing?”
“Edging you. Taking you to the edge of orgasm, but not giving you enough
to go over.”
I can’t sit still. I’m fidgety and agitated. “Why are you playing this game?”
“As if jumping off the cliff on Westmoreland wasn’t bad enough, you come
Earthside with no security, putting yourself at risk. Again. Then you
accused me of being with someone else. Of cheating on you. I gave you the
chance to take it back. You didn’t take it. I told you I might not always be
so forgiving.” He picks up his phone and sends a quick text. “We’re going
to the condo now.”
“You’re not seriously going to leave me like this!” I exclaim.
“Like what?”
“Frustrated,” I say, my jaw clenched.
“Now you know how I feel every time you put yourself in jeopardy. Every
time you call my honor into question and accuse me of something
ridiculous. Remember this feeling.” He pulls my bra back into place and
then covers me with my dress. I watch as he deftly does up each button.
I don’t need him. I’ll finish myself off. But he keeps me in his lap and
doesn’t untie my hands. When the car comes to a stop, he gets out and then
leans back in to offer me his hand. Wishing I had my underwear on, I press
my knees together, praying I don’t flash anyone as I swing my legs out of
the car.
 Chapter Sixteen

A SH’S CONDO IS THE penthouse, and the trip up in the private

elevator seems to take forever. I stand with my large suitcase as far
away from him as possible in the confined space. Shifting my weight from
foot to foot, I covertly squeeze my thighs together in an effort to give my
throbbing core some relief.
Ash gives me a knowing smile as he leans against the wall of the elevator,
his jacket unbuttoned and his hands in his pockets, looking relaxed. When
the bell dings and the doors open, he leans down and picks up my suitcase.
Then he gestures for me to precede him from the elevator as if he’s some
kind of gentleman, when in fact, he’s a total ass. If he was a gentleman, he
would have made me come in the car.
He holds open the door to his condo for me, and I brush past him without a
glance to go in search of a bathroom. Then I plan to lock the door and finish
what he started. The two-story penthouse has obviously been professionally
decorated and has dark wood floors and cabinets, leather furniture, chrome
accents and floor-to-ceiling windows framing gorgeous views of the Indian
Ocean. A real bachelor fuck pad.
Spying the open door to the powder room, I make a beeline for it but barely
get three steps when Ash twirls me up into his arms.
“Don’t even think about it,” he says, stalking up the stairs and down the hall
of the second floor.
“Put me down, you jerk,” I bite out.
“Here you go.” He enters a spacious bedroom and tosses me on the bed.
Landing with a bounce, my dress flies up, and before I can pull it down,
Ash grabs my ankles and hauls me across the bed toward him.
“Ashton Reginald Archibald Mountcastle, stop right there.”
He instantly releases me. “What’s the matter, Princess?”
“Do not touch me if you plan to continue this little edging game of yours. I
don’t want to play it anymore.”
“Okay, no more playing.” He smiles at me, putting his hands around my
ankles again.
“I’m serious, Ash. Don’t stop this time,” I demand, not smiling back.
He pulls me the rest of the way across the bed and lets my legs hang off the
side. Then he kneels down and looks at me from between my spread thighs.
“I won’t stop. I promise. I can tell you’re not a big fan of delayed
gratification.” Then his warm mouth closes over my swollen clit as he
slides a finger inside my eager pussy.
Finally. As an insurance policy, I wrap my legs around his head and grab a
fistful of his hair. He chuckles against me, and I give his hair a sharp tug in
response.
Within seconds, I’m coming. Because he’s kept me on the brink all this
time, my orgasm can only be described as a cataclysmic detonation. My
eyes roll back, and I squeeze my thighs together around his head as my core
experiences a thermonuclear meltdown that goes on and on.
When I finally open my legs and release my grip on his hair, Ash stands up
and gives me a big smile that puts a twinkle in his eyes as he takes off his
suit jacket. “You may be a fan of delayed gratification, after all.”
“The game was fun. The ending was fantastic. But don’t make me wait that
long ever again.”
“I didn’t make you wait that long, Princess.” His face turns serious, and his
eyes lose their humor. “Don’t accuse me of being unfaithful to you ever
again. That you think I would betray you, break my vows to you, is
insulting. If you don’t know that’s not who I am, then you don’t know me at
all. We’re going to have to learn how to trust each other for this marriage to
work.”
It would be a lot easier to trust him if I didn’t already know he was
withholding information about the marking from me. But no matter how
much that, and his relationship with Jessica, bothers me, I have to admit
that he’s never outright lied to me. And this marriage not working is not an
option. I don’t want to be without him for a few days, let alone the rest of
my life. I have to stop accusing him of wrongdoing with no proof. I give
him a solemn nod. “I lost my head for a second. I’m a jealous Scorpio. It
won’t happen again.”
Ash doesn’t say anything in response. He silently strips us both naked, and
we tell each other with our bodies how much we want this marriage to
work. Afterward, he holds me in his arms as I fall asleep. When I wake a
little while later, he’s gone. I’m just about to head to the bathroom when I
hear him come back into the dimly lit bedroom. Sitting up and running my
fingers through my hair, I give him a sleepy smile.
He’s fully dressed in his blue suit, tie and all. Putting a hand on my bare
shoulder, he says, “Good, you’re awake. Get dressed, Princess. Put your
dress and shoes back on. No sweats. And come downstairs to the living
room.” He pulls my panties out of his pants pocket. “You can have these
back now.”
I snatch my dangling panties from his fingertips. “Why? What’s going on?”
“My father’s on his way up to talk to us.”
Oh shit! I think what Ash is really trying to say is that his father is coming
to talk to me.
I sprint to the bathroom and freshen up, wishing I had time for a shower. I
fix my hair and makeup the best I can, then put my clothes and high-heel
shoes back on. When I look at least somewhat pulled together, I make my
way downstairs and find the living room, anxiety flittering in my stomach.
Ash and his dad are sitting opposite each other on comfortable-looking
leather couches that are separated by a solid-wood coffee table. They both
stand up when I enter the room. Ash holds out his hand to me, and I take it
as I look at Reg.
This is not the friendly Reg I met in Westmoreland. This is Reginald
Mountcastle, Controller of the Australias and member of the Council of
Seven. He’s in a three-piece black suit, black shirt and tie. His black hair is
slicked back, and his eyes are so dark they’re unfathomable as he looks at
me. When I imagine the devil, he looks exactly like this.
Ash’s dad is scary as fuck.
Reg’s power fills the condo and has the same smoky scent as Ash’s, but is
weightier somehow. More oppressive. I don’t particularly like the weight of
his power bearing down on me, so I push back with mine.
Reg lifts an eyebrow at me in a look Ash has given me many times. “While
I admire your spunk, you’re way out of your league, young lady.”
I pull my power around me like a cloak, and we all sit down.
Ash gives my hand a reassuring squeeze and looks at his father. “What
happened today is my fault. It was a mistake for me to leave her behind.
Her power got away from her at the airport because she was angry with me.
I take full responsibility for what happened.”
Looking at Ash, I shake my head. I’m not letting him take the fall for
something I did. Meeting Reg’s enigmatic stare, I pluck up my courage.
“The fault lies completely with me. It wasn’t an accident or a surge. I was
in complete control of my power the whole time.”
And then it registers: I had been in control the whole time. I pinpointed my
power at the jet to make the stairway jerk, then dropped it like it was hot to
shake the ground. Huh!
Reg does not appear impressed with my new level of control. “You caused
an earthquake in Western Australia measuring five point five on the Richter
scale. You damaged property, broke a lot of dishes, some human bones, and
caused a woman to go into labor.” Reg’s voice is deeper than the Marianas
Trench and echoes in the room even though he isn’t shouting.
I hadn’t thought about anyone getting hurt. My heart constricts at the
thought of hurting anyone, let alone a mother and her baby. “I am very
sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I—”
“Luckily for you, mother and baby are fine, and no one was seriously
injured. It could have been much worse. But it is getting a lot of media
attention. Probably because the birth of a healthy baby in an emergency is
always a nice news story.”
I lower my eyes to my hands.
Reg’s power envelops me, surrounding me completely, wiping mine away.
“Nina, do you know how fortunate you are? To be your mother’s daughter?
If you were anyone else, you’d be standing in front of the Council of Seven
right now.”
“Have you spoken to the Queen?” I ask, my voice holding a slight tremor.
“Yes, she asked for leniency on your behalf. I’ll be lenient, this time. But I
want your word this will not happen in my territory again,” Reg commands.
Unlike the Queen, Reg didn’t shut me out or give me the cold shoulder. He
told me the facts and treated me like an adult. And if he can treat me like an
adult, the least I can do is act like one. I stand up and extend a hand toward
my father-in-law. Reg and Ash exchange a look and also stand. Reg takes
my small hand in his large one, and I give him a firm handshake. Raising
my gaze to his, I say, “You have my word. Nothing like this will happen
again.”
He returns my firm handshake with a stare that scares me straight. “I’ll be
holding you to that.”
 Chapter Seventeen

A FTER I AGREE TO be more careful with my magic and Reg leaves,

Ash and I discuss our living arrangements. We decide to stay in
Perth, and after some debate about my security, settle on bringing six
members of the Gorm down. Once Mari creates an invisibility potion for
the Gorm, and Reg and Ash both deliver stern warnings about the
consequences of harming a human, the Gorm jump Earthside, bringing
Steel and Silver with them.
The six invisible Gorm will work in shifts, two at a time, and share another
condo Ash owns in the building. When I’m home with the dogs, the Gorm
are just outside the door. Otherwise, they’ll be my constant companions.
How close they stick to me is determined by whether Ash is around or not.
The extra security is going to be a pain.
Ash decides to put me to work on the project he’s so wrapped up in, and
tomorrow is my first day. Frankly, I don’t know why he didn’t think of this
sooner. Sitting behind his desk in his home office, he lays out some ground
rules for us working together.
“We can’t have sex in the office anymore. On Avalon, the only people we
shared an office with were our friends. Here, I’m the boss. I have to keep
my hands off you at work.”
“I get it. Office sex is out.”
“I’m convincing myself. I have a hard time keeping my hands and the rest
of me off of you.” He gives me a wink.
Dress is business casual. You can’t wear those skimpy outfits you used to
wear when we worked together on Avalon. No matter how much I liked
them.” He raises an eyebrow at me. “And don’t pretend you don’t know
what I’m talking about.”
Busted. I smother a smile. To catch Ash’s attention, I may have purchased
some outfits that were definitely NSFW. Sorry, not sorry. “Got it. Business
casual.” Mari had sent down about half of my wardrobe. I don’t have much
that falls under the category of business casual, so shopping is on my to-do
list. “Anything else?”
Ash leans back in his chair. “Yes, at work I’m going to call you Nina. Not
Princess.”
When he uses Nina, or gods forbid, Seraphina, I know the conversation is
taking a serious turn. It’s going to be as if I’m in trouble all the time. “Okay.
I mean, it is my name.” I grin at him as I quote back what he said in the car
to me the other day.
“Me calling you a nickname may make other people in the office feel
uncomfortable, like I’m showing favoritism. Or worse, they may think you
want to be addressed by your title, which would be awkward.”
“Yeah, sure. Nina it is.”
There seem to be a lot of rules for me here. But I don’t complain. I’m just
happy to be with Ash, instead of tucked away on Avalon.
“For the first couple of weeks, I’m going to have to work a lot of evenings.
I’m sorry, but it can’t be helped. I hope you were serious when you said you
could entertain yourself. And I don’t mean by jumping off tall buildings. I
mean something safe.”
“No problem at all. The dogs and I will go for walks, hang out on the
terrace, swim in the pool.” Geez, you jump off one cliff and you never hear
the end of it.
On my first day, we drive to work together, with Ash at the wheel of his
Range Rover and the Gorm in the back seat. After we arrive, the Gorm tuck
themselves into opposite corners of the office. Even though they try not to
be intrusive, the hum of their magic is an unending white noise in my ears.
The office is an open-air loft with high ceilings and exposed ductwork on
the top floor of a converted factory. Almost everyone, including me, sits in
the open space. The furniture is minimal and modern; the floors are
concrete, and two of the four outer walls are entirely glass. There is a glass-
enclosed conference room and several offices. The glass in the conference
room and each office can be made opaque for privacy.
Ash has a large corner office, with Jessica’s office right beside his. Ben also
has his own office and gives me a big wave from behind his desk as he talks
on the phone.
Ash takes me around, introducing me to everyone as his wife, Nina. I’m
going to work in the accounting department and report to Heather, who
reports to Ash. Heather’s in her midthirties and we hit it off right away. She
lets me know that while she’s training me, the tasks will be pretty basic, but
there’s more interesting work to come.
Soon I’m settled in, and the days take on a predictable routine. I take the car
service back and forth to work with the Gorm as Ash leaves early and
works late. When Ash gets home, we eat dinner together, and then he
spends some time in his home office. Thankfully, I have Steele and Silver
for company.
I enroll in two online finance classes to finish my economics degree, so I do
homework in the evenings before heading to bed. A nice safe way to
occupy my time. Ash comes to bed late and then is gone again in the
morning. I was right when I predicted this project would be a serious
cockblocker.
At the office, my days are spent matching up invoices and doing data entry.
So far, the work doesn’t really challenge me, but at least I’m here with Ash.
And of course, I spend a lot of my day checking out what he’s doing.
He has a lot of meetings. There are always people coming to see him, or
he’s on video calls behind the glass walls of his office. And he has lots of
meetings with Jessica. When Jessica is in his office, Ash leaves the glass
walls see-through. But when they meet in her office, she opaques the glass,
which irritates me no end.
But I have to keep my irritation under control. I can’t let Ash know I’m still
jealous about Jessica. I promised him I would show more trust. I also can’t
let my temper run away from me. I promised Reg I wouldn’t abuse my
power Earthside again. Even if it kills me, I intend to keep both promises.
Unable to help myself, I also spend an inordinate amount of time tracking
Jessica’s every move . . . and a lot of them seem to involve touching Ash.
This morning, I watch her brush something from the corner of his mouth as
they work in the conference room. I want to kill her. Why is her hand on my
husband’s face? There’s no fucking way this is “normal” work interaction.
There’s no way! Ash laughs at something she says, and I almost puke.
Ash said their affair had been casual. But I can tell by the way Jessica acts
around him that it hadn’t been casual to her. She’d caught feelings for him.
It’s as plain as the perfect nose on her beautiful face. Why can’t Ash see it?
I pull my eyes away from them and breathe slowly in and out to cram down
the insecurities bubbling in my gut. Busying myself with a sip of coffee, I
place the mug down on my desk and try to turn my attention back to the
invoices I’m working on. But I can’t stop my eyes from finding them again.
They’re standing shoulder to shoulder, looking at a whiteboard. A vision of
them in bed together flashes unbidden in my mind. His hands in her white-
blond hair, staring into her ice-blue eyes. Her long legs wrapped around his
waist as he feeds his big cock into her.
My magic tingles in my belly right before the coffee cup flies off my desk
and crashes to the floor. The shattering porcelain breaks the quiet of the
office. Hopping up from my desk, I announce to anyone who cares to listen,
“Damn it, I knocked my mug off my desk.” Nothing to see here. Then I
hurry to the kitchenette for some paper towel to clean up the spilled coffee.
I’m back at my desk, picking up the pieces of broken mug, when Ash
comes up behind me and takes me by the elbow.
“Are you okay? What happened?” He gives me a quizzical look.
“I’m fine. I just broke a mug,” I say. This isn’t a lie. I accidentally used my
power to break a mug.
Jessica walks purposely from the conference room to stand beside Ash.
They tower over me. “That was clumsy. You better clean it up. We don’t
want anyone to slip.” Then she looks me right in the eye. “You’re not in
Avalon anymore. There’s no princess privilege here, Nina.”
I clench my jaw so tight I swear I crack a tooth.
Ash looks at Jessica out of the corner of his eye. “She’s already taking care
of it, Jess.” Then he turns back to me. “Here, let me help you,” he says,
trying to take the paper towel out of my hands.
“I don’t need your help,” I snap. I need you to see that Jessica wants you
back.
“Come on, Ash. We really don’t have time for this. We have much more
important things to discuss,” Jessica says, tapping him on the shoulder.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” Ash says to me before he starts back to the
conference room.
Jessica gives me a chastising look Ash can’t see and then says in a low
voice, “You better get back to work doing whatever it is little girls who
didn’t graduate and have no work experience do.” With that parting shot,
she follows Ash to the conference room.
She seems to know a lot about me. Maybe it’s time I learn more about her.
After wiping up the coffee and tossing the broken pieces of mug in the
garbage, I send Gia a text.
Me: Hey! Can you use your online super-sleuthing skills to find info on
someone?
Gia: Shoot me the name.
Me: Jessica Winters.
Gia: Who is she?
Me: Ash’s ex and business partner.
There’s a long pause. No bubble indicating she’s replying, either. Then she
finally responds.
Gia: Am I gonna end up on Ash’s shit list for this?
Me: Just look online. No investigators. It’s all publicly available info. I need
to know more about her.
Gia: I’ll have something for you ASAP.
Sitting in the open-air office, I can’t look into Jessica’s past. Someone
might see. And Gia is fantastic at online research. Whatever has been
posted about Jessica, Gia will find it, no matter how old or obscure. At
lunch, I receive an encrypted email on my phone from her, quickly followed
by a text with the password dragonlady. Scanning the office, I locate Ash
and Jessica. They’re sitting in his office, discussing something, handing
papers back and forth across his desk.
With my heart pounding, I double-click the email and enter the password. A
report on Jessica fills my screen.
Jessica Michelle Winters.
Daughter of Kitty and Michael and member of the Winters dragon-shifter
clan. She understands Ash’s dragon side. His culture.
Thirty years old. Oh my gods! Ash likes older females.
Master’s in Engineering, University of Auckland, New Zealand. I don’t
even have my bachelor’s degree.
Five foot eleven. One hundred and forty pounds. She could be a model.
Never married.
No children.
Romantically linked to: There’s a list of names but the only one I care about
is Ashton Mountcastle. It jumps off the screen. You knew this already.
Remember to breathe.
I scroll down to find several pictures of them together.
Ash holding her hand to help her from the back of a limo.
Jessica smiling at Ash during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Ash with his hand on the small of her back as they walk a red carpet.
They look fantastic together. So tall. So blond. So confident. Fuck! They
must have been the golden couple of the dragon-shifter community.
“Want to go get something to eat?” Ash’s voice startles me out of my self-
imposed torture session. I fumble my phone and drop it.
Ash catches it before it hits the floor.
Not wanting him to see what’s on the screen, I snatch it out of his hand.
His eyes widen in surprise at my grabbiness.
“Thank you,” I say quickly. “Yes, let’s go.”
Lunch is subdued. Every time I look at him, I see him and Jessica together.
 Chapter Eighteen

W ITH MY EYES STILL closed and lying on my side, I scoot my

butt back, hoping to come into contact with my husband’s warm
body. No such luck. I fling my arm behind me and pat the mattress on his
side of the bed. It’s cold. I open my eyes to confirm what I already know—
he’s not there. Oh no, no, no. I want some Sunday morning sexy time. We
don’t get any real time together during the week; the weekend should be
ours.
Tossing the covers back, I get out of bed, and after a bathroom pit stop, go
in search of Ash. I know exactly where I’ll find him. I march down the hall
in my tank top and sleep shorts and throw open the door to his home office.
He’s sitting shirtless at his desk. He quickly closes his laptop when he sees
me and then casually crosses his arms on top of it. A little too casually.
“Good morning, Princess. I thought you were still asleep.” He gives me a
seductive smile, flexing his crossed arms to show off his chiseled biceps
and tattoo-covered shoulders.
I’m not going to be distracted by his hotness. “What were you looking at?”
I ask as alarm bells chime in my head.
Ash stands up behind his desk. He’s wearing a pair of low-slung gray
sweatpants and nothing else. He stretches his hands above his head, letting
me get a good look at the well-defined muscles of his chest and abs. “Let’s
go back to bed,” he says, his voice promising me exactly what I came in
here looking for.
He has my number, and he knows it. But right now, I’m more interested in
what’s on his laptop. Walking farther into the office, I stand right in front of
him. I put my hand in the center of his chest, and he lets me push him back
down into his chair. Then I plunk myself onto his lap and look back over
my shoulder at him. “I want to see what you were looking at.”
“Fine,” Ash huffs, running both hands through his hair.
With deliberate slowness because I’m not sure what I’m going to find, I
open his laptop and catch my breath at what I see. “I don’t want you to hide
these from me anymore. I need to know about them. When did you get
this?”
“Late last night,” Ash says evenly.
It’s another one of the threats against me. It’s a picture of another life-size
sex doll, this time from the waist up. She’s sitting in a chair with no top on,
and her silicone boobs have been hacked off with what must have been a
dull blade because there are a lot of jagged edges. She also got a haircut. It’s
short and uneven, and it looks as if there are some bald patches. That’s
when I notice the pair of garden shears in her lap.
Ash breathes deeply behind me.
Although the image is upsetting, I don’t want to make a big deal about it
and risk getting even tighter security. “That haircut looks easy to maintain.
And my boobs are pretty small anyway, so no great loss there.” I try to
lighten the mood.
Ash lifts me up and turns me so I’m straddling him. Then he reaches around
me to close the laptop once again. “They’re not small.” He hooks a finger in
my tank top and peers down my shirt. “They’re perfect.”
“They’re a little small.” I peer down my shirt with him.
“Not for me. And I’ve always been more of an ass man.” He releases my
shirt and palms my butt. “And there is nothing small about this.”
I giggle and am leaning in to kiss him when his phone rings on the desk
behind me. Groaning, I turn around, grab his phone and hand it to him.
Ash takes it and checks the screen. “It’s front desk security,” he says before
answering the call. He listens for a moment and then says, “Okay, thanks,
Koen. We’re coming down.”
Ash lifts me from his lap. “You have a delivery. Bring your ID. You have to
sign for it.”
“I haven’t ordered anything online recently. A wedding present, maybe?”
“I don’t know. Let’s go find out.”
We quickly dress and take the elevator down to the lobby. The head of
security is working behind the front desk and waves us over. “Ash, the
delivery is outside, and it has to be moved.”
I follow Koen’s pointed finger to the glass front doors of the building where
a sleek, silver sports car is parked.
“It can’t stay in the drop-off lane,” Koen says.
I walk to the front doors with Ash hot on my heels.
“Why didn’t you tell me you bought me a car!” I exclaim happily even
though I don’t know how to drive. The Queen discouraged me from
learning. Too dangerous, she said. Driving lessons hit the top of my to-do
list.
“I didn’t,” Ash responds flatly. “Don’t get too close to it until we find out
who it’s from.”
I roll my eyes at his overprotectiveness. It’s a car. If it was a sex doll, I’d
pay attention.
There’s a guy standing beside the car with a clipboard. “Nina Avalon?” he
asks as we approach.
“That’s me,” I reply. The name’s close enough. I don’t know anything about
cars, but I do know quality. This is an incredibly expensive car.
“I recognize you from Instagram, but I’ll still have to see some ID. And can
you please sign here?” The delivery guy beams a smile at me.
I show him my ID and then sign where he indicates.
Satisfied with the completed paperwork, the delivery guy stares at me with
bright eyes and waves his arm toward the car in a grand gesture.
“Congratulations, you’re the owner of a brand-new Maserati. I’m supposed
to give you the keys and this envelope. Somebody must think you’re really,
really special.” The delivery guy continues to stare at me as if in a trance.
Sometimes, humans get a little starstruck around us. We hold a special
allure to them.
“May I have the envelope, please?” I ask, amused by his fascination.
“Of course. I’m sorry. You’re beautiful,” he says as he quickly hands the
envelope to me.
Ash clears his throat and gives the delivery guy a pointed look. The guy
drops his eyes to the ground. Ash isn’t going to hurt a human for telling me
I’m beautiful; he’s just giving him a little heads up.
There is a handwritten capital B on the envelope. Maybe the car isn’t for
me, after all. I open the envelope and pull out the card. Reading it, I quickly
stuff it back inside the envelope.
“What does it say? Who’s this car from?” Ash asks, eyebrows furrowed.
“It’s from Nicky,” I say, more than a little dumbfounded.
Ash’s lips compress into a thin line, and he holds out his hand. “Let me see
that note.”
I place the envelope in his open palm and watch as he tears out the note and
reads it aloud. “Darling Bella, please accept this small token of friendship
as an apology for my behavior. I never meant to hurt you. I hope you can
forgive me. Love, Nicky.” Ash’s face gets redder and redder as he reads the
note, and by the time he’s done, I think he’s going to blow a gasket. Ash
looks at the delivery guy. “Take the car back. She doesn’t want it.”
“I can’t take it back. My job is to deliver it. That’s it. Besides, it’s bought
and paid for.” The delivery guy stammers a little over the last sentence.
Contradicting Ash isn’t easy, especially when he’s angry.
I don’t give a shit about Nicky or the car, but I don’t like Ash speaking for
me, making announcements about what I want or don’t want without
consulting me. “Excuse me, Ash.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Remember our little conversation back on Avalon about you making
decisions for me. And the fact that you don’t. It’s my Maserati, and I’ll
decide what to do with it.” I’m not the only one who’s going to have to
make some changes for this marriage to work.
Ash doesn’t respond and slowly walks around the car. He leans down and
looks in the windows. Then he gets down on one knee and looks underneath
it.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Checking to make sure it isn’t ticking,” Ash replies through clenched
teeth.
“Sir, this is a brand-new, custom-made Maserati. Let me assure you, there is
absolutely nothing wrong with this car. It’s a work of art,” the delivery guy
exclaims as he points to the Maserati.
The delivery guy thinks Ash is looking for a problem with the car. But he’s
looking for any bombs, magic or otherwise, it might contain.
He must not have found any because he steps back from the car with a
muttered curse.
Koen emerges from the condo and joins us. “That’s one hell of a car, Ash.
She’s a beauty. Do you want me to park it for you? I’d love the chance to
drive it.”
“It’s my wife’s car, Koen,” Ash says tightly and then swings his gaze from
the security guard to me. “What do you want to do with it, Nina?”
Oh, so it’s Nina, now is it? The pulsing muscle in Ash’s jaw and the rigid
lines of his body tell me just how furious he is about the lavish gift from my
ex and that I won’t let him tell me what to do with it.
“Thank you, Koen. If you wouldn’t mind driving it to the parking garage, I
would appreciate it.”
“I’m going to set that fucking thing on fire the first chance I get,” Ash says
none too quietly as the delivery guy hands the keys over to Koen.
“No, you’re not,” I counter, and then because I’m a brat who loves pushing
back against Ash’s dominant side I add, “I’m thinking about learning how
to drive in it.”
The chances of me getting some Sunday morning sexy time now seem slim
to none.
I don’t get any Sunday morning sexy time. The dogs and I spend the day by
the pool. I take several pictures of them jumping in from the side and
playing in the water and send the photos to Gia to post. Ash spends most of
the day in his office with the door closed, but when he emerges, he seems to
be in a better mood. By tacit agreement, we put the subject of the car on
hold and try to enjoy what’s left of the weekend with a night out.
We’re attending an exhibit at the Linton & Kay art gallery of a fast-rising,
Aboriginal artist who specializes in painting Australian deserts. We’re
thinking about commissioning her to create several paintings for the lobby
of the Huntsville building. My hand is on Ash’s arm as we enter the gallery
through the flashing light of paparazzi cameras. Ash looks gorgeous in a
charcoal suit, white shirt and dark gray tie. He’s dressed remarkably similar
to how he looked the day I’d arrived home from university to find out I was
betrothed to him. It’s hard to believe that was only two months ago.
I’m feeling cute in a black cocktail dress with a cinched waist and flared
skirt. My long hair is up in a loose bun to compliment the backless style of
the dress. A ribbon from each cap sleeve is tied in a bow at the top of my
spine. I chose neutral heels instead of black to make my legs look longer.
This choice has absolutely nothing to do with Jessica having longer legs
than me. Nothing!
This is the first official date night Ash and I have ever had, and I’ve been
looking forward to it since he mentioned it a week ago. Ash looks around
the art gallery and spies the bar. “I’ll get us a drink, and then we’ll take a
walk around and see what we like. Would you like a glass of wine?”
“White wine would be great. Thanks.” I smile up into his face. I love that
we’re having a dress-up night out. Tucking my mini Burberry clutch under
my elbow, I take a stroll around, checking out the artwork.
I’m standing in front of a large, colorful painting of a desert at sunset when
I feel someone gently tug on the bow at the back of my dress. “That’s for
later, Ash,” I say in my come-get-me voice, not turning around.
“Just tell me where to meet you, Bella,” Nicky whispers in my ear.
Spinning around in shock, I stumble in my high heels, and Nicky’s hands on
my upper arms are the only thing that saves me from falling on my face.
“Nicky, what are you doing here?”
“Checking out the competition.” He gives me a kiss on each cheek.
“Stop touching me. Ash is here, and he’s going to flip out if he sees you
anywhere near me.”
“What’s he going to do in the middle of an Earthside art gallery? Besides,
you and I are not alone. We’re surrounded.” Nicky glances dismissively at
the humans milling around.
The last time Ash had found Nicky and me together, he’d threatened
Nicky’s life. Stay away from my mate. Don’t call her. Don’t text her. Don’t
even think about her. If I ever find you alone with her again, I will kill you.
“I don’t think he’s going to care about technicalities, Nicky. Especially
since you sent me that car. Just go. We don’t have anything to say to one
another anyway. I haven’t forgotten how you used my dreams to attack
me.”
I’d been engaged to Nicky before I married Ash, and I’d dodged a major
bullet. Nicky had proven himself to be a self-centered asshole with mentally
abusive tendencies.
“I’m very sorry about that, Bella. I was out of my head at losing you. Please
forgive me.” Nicky pouts.
“That’s no excuse. And speaking of being out of your head, have you taken
up any new artistic pursuits recently? Say taking photographs with very
dark themes and emailing them to me?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Bella. The only thing I’ve sent
you recently is a Maserati. What did you think of the car by the way?”
I can’t tell whether he’s telling the truth about the photos or not. “The car is
fine, but I’m not keeping it. I’ll be donating it to charity.”
I see Ash coming toward us carrying two drinks and watch the expression
on his handsome face go from a sunny summer day to a wintry deep freeze
in one second flat.
“Buongiorno, Mountcastle.” Nicky greets Ash with a smug smile and toys
with the ribbon on the back of my dress again.
“Get your filthy, fucking vampire talons off my mate, or I’ll rip your head
from your shoulders right here and put an end to your miserable fucking
existence.” Ash’s eyes take on a golden hue, and the timbre of his voice is
lower than it was a few minutes ago.
Nicky’s not stupid. We’re in public, surrounded by fragile humans. If Ash
and Nicky get into a fight, at best, it’ll scare the shit out of the humans, at
worst, someone could get hurt. On top of that, each of these humans has a
phone, and the altercation will be caught on camera and instantly posted
online. As royals, we can’t afford a scene.
Stepping toward Ash, I put my hand on his arm and take the glass of wine
out of his hand before he snaps the stem. “Ash, don’t forget where we are.
Please. Nicky is just leaving.”
Nicky steps back and gives me a shallow bow. “Always good to see you,
Bella. I’m glad you love the car. Until next time, ciao.” Then he strolls
slowly toward the main doors of the gallery.
For fuck’s sake! I never said that about the car.
Ash watches Nicky until he’s out of sight.
“We’re leaving,” Ash says, pinning me with his golden stare.
“Why? We just got here. And Nicky’s already gone.”
“Stop saying his name,” Ash demands in a low rumble.
“Seriously?” I narrow my eyes at him. “I’ve been watching Jessica bat her
eyes at you and find excuses to touch you every day for weeks. And when I
complained, you told me to get over it. Take your own advice.”
“It’s completely different. You had feelings for him. You were engaged to
him. You almost married him instead of me. And he may be behind your
threats. Jess and I were just friends who fucked occasionally.”
An image of him and Jess rolling around in bed together pops into my head,
awakening my power, and I snap the stem of the wineglass with the tiniest
flex of my finger. White wine spills down the front of my dress, capping off
a fucking fantastic day. “You have no proof he’s behind the threats. But
fine, let’s go. Our first ever date night is ruined anyway. And not by Nicky,
Ash. By you.”
 Chapter Nineteen

A SH COMES TO COLLECT me in the early afternoon on the

following Friday. As he often does, he sent everyone home at
lunchtime to get a jump on the weekend, and we’re the last ones in the
office.
“Hey, we’re going to make a trip to Westmoreland,” Ash says, half-looking
at me, half-looking at his phone. “It’s Dahlia’s birthday. With work and
everything that’s been going on, I forgot to mention it. Sorry for the short
notice.”
This week, it has been one thing after another. On Monday, two images
surfaced online from the art exhibit. The first one is of Nicky and me, his
hand on the bow at the back of my dress. In the second one, Ash has joined
us and looks completely pissed off. Nicky shared the images on his social
media with shrug and laughing face emojis. Ash was not pleased. But
Wednesday’s threatening email overshadowed everything else. This time,
the sex doll was sprawled out naked on the floor. All of her fingers and one
of her legs had been chopped off. Her fingers were stuffed in her mouth and
her nether regions. A nearby chainsaw and the doll were both soaked in
fake blood. Although I put on a brave face in front of Ash, it’s starting to
look less like a prank. Someone is going through a lot of effort to send me a
message.
I give Ash a wide-eyed stare. “We don’t have a gift for Dahlia. We can’t
show up without a gift for her birthday.”
“She’s four years old. She won’t notice. I’ll send her something later in the
week. Are you ready to go?”
Standing up, I push my chair in and grab my purse. “Can we at least go
home first so I can change?”
“You look great. And we’re already a little late.”
I look down at my conservative business attire of a black pencil skirt and
short jacket, white blouse and low-heeled black pumps.“Not much of a
party outfit, but okay.”
Ash takes my hand, and in a brilliant flash of light, we leave Earthside.
Landing in the foyer of Ash’s parents’ house, I’m surprised by the noise
level coming from inside. “How many people are here?” I ask.
“Probably hundreds. My mother likes to do it up big for birthdays until
we’re old enough to tell her to stop.” Great. This is a huge party that’s
important to Mari, and I’m late, inappropriately dressed and don’t have a
gift.
“Let’s go find my parents and Dahlia, let them know we’re here. We’ll say
our hellos and not stay too long. I still have a couple of quotes I need to
look at tonight.”
This is the first time I’ll be seeing Ash’s dad since our little come-to-
Reginald meeting. I really want Ash’s parents to like me, to accept me into
their family. “I’m going to duck into a bathroom and freshen up,” I say,
needing a minute to compose myself. I briefly consider running up to our
apartment to change but really want to see Dahlia and Ash’s parents.
“Do you want me to wait for you?” Ash asks.
“No, go ahead. I’ll find you.” Crossing the foyer, I walk down the hall to
the powder room. Once inside, I remove my blazer, splash some cold water
on my face and take my hair out of the low-slung messy bun it’s been up in
all day. I run my fingers through it and do my best to give it some body. I
apply a swipe of lip gloss and unbutton the top two buttons on my white
blouse. It’ll have to do.
Passing through the kitchen and great room, I scan the crowd. There are lots
of kids with their parents standing around a clown making balloon animals
and waiting in line at a cotton candy machine. This is so different from how
I grew up. I only ever had the girls at my birthday parties. And then it had
been a quiet affair in a fancy dining room. Often the Queen wasn’t even
there. I don’t see Ash or his parents, so I head outside. The backyard is
filled with people as well. There’s a DJ playing music and a dance floor, as
well as a petting zoo, carnival-type games and more bouncy castles than I
can count.
I find Ash holding Dahlia and talking to his parents in the pool area. Joining
their group, I try not to appear nervous at seeing Reg.
Mari opens her arms and gathers me into a warm hug. “Welcome home,
Nina. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Then I tentatively look at Reg. He puts his arm around my shoulders in a
parental-type hug. “All quiet on the western front, young lady?” he
inquires.
There can be no more broken mugs or other instances of anger-induced
magic. I don’t want to let Ash’s parents down. The Mountcastles are very
tight knit. I want so badly to be a part of their clan. “Yes, all quiet.”
“Good to hear.” He gives my shoulders an extra squeeze and releases me.
Are you kidding me? I blink several times, hoping my eyes are deceiving
me. But no, it’s her. I see Jessica coming from a long way off. She’s
wearing a baby-blue, spaghetti-strap minidress and wedge heels. Her big
boobs and long legs are on full display. She’s carrying a beautifully
wrapped gift with a big, red ribbon on it. I want to push her into the pool.
“Hello, Mari and Reg.” Jessica greets Ash’s parents with a dazzling smile
before hugging each of them. “Mari, we’re still on for lunch next week,
right?” Then she turns to Dahlia. “Happy birthday, darling.” She places a
proprietary hand on Dahlia’s back and kisses her on the cheek before
looking into Ash’s eyes. “Ashton.”
Jessica not only wants my husband, she wants his family, too.
Then she finally acknowledges me. “Nina, I didn’t see you there. Don’t you
look . . . interesting,” she says, wrinkling her nose.
“Let me take the gift into the house,” Mari says. “There’s a gift table in the
family room.”
“I know the way, Mari. I’ll take it in.” Jessica looks down on me and adds,
“I’ve spent lots of time here.” Then she turns her attention back to Ash.
“Ashton, remember the time we got drunk and went skinny-dipping—”
My power flares violently inside me, creating a roaring noise that blocks
out Jessica’s trip down memory lane. I can’t take it anymore. I have to walk
away from Jessica before I lose control of my magic in front of Mari and
Reg. “I’m going to find Gia and say hello,” I say hastily, turning on my heel
and walking swiftly away.
Ash catches up with me and takes my hand. “Are you okay? I felt your
power flare. I know Jess can be a lot. She doesn’t mean anything by it.”
“What’s she doing here?” It’s always the one they tell you not to worry
about.
“Take a look around. It’s not exactly a small family gathering. The whole
Winters clan was probably invited. Her parents are friends with mine. We
do a lot of work together. They own an engineering consulting firm.”
“Your parents seem to like her. Were they sad when you two broke up?” I
ask bitterly, unable to keep the acid churning in my stomach out of my
voice.
“My parents were being polite to a family friend. And I don’t know how
many more ways I can say this. Jess and I didn’t break up. We were never
together.” Ash runs a hand through his hair. “Let’s go get something to eat.”

We’re sitting at a table outside on the patio when Jessica catches up with us
again. Ash has polished off his plate of steak skewers, grilled vegetables,
BBQ shrimp and smoked sausage. I’m pushing grilled chicken breast and a
green salad around in circles on mine.
“So sorry to intrude, but I wanted a quick word with Ash,” Jessica says, not
looking one bit sorry.
“What’s up?” he asks, pushing back from the table.
“Did you see the carpentry quote for the lobby interior finishes?” Jessica
plays with the low-cut neckline of her dress.
“I looked at it quickly. They do good work, which I don’t mind paying for,
but some of the numbers seem a little padded. I’d like them to sharpen their
pencils a bit,” Ash says.
Jessica puts her hand on the table and gives me her back. She leans down to
Ash, exposing what I’m sure is plenty of tit. “Totally agree. I had some
ideas about the materials. I’m heading to the bar for a drink. Why don’t we
walk and talk and let Nina finish her meal in peace? We don’t need to bore
her with all this shop talk.”
Don’t do me any fucking favors. “I seem to have lost my appetite,” I say,
pushing my plate away.
Ash stands up and looks around Jessica at me. “I could use a beer. Nina, do
you want anything from the bar?”
A fire hose to spray Jessica down with. “Water would be great. Thanks.”
Watching them walk away, their heads together in conversation, I don’t
notice Ben until he flops down into the chair beside me.
“What’s got you looking so miserable?” His gaze follows mine to the bar
where Jessica is giggling at something Ash is saying. “Take it from me. You
have nothing to worry about there. If he wanted to be with her, he would be.
He wants you.”
“I’m not so sure. This is probably the most time we’ve spent together in two
weeks. He spends all his time at work, with her.”
“This project is a big deal. His largest to date. If he makes a success of it,
it’ll be a major feather in his cap. He’s the crown prince, Nina, the
expectations he has to live up to are very high. The rest of us Mountcastle
kids have it much easier. I wouldn’t trade places with him for all the gold on
Mount Olympus. And as the crown princess of your court, I would think
you could understand that.”
“I do understand the pressure of being the heir apparent. But he seems
obsessed.” Come to think of it, there is probably more I could be doing to
learn about my role as the Queen’s successor. I’ll put that on my to-do list.
“Ash will make a success of this project or die trying. He goes hard after
what he wants. It’s his type-A personality. Take you, for instance. He
decided he wanted you, went to your court, claimed you, and now you’re
mated.”
“His dragon chose me, not him. I sometimes wonder if he wants someone
he has more in common with. Someone like Jessica.”
“His dragon doesn’t overrule him, Nina. It doesn’t work like that. This is
not a case of post nut clarity, like I said, he wants you. But you have to
admit, you’re not exactly low maintenance. You receive death threats on the
regular, require round-the-clock security and have an ex who keeps popping
up. Try to cut Ash a little slack. Between work and you, he’s juggling a lot.”
Then Ben lets out a bark of laughter. “I would have loved to have seen the
look on his face when that Maserati was delivered.”
I look at Ben and grimace. “I thought he was going to have an aneurysm. I
didn’t keep the car, you know. I donated it to charity.”
“Gia told me. I’m sure that children’s hospital will see their lottery ticket
sales go through the roof. You did a good thing.”
“I was happy to do it. I think I’m going to do more work with them. Lend
my name and face to promoting their campaign. Help them raise more
money.” Turning my head, I find Ash and Jessica still talking. “I just wish
things were simpler with Ash. I constantly feel like I have to compete for
his attention with this project and with her.”
“You’re not in competition with anything or anyone. And honestly, my big
brother couldn’t be easier to figure out. His top three likes are sex, food and
work. In that order. He’s mated to you. He’s sleeping with you. He works
with her.” Ben stands up and flicks me in the middle of my forehead.
“Figure it out.”
Back in the office the following week, I search out Ash and spot him sitting
at his desk, talking on the phone. His eyes meet and hold mine. Then he
waves me into his office as he ends the call.
I don’t particularly like being summoned like a serf by a feudal lord, but I
decide to take Ben’s advice and cut Ash some slack. I also can’t resist any
opportunity to talk to him, spend time with him. I’m like a moth to the
flame where he’s concerned.
Walking slowly to his office, I put a little extra wiggle in my walk.
Ash watches me the entire way with hungry eyes.
His office door is open, so I stroll right in and do a deep curtsy, bowing my
head with my arms extended as if holding out the skirt of an imaginary ball
gown. “You wished to see me, my liege?” I ask, raising my eyes to his.
Ash throws his head back and laughs. “If only you were that submissive.
But you don’t have a submissive bone in your body. Take a seat, I want to
talk to you about something.”
Rising from my curtsy, I smile at him and take the seat opposite his desk.
He’s right; I’m not submissive, except maybe in bed. Otherwise, it’s just not
in me.
“That was my father on the phone. Did you send Dahlia a horse for her
birthday?”
“Yes, but I asked your mother first. He’s a Welsh pony and very good with
children.” Am I in trouble about the pony now? I feel like I need to defend
myself at every turn lately.
“Dad says Dahlia adores it. They can’t keep her in the house. She wants to
be outside with the pony, twenty-four seven.”
“What can I say? Girls love horses.” Images of Northstar rotate through my
mind like a slideshow. My shoulders slump a little knowing he’s out there
somewhere and we haven’t been able to find him.
“My parents are building a stable and are going to get more horses to keep
the pony company. They’re going to hire some groomsmen to help them
take care of it all. You really started something with this pony.”
Am I in trouble here or not?
Ash comes around his desk and sits on the edge. “That was really
thoughtful. I completely forgot about sending Dahlia a gift. Thank you for
being so considerate of my little sister. She loves the pony, and my parents
love anything that entertains her for more than fifteen minutes.”
“I’m glad she’s happy. It was nice to be in the stables again, picking out the
pony.” Thinking again about Northstar, I look down at my hands.
Ash uses a finger to tip my chin up. “I know how much you miss
Northstar.”
I just nod, tears gathering in my eyes.
“I still have people out looking for him. And so does my father and your
mother.” Ash’s eyes are earnest, his solemn voice confirming the promise of
his words. “We’ll find him, Princess.”
 Chapter Twenty

T HE ENTIRE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT is in the conference

room, and we’re listening to Ash discuss the project’s budget. Jessica
is also here, providing a summary of where she thinks we can save money
and where there may be overruns in construction costs. They’re standing
together at the digital whiteboard, and we’re all looking at the spreadsheet
displayed there.
“We’ll need to stay within the budget that’s been set,” Ash says, pointing to
the spreadsheet.
“Of course, I understand that, Ashton, but as with every construction
project, there must be contingencies,” Jessica counters smoothly.
“Contingencies were built into the budget, Jess. We’re prepared for the
unexpected. What we’re not prepared for are any major changes in scope.
So no big modifications to the drawings or materials that have already been
approved,” Ash says.
Jess, Jess, Jess. If I never hear that fucking name again!
“Would I do that?” She gives him a playful tap on the shoulder and then
leaves her hand there several moments too long.
I’m nearing the end of my rope with this whole situation!
Jessica’s eyes move between Ash and me in a calculating manner, and then
a sly, knowing smile crosses her painted raspberry lips.
She knows. Somehow she knows he hasn’t marked me.
Ash moves closer to the whiteboard and turns his back to her as he calls
everyone’s attention to a number on the spreadsheet.
Jessica tilts her head to me, a direct challenge in her ice-blue eyes, and
mouths, “Keep him if you can.” Her red lips twist in a smirk.
Magic blazes like an uncontrollable wildfire inside me.
The sound of breaking glass fills the conference room as the window
behind Ash and Jessica explodes outward. Everyone seated at the
conference table screams or gasps in shock at the sudden noise and stands
up to get a better look at the window.
Ash looks at me and then scans the room. “Is anyone hurt?” He receives
reassurances from everyone that they’re fine before announcing, “We’ll
continue this meeting tomorrow. I’ll call someone in to fix the window.
Thanks, everyone.”
The group files out of the conference room, and I stand, hoping to join them
when I hear Ash say, “Nina, if you wouldn’t mind staying for a moment.”
Jessica stands in the doorway, “Would you like me to stay, Ashton?”
“No, Jess. Please close the door on your way out.”
The click of the door tells me Ash and I are alone. After he opaques the
glass of the conference room for privacy, he goes to stand in front of the
hole where the window used to be and crooks a finger at me. “Come here.”
After navigating the hastily abandoned chairs, I stand beside Ash and look
down at the shattered glass lying in the delivery alley below.
“What do you suppose happened to the window?” Ash asks mildly.
I continue to stare down at the alley below. “Perhaps someone hit it with a
rock. Or a baseball. Or a golf ball,” I suggest. Okay, I’m panicking.
“A thrown rock wouldn’t break a commercial-grade window on the fifth
floor.” Ash looks left and right out the window. “And I don’t see any
baseball fields or golf courses close by.”
“It was probably a bird, then.” Yes, that’s a logical explanation. Ash and I
lock eyes.
“That’s a possibility. But tell me this. If it was a bird flying into the window,
how did all the glass end up on the outside of the building? No, the bird
theory doesn’t hold up here. Any more ideas?” Ash puts his hands on his
hips, his eyes sizing me up.
“Improper installation?” My voice is barely a squeak.
Ash drops his hands to his sides. “Stop it, Nina. I think I felt your power.
Was it you?”
Shit! “Yes, it was me.”
“Your power flashed so intensely and so quickly, I was barely able to get a
sense of it, let alone stop it. You’re getting stronger with each passing day,
and your magic is changing. I almost didn’t recognize it.” He places his
hands on my shoulders. “Why’d you do it? What’s going on?”
“It’s Jessica. She’s taunting me. Saying things to me.”
Ash furrows his brow. “What did she say?”
“Well, she didn’t say it out loud. She mouthed it.”
“Help me out here. Did she say something to you or not?”
“She said, ‘Keep him if you can,’ and then she smirked at me. She wants
you back and me out of the picture.”
“Are you sure? You were pretty far apart, and if she didn’t say it out loud,
how can you really know what she said? Is this another smizing incident?
Because at the airport that was nothing. And nobody wants you out of the
picture.”
He’s not taking me seriously. “I know what I saw. I know what I know.
Enchantress intuition.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to her.”
“No, don’t bother. She’ll just deny it.” I can’t tell him I broke the window
because I suspect Jessica knows he hasn’t marked me and she considers him
fair game. Because then I’d have to explain that I’d listened in on a private
conversation between him and his parents. “Will this register on your dad’s
radar?” I ask, nodding at the empty space where a window should be. I
don’t want to let Reg down.
“No. If a delivery guy had been cut to ribbons or killed by the falling glass
in the alley, Dad might hear about it. But it’s just a broken window.” Ash
exhales deeply. “I think you should go home to Westmoreland for a couple
of days.”
“You’re sending me away?” Is he getting rid of me so he can be alone with
Jessica?
“No, I’m giving you a few days off. You’re obviously unhappy. Go and see
the pony and the new horses my mother has bought. The new stables. Go
find your smile.” He cups my face in his big, warm hands, taking the sting
out of banishing me. “I know this hasn’t been easy. My working all the
time. But it’s not going to be forever.” He plants a kiss on my forehead.
I am miserable here. But it’s not because of the hours he’s working—it’s
who he’s spending those hours with.
“We have people for that, you know.” Ben leans against the open door of
the stall I’m currently mucking out.
I’m back on Westmoreland, spending time in the new stables. “I like doing
it. It clears my head,” I reply, stabbing some dirty straw with a pitchfork
and pretending it’s Jessica.
“If shoveling horse shit clears your head, I’d hate to know what you do for
fun.” Ben leans down and plucks a blade of straw from the new bale sitting
at his feet. “Why does your head need clearing, anyway?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I stop working and lean on the handle of the
pitchfork, one hand sliding into the back pocket of my jeans.
Ben drops the piece of straw to the ground and places his fingertips to his
temples as he closes his eyes. “Wait, don’t tell me. My psychic powers are
getting a message from the great beyond. Let me take a wild guess, It has
something to do with Ash.”
“And Jessica,” I say glumly and then wish I hadn’t opened my big mouth. I
place the pitchfork against the wall of the stable and roll up the sleeves of
my plaid shirt.
“We’ve already had this conversation. Didn’t you figure it out?” Ben shakes
his head at me.
I rub my forehead where he flicked me during our last chat about Ash and
Jessica. “Apparently not. Would she be able to tell he hasn’t marked me?”
Ben meets my eyes and nods his head solemnly. “It’s not immediately
evident, but yes. If someone in the dragon community thought to look for
the mark’s magic signature, they’d see it isn’t there. But he’s claimed you in
other ways. You’re mated. He brought you home to his clan, and you smell
like him. These are also important in our culture.”
I’d forgotten about the smell thing. “Do female dragons have a heightened
sense of smell, too? Do they shift? Have their own magic?”
“Females do have a heightened sense of smell, but the shifter gene is only
passed onto the males. The females have almost no magic of their own,
which makes us very protective of them.” His tone is steeped in an
uncharacteristic thoughtfulness.
“She wants him back, Ben.”
“So. Why do you care what she wants?”
“Because she’s trying to steal my husband. She calls him Ashton. She
giggles around him. She undresses him with her eyes. She constantly has
her hands on him.” The volume of my voice rises with each statement until
I’m shouting. “And she’s doing all of that right in front of me. Plus, now
she’s talking shit to me, and Ash doesn’t seem to notice any of it.”
“I can see you’re upset, so I’m going to talk you off the ledge. Again. But
this has to be it, or I’m going to have to start charging you. This top-shelf
love-life advice doesn’t come for free, you know.” Ben’s eyes are twinkling,
and his smile is roguish.
“I’m on the edge of my seat.” Sarcasm thick as honey coats my words as I
blow a stray strand of hair out of my face.
“She can’t steal him. Nobody can make Ash do something he doesn’t want
to do.” Ben shakes his head at me again. “But there are a couple of things
happening here. First off, Ash probably doesn’t notice what she’s doing
because he doesn’t care. He’s all wrapped up with work and with you.”
“He’s not wrapped up with me. I haven’t—”
“Ridden his baloney pony recently?” Ben waggles his eyebrows at me.
Fucking Ben! “I was going to say been alone with him in what feels like
weeks.”
“Come on, baloney pony is pretty good, considering we’re in the stables.
Why are we dancing around the subject of sex? We’re both adults here.”
“At least one of us is.” I tilt my head to the side, pursing my lips.
“Second, you’re noticing everything she does. Which is what Jess wants.
She’s playing a game of psychological warfare with you, and I’ve got to be
honest, Nina, you’re losing. Stop reacting to everything she does. She’s
yanking your chain. For someone with an Ivy League education, you’re not
acting very smart. Let me guess, every time she does something, you get
mad at Ash. Wakey, wakey.” Ben claps his hands together. “You’re playing
right into her hands.”
“There may be some truth to what you’re saying.” That is exactly what I’ve
been doing.
“You’re not imagining things. I work in that office, too. Jessica does flirt
with him. Chase after him. She has for years. And once in a while, he used
to let her catch him. But that’s all it was. They were fuck buddies. I know
it’s hard for you to understand because you have a body count of one, but
he’s not interested in her. And here’s what else I see in the office. Every
time you walk to the kitchen or the copy room or wherever, his eyes follow
your every step. No matter what he’s doing or who he’s talking to, he
doesn’t take his eyes off you.”
“He’s probably just worried I’ll leave the building without the Gorm. He
thinks I’m a reckless flight risk.”
“He’s worried about you, Nina. The threats against you are rattling him. He
also hasn’t marked you yet, which has to be driving his dragon around the
bend.” Ben runs a hand through his hair in a move very reminiscent of Ash.
“Listen, his life took a sharp left turn when his dragon decided you were his
fated mate. Ash didn’t plan to be mated for life at twenty-five. He wasn’t
looking to be mated at all. He’s never let a female change his plans. Until
you. At first, he didn’t know what was going on, why he couldn’t get a
childhood friend out of his head. He fought against it for a while. Our
grandfather was the one who sensed what was happening and clued him in.
Told him he’d be a fool not to go get you. Fated mates are rare, and the
magic growing between you two is strong, but you really don’t know each
other that well. It’s no wonder there are a couple of bumps in the road.”
“You might be right.” I sigh. “I feel very pulled toward him, but most of our
communication has been physical. And now we’re not even doing that.”
“Not getting enough of his D in your V is an easy fix. Go and get it. I’m
going to let you in on a little secret. He’s a sure thing where you’re
concerned. The rest of it will fall into place. Give the mate magic a chance.”
 Chapter Twenty-one

A FTER MY CHAT WITH Ben, I walk down to the rugged coastline.

He’s right. What have I been thinking and doing this whole time?
I’m smarter than this.
Standing on the edge of the high cliff, I watch the waves crash noisily on
the jagged rocks below. It soothes me. Stripping down to my bra and
panties, I find a safe spot and dive into the white water. Ash doesn’t want
me swimming here alone—but I need this.
Upon entering the underwater world, I immediately feel more like myself
than I have since going Earthside. I’m free. Free of rules, free of Jessica and
free of my extra security. My mind is still and quiet. But I have company in
the warm current. The Queen is here as well, at least her magic is.
“Princess Seraphina? How are you able to call to me like this?” The
Queen’s voice rings clearly in my head. Although I felt her presence the last
time I swam here, I didn’t talk to her, so I wasn’t sure whether I imagined it.
“I’m in the water on Westmoreland. I sensed your magic here. I’m not
really sure how we’re able to speak.”
“This is most unexpected.” Underwater, the Queen’s not nearly as
intimidating as she is on Avalon. “Did you need something?”
I’m not sure how much I can trust this gentler version of the Queen or how
much I want to share with her. But I decide to take a chance. “Things with
Ash aren’t turning out like I thought they would. It’s not exactly my happy
ever after,” I reply in my mind, swimming deeper into the blue water.
“What is the problem?” The Queen’s tone is direct, but interested.
“When Ash and I were here on Westmoreland, things were great. But now
that we live Earthside, things are less than ideal.”
“The first year of marriage is often difficult,” the Queen says not unkindly.
Her magic surrounds me with a calmness I’ve never sensed before, putting
me at ease and making me want to confide in her. Or maybe I’m so
desperate to confide in someone, I’ll even turn to my mother. “Ash spends
all his time at the office. We barely see each other. And he works with an
ex-girlfriend who wants him back. I don’t dress like myself. I’m
overqualified for my job, and the cherry on top is I’m not allowed to use my
magic.”
“Why are you not permitted to use your magic?” the Queen asks, sounding
perplexed.
“Reg didn’t appreciate the earthquake I caused in his territory. Five point
five on the Richter scale. There were some human injuries.”
“Five point five is not that bad. It could have been much worse. Your power
is growing. I can sense it in you. The fact that you’re able to call to me like
this is unusual for an enchantress. I will speak to Reginald. Understanding
your power is imperative to being my successor. You must use it.” The pitch
of her voice resonates with imperial authority.
“I don’t suppose I could convince you not to make that call?” I stop
swimming and tread water, my hair fanning out around me. “I appreciate
you wanting to help, but I don’t want to make waves with the in-laws. Pun
intended.”
“When did you start caring about making waves?” She laughs softly.
“When you were growing up, it was not my job to clear the way for you,
make things easier. It was my job to prepare you for the life you would
eventually lead. I would have done you a disservice by being nicer than the
universe will be. As my successor, you will face many challenges. But you
are prepared. Let me help you.”
“Speaking of being your successor, I was thinking maybe I should do some
work for you. Start learning more about your Earthside territory, your allies
and enemies. That kind of thing.”
“Excellent idea. Stewart will be in touch. Is there anything else? Would you
like me to have a word with Ashton about this old flame of his?”
“Gods, no. I’ll handle him on my own,” I say quickly. That’s between Ash
and me. “I just haven’t felt like myself recently. I’m not sure who I am
anymore.” With my arms at my sides and my face tilted to the surface, I
kick my legs and swim up through the rays of light cutting through the
crystal-clear water.
“In case you have forgotten, let me remind you. You are the Crown Princess
of Avalon. Heir apparent to the Lady of the Lake. You come from a long
line of queens and will yourself be a queen one day.”
She’s right. Is this how a queen would act? All mopey and downtrodden? Is
this how she would act? No. She would separate Jessica’s head from her
shoulders with the flick of a wrist and not give it a second thought. As good
as that sounds, that option is not open to me. I can’t kill Jessica for throwing
herself at Ash and being a bitch to me.
Can I? No.
The Queen has sovereign immunity and can kill without consequence. I
don’t have that luxury. Plus, it’s probably not right. “Thank you for
reminding me of who I am.”
The Queen gives me her final piece of advice as I breach the surface with a
splash. “Stop trying to please others. Be yourself. Own who you are.”

When the Queen finishes her pep talk, she uses her magic to lift me on a
wave to the top of the cliff where I scramble back onto dry land. After
putting my jeans and plaid shirt back on and braiding my hair, I give the
water a lingering look and send a silent “thank you” to the Queen.
The impromptu swim put me behind schedule. Gia and I are meeting back
in Perth at the penthouse and then heading to a photo shoot for the
children’s hospital charity I donated the Maserati to. But first, I need to see
Ash. Not caring that my clothes smell like a barn, I focus on the address of
the office, and in a flash of light, release enough energy to go Earthside.
Only a fraction of a second later, I’m standing in the delivery alley behind
the building. Not bad for my inaugural solo flight. Walking around the front
of the building, I enter the main doors and then skip up the steps to the fifth
floor. I’m on an energy high from making my first trip between the planes
on my own. The freedom to go where I want, when I want, is fantastic. This
is what it must feel like for a human teenager when they first get their
driver’s license.
Swinging through the doors, I march across the open space to Ash’s office.
The stomp of my riding boots hitting the concrete floor is loud, but I don’t
care. I’m done tiptoeing around here.
The Princess is back.
Ash is seated at his desk on a video call. I open his door without knocking,
close it behind me and stride into his office. When I’m in the middle of the
room, I stop, cock one hip out to the side and fold my arms under my
boobs.
Ash’s eyes move over me. From my hair caught back in a long braid, to my
plaid shirt that’s open four buttons, to my skin-tight jeans, all the way down
to the toes of my knee-high leather boots.
His eyes return to the video call, and he says, “I’m going to have to call you
back.” He ends the call and opaques the glass walls of his office. He puts
his hands on the arms of his chair to stand up.
“No need to get up. I’m not staying long. I just came to tell you a few
things.” I drop my arms to my sides.
“I do need to get up. My mate just got back into town, and I want to give
her a kiss.” Ash stands and crosses his office to me. He wraps his arms
loosely around me and dips his head, pressing his lips to mine.
My hands automatically go to his hair, and my passion for him, which is
always just under the surface, rises in full force.
He touches his tongue to mine, then sweeps it into my mouth.
Pulling his hair, I tilt his head to the side and deepen the kiss, our bodies
straining to be closer. “Don’t forget about your rule,” I murmur between
kisses. “No sex at work.”
Ash wraps his arms more tightly around me. “I’m starting to think I have
too many rules.”
Our breathing is loud and harsh in the still of the office. He grabs my ass
and pulls me up against his hard length.
Tilting my hips, I rock back and forth on him. It’s been so long, I’m going
to dry hump my husband to orgasm in a matter of seconds.
Suddenly, Ash pulls back and looks down at me. “How’d you get back
down to Earthside?”
“Under my own steam. Using my own power.” I say, pleased with myself.
“I thought we talked about this kind of thing.” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“I wish you would have told me first. If something happened and you didn’t
make it, I wouldn’t have known to look for you.”
“I didn’t come here to be scolded, Ash.”
He rubs the back of his neck. “You’re still learning how to use your power.
There’s no need to take chances.”
The door to his office flies open. “Ash, I was wondering if—“ Jessica’s
voice fills the air.
It’s like being splashed by a bucket of ice water. Pulling out of his arms, I
take a few steps away.
“Don’t enter my office without knocking, Jess.” Ash breaks eye contact
with me to look at her.
“Of course. I just saw Nina and wanted to welcome her back.” Jessica
comes all the way into his office.
Bullshit! I turn and look at her but say nothing as I notice the three of us
form a perfect triangle. I don’t want to be in a triangle. There isn’t room for
the three of us in this marriage.
Jessica wrinkles her nose. “What’s that smell?”
“It’s manure. I’m surprised you don’t recognize it.” I give her a royal smile
that doesn’t reach my eyes.
“Nina is an accomplished horsewoman, Jess.” Ash clears his throat.
“Thanks for stopping in to say hello, but now if you’ll excuse us.”
Jessica’s beautiful eyes widen at being dismissed, and then they roam all
over his body. “Sure. Yeah. I’ll see you later, Ashton.” She turns and heads
to the door. “And you too, of course, Nina.”
“Not if I see you first,” I say as the door shuts behind her.
Ash closes the distance between us but doesn’t touch me. “I’m not asking
you to be best friends with her. Just to be civil. We all have to work
together.”
The sight of Jessica blatantly checking out Ash right in front of me darkens
my mood. Remembering the purpose of my visit, I get back to business. “I
came to tell you a few things.”
“Okay, go ahead.” Ash waits for me to continue.
“First off, I want more responsibility here at work. I’m underutilized right
now.”
He nods his head. “I’ll talk to Heather about finding you more challenging
work. Anything else?”
“I’m going to dress the way I want, whether you like it or not.”
“I never said I didn’t like the way you dressed. I just asked it not to be
overtly sexual. You’re too much of a distraction for me as it is.”
I take a deep breath. “And finally, you need to get your head out of your ass
where Jessica is concerned. There’s only so much more of her I’m going to
take. And I’m reaching my limit fast.”
“I know you’re sensitive where she’s concerned, but you have no reason to
be. And I have reached the limit of how many times I’m going to have this
conversation.”
Sensitive? Try murderous. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. There are going to
be some changes around here, Ash. I mean it.”
With shifter quickness, he wraps my braid around his hand and tilts my
head back. “Care to elaborate on your warning?” His deep voice is a
seductive purr that seems to originate deep in his chest.
“I’m done taking shit. The next time someone pushes me, I’m pushing
back. I lost focus on who I was for a minute. But that minute has passed. I
know who I am.
“I never wanted you to be anybody but yourself.”
“I hope you mean that, Ash.” We stare deeply into each other’s eyes for
several heartbeats before he releases my braid. Taking his wrist, I check the
time on his vintage Rolex. “I have to go.”
“Stay. I missed you.”
“I can’t. I have to get ready for a photo shoot. It’s for the children’s hospital
I’m supporting. The gala is Friday night. You didn’t forget, did you?”
“Of course not.”
“Good. I’m late. I’m going to try and jump myself right to the condo.”
Walking to the middle of his office, I find my power and concentrate on the
condo. Nothing happens.
I concentrate on our bedroom in the condo. Nothing happens. Fuck my
inconsistent power!
“It’s easier to jump down to Earthside or even go back up a plane. It
requires a lot of power and control to jump around once you’re here.” Ash
gives me a lingering goodbye kiss that tempts me to stay. “Let me give you
a hand.”
Disappearing from Ash’s office, I’m confident in the fact that I delivered
my message loud and clear. Things are going to be different from here on
out.
 Chapter Twenty-two

I T’S THE NIGHT OF the charity gala. Since I returned Earthside and
delivered my message to Ash, we’ve hardly seen each other. Gia has
kept me busy with not one but three photo shoots, as well as several
interviews with local radio and TV shows to publicize the fundraising
campaign for the children’s hospital. Ash has continued to pull long hours
at the office.
Gia and I are at the penthouse getting ready together and just finished
having our hair and make-up done. Ash and Ben are both still at work and
will be meeting us here shortly.
When Gia strolls back into my bedroom from seeing the hairstylist and
makeup artist out of the condo, she has a small black gift bag in her hand.
“Security just dropped this off for you. I signed for it. Let’s see what it is.”
Gia’s blue eyes are bright, and she looks gorgeous in her teal chiffon gown
with her red hair flowing down her back.
Taking the bag, I pull out a Harry Winston box and smile happily. “Ash
must have sent it.”
“Swanky,” Gia says, nodding to the branded box. “Open it!”
Flipping open the lid of the box, I’m dazzled by the art-deco diamond
bracelet nestled inside. It’s about an inch wide, with baguette and round
diamonds set in platinum. It’s beautiful, but it’s not really my style. I prefer
simpler jewelry, like my engagement ring, an emerald-cut diamond
solitaire. Taking the bracelet out of the box, I place it on my wrist, and Gia
closes the clasp for me.
Turning my wrist from side to side, we both admire the twinkling
diamonds.
“It’s stunning,” Gia says.
“Is there a note?” I pick up the bag again to find a small white envelope
inside. Opening the envelope, I pull out the heavy cardstock and read the
typed note aloud. “Best of luck tonight.”
“That’s so sweet and thoughtful.” Gia sighs.
Then I read the signature line. “Love, Nicky.” My shoulders sag with
disappointment, and I toss the note back in the bag. “Ash didn’t send it. It’s
from Nicky. Can you help me take it off?”
Gia undoes the clasp, and I set the bracelet back in the box. Not only did
Ash not send the bracelet, he hasn’t sent me a single text all day. When a
knock sounds at the front door, Gia heads downstairs to the living room,
and I follow behind, dressed only in my fancy underthings—which I hope
to show Ash later—and a short satin robe. Gia opens the door to reveal Ben,
looking handsome in his tux.
“Hey, Ben. Where’s Ash?” I call from the staircase, watching Ben give Gia
a friendly peck on the cheek.
Ben shoots his sleeves as he walks into the condo. “He’s not here yet? I left
the office an hour ago, and he said he was just leaving.”
“There’s beer and champagne and snacks in the fridge. Make yourselves at
home. I’m going to finish getting ready.” I head back upstairs to my
bedroom and pick up my phone to call Ash. It rings several times, and I’m
just about to hang up when he finally answers.
“Ash, where are you? We have to leave soon. They want me there early.”
“We’ve run into a problem here.” He sounds rushed and distracted. “I’m
going to have to meet you there.”
Disenchantment balloons in my chest. “Tonight’s important to me.”
“I know. I’ll be there in plenty of time to see your speech.”
“I want you there for moral support. There’s going to be press. I don’t want
to walk in by myself.”
“Ben’s there, right? He can escort you in.”
My throat tightens, but I don’t say anything. Then I hear Jessica’s voice in
the background, and the balloon in my chest pops, spraying out frustration
and confusion like confetti.
“I have to go. I’ll be there soon. You’re gonna do great,” Ash says quickly
before ending the call.
I stare at the ceiling so the angry tears gathering in the back of my eyes
don’t escape. After a couple of steadying breaths, I slip into my ruby-red
gown and check my appearance in the mirror. It’s a curve-skimming,
column-style gown, making me appear more statuesque than I am. It has a
halter neckline and a thin belt at the waist. I hadn’t planned to wear any
jewelry except my diamond stud earrings and engagement ring, but now I
feel the gown really needs something else. I pick up the art deco bracelet
and place it on my wrist, managing to close the clasp myself. There.
Perfect.
I trudge downstairs to find Gia and Ben having a drink in the living room.
“Ash is running behind and is going to meet us there.” The words trip
casually from my tongue, hiding my disillusionment with the whole
situation.
Ben and Gia exchange a meaningful look, and then Ben says with too much
enthusiasm, “Well, I guess it’s my lucky night. It just so happens, I love
being seen in the company of beautiful females.” Ben stands and offers Gia
and I each an arm. “Shall we go?”
Gia sweeps her gaze to my bracelet but doesn’t say anything about it in
front of Ben.
“We shall,” I say with forced cheerfulness.
The three of us walk the red carpet with the invisible Gorm in tow. Ben
hams it up so much for the press that Gia and I are both laughing, and I
almost forget it’s Ash’s arm I should be on.
Once inside, Gia and I meet with the public relations team for the hospital,
and they show us to a private dressing room they’ve provided for our use.
We discuss the agenda for the evening, and they take me around the
ballroom, introducing me to important donors. I do my best to give them
my full attention, but my eyes continually go to the television monitors
strategically placed around the room showing the red-carpet arrivals.
And that’s where I spot Ash in his tux and Jessica in a silver sequin gown
walking the red carpet together. I stop breathing as I watch them pause for
photos. Jessica props her elbow on Ash’s shoulder and whispers something
in his ear. Then she lowers her arm, and from this angle, it looks as if she
grabs his ass.
Jerking my gaze away from the monitor as if I’ve been slapped in the face, I
turn my attention back to the group of people I’m being introduced to and
say, “Lovely to meet you. If you’ll excuse me, I want to go over my notes
one more time before my speech.” Then I flee the ballroom as fast as my
form-fitting gown will allow. Forgetting I have a private dressing room, I
find the nearest washroom and burst through the door. Pressing my fist into
my stomach, I look in the vanity mirror and tell myself this is not the time
or place for a breakdown.
The bathroom door opens, and my spine stiffens as I meet Jessica’s ice-blue
eyes in the mirror.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the princess,” she says, coming to stand at the vanity
next to mine. Jessica looks in the mirror, adjusting the bodice of her silver
gown to show more cleavage. “You’re exotic, I’ll give you that, but you
won’t last. He’ll tire of you soon enough. Send you back where you came
from.”
The pounding of my heart fills my ears, but I school my face and give her
cold, gray eyes. “I pity you, Jessica. Shamelessly chasing after my husband.
Honestly, you’re pathetic.” I’m not playing your games any longer.
Jessica looks down her nose at me. “You think you’re the first female to
spend time in that condo of his? Let me assure you, you’re not. There were
plenty before you, and there’ll be plenty after you. That condo should have
a swinging door on it, he’s fucked so many females there, me included.”
“I know all about your previous fuck buddy status. But now you’re nothing
more than a colleague to him. You work together. That’s it.” Don’t let her
see you sweat.
“He told me you were naive, but honestly.” She follows this up with a tsk
tsk as she leans in closer to the mirror and touches up her lipstick.
“Everyone knows he hasn’t marked you. Do you know what that means in
our culture? It means he’s not committed to you. Why do you think he
works so much? Where do you think he is every night? Where did you
think he was tonight? He was with me, and we were . . . busy.” She sticks
her tongue in her cheek, imitating a blow job.
Whether she’s having sex with Ash or not, she’s a vicious bully who’s
going to keep coming for me until I do something about it. My power flows
inside me with the heat and destructive force of fast-moving lava. I skim off
a metaphorical fireball and throw it at the back of Jessica’s head, bashing
her face into the mirror.
She gasps, and her hands fly to her face in shock. When she spins to look at
me, there’s lipstick smeared up one cheek, her eyes are watery, and there’s
copious amounts of blood spurting out of her nose.
“Don’t fuck with me.” I give her a predatory smile before leaving the
bathroom with my head held high.
Walking back to the ballroom, I place my palm over my pounding heart.
There’s so much adrenaline pumping through me, I might pass out. I have
to go onstage in a matter of minutes and give a speech to a thousand people
to help raise money for a children’s hospital. Gliding around the circles of
people drinking and chatting in the ballroom, I concentrate on putting one
foot in front of the other and smiling pleasantly.
“Hey, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Ash grabs my
wrist.
I yank my hand back and glare at him.
Ash’s eyes become guarded. “I know I’m late. There was—”
“I can’t deal with you right now. I have a speech to make.” Turning on my
heel, I walk away without waiting for his reply.
After being introduced by the head of public relations, I walk across the
stage and stand behind the microphone. I push all my anger and hurt down
until it burns up in the molten fire of my power. Then I deliver the
performance of a lifetime. I’ve memorized my speech perfectly and have no
need of the provided teleprompters. I look into the eyes of the biggest
donors and make my best pitch.
Then I spot Ash and stumble over a few words, my concentration faltering.
I have to keep it together. There are sick children who I can help. That is the
focus. While I’m up on this stage, they’re the only people who matter. I pull
on the Queen’s composure and the regal bearing of all the queens in my
family tree to finish. At the conclusion of my speech, I give a final smile to
the crowd and receive their warm ovation. The public relations guy comes
back onstage to thank me and introduce a doctor who’s going to talk about
the important research the hospital is doing.
Leaving the stage, I head straight to my private dressing room where I pace
like a caged tiger stopping only when there’s a knock on the door. “Come
in,” I call.
One of the PR team opens the door and peeks her head in. “Your husband is
here.”
“Thank you. You can let him in.”
Ash walks in with his hands clasped behind his back. “You did a great job
with your speech. You’re a natural.”
I cut straight to the point. “Why would you bring Jessica here?”
“I didn’t bring her.” Ash stands tall, his arms relaxed at his sides. “Her
family supports a lot of local charities. They were invited. I ran into her
outside after I rushed over here to be with you.”
“How fucking convenient.” I throw my head back with a laugh. “I saw you
two posing together on the red carpet. You didn’t look like you were in any
hurry to see me at all.”
Ash’s eyes drop to the bracelet on my wrist. “I can sense low-key witch
magic on that bracelet. Where did you get it?”
“It was a gift.” I glance down at the bracelet before meeting Ash’s eyes
once again. “From Nicky. He sent it to wish me luck for tonight. At first, I
thought it was from you, which was silly of me, since you seem to have
forgotten I even exist.”
“Let me see that bracelet.” Ash reaches for my wrist, and I take a few steps
back.
“Don’t touch me,” I say through gritted teeth. “I ran into Jessica in the
bathroom. She insinuated you were late because you two were having sex.
That you’ve been having sex with her ever since you got back.” My chest
rises and falls with each fast breath. Maybe Ash thinks this is one of those
royal marriages where he keeps a mistress and I pretend not to notice. Fat
fucking chance.
“That’s simply not true. Jess and I have a business relationship. I’ve told
you this repeatedly. And I heard about your bathroom run-in. She texted
me. Said you broke her nose.”
“She’s lucky I didn’t break her fucking neck.” My hands ball into fists at
my side. “She has it out for me. I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her.”
“That’s funny, considering you’re the one who assaulted her. You’re not
even supposed to be using your magic. We’ll talk about this later. Right
now, I have to make sure she gets home okay.”
“My Queen gave me permission to use my magic.” And then I draw a line
in the sand. “If you leave with Jessica, don’t bother coming home.”
“Jess doesn’t have the kind of power we have. And you know damn well,
I’m not leaving with her. But since you broke her nose, making sure she
gets home okay seems like the least I can do.” Ash’s eyes are hard as he
points a finger at me. “And I don’t respond well to ultimatums, Seraphina.”
I shake a finger back at him. “Well, I don’t respond well to being made a
total fool of, Ashton.”
“I’ve never made a fool of you.” Ash lifts his chin and drops his arm.
“Yes, you have,” I shout. “I know, okay? I know about the marking ritual
and that you haven’t performed it. Apparently, everyone knows it, including
your family and your fuck buddy.” As I say the words, I realize how hurt I
am by this. He brought me to his court and clan, but I’m still an outsider.
“How did you find out about the marking?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I shake my head at him. “I found out by mistake, but I
still found out.” And it’s been like a burr under my saddle ever since.
“We’ll talk about all of this at home.” Ash’s golden stare pierces me from
across the room.
“This is not a relationship. This is a situationship. And I’ve had it. If you do
come home, I won’t be there.” So, this is what happens when an
unstoppable force meets an immovable object. Nothing. Nothing gets
resolved. “Go to your precious Jessica. She needs you. I don’t.” I turn my
back on him and wrap my arms around myself. I hear Ash mutter a curse,
and then I’m alone in the dressing room.
Congratulations, Nina. You’ve thrown your husband into the wide-open
arms and legs of another female.
 Chapter Twenty-three

A FTER ASH LEAVES TO take care of Jessica, I ask a member of the

PR team to direct me to a back way out of the venue and have my
car brought around. The last thing I want to do is run into my husband and
his fuck buddy and see the look of victory in her eyes.
Once I’m in the car, I text Gia and tell her I have a headache and left early
but that she and Ben should stay and enjoy the evening. I’ll send the car
back for them.
Leaning my head back against the leather seat of the car, I close my eyes
and replay the night in my head. Do I regret smashing Jessica’s face into the
mirror? Not for a second. But I do regret how things went with Ash and that
our marriage may very well be over—my heart threatens to break at the
thought. How did we get to this point?
To keep from spiraling into a pit of despair, I focus on creating a plan.
Go home.
Pack.
Go to a hotel.
Cry my eyes out.
The Gorm are with me in the back of the car, and I won’t allow myself to
shed a single tear until I’m alone.
Ash blows up my phone with texts and calls, but I don’t have anything else
to say to him, so I turn off the ringer and put my phone in my purse. I’m
done trying to talk to him about Jessica. He doesn’t want to hear it. When
we arrive at the condo and the driver comes around to open my door, I ask
him to wait while I pack an overnight bag. Once that’s done, I’ll have him
take me to the Ritz-Carlton.
As soon as I enter the penthouse, the Gorm taking up position outside the
door, I remove my heels and pad barefoot up the stairs to my bedroom.
Suddenly exhausted, I want nothing more than to take a hot shower, climb
into bed and pull the covers over my head. But that’s not going to happen. I
need to change, throw a couple of things into a bag and get the hell out of
here.
After undoing my dress, I let it slide to the floor. Then I throw on my
favorite black leggings and an oversized sweatshirt before putting on socks
and sneakers. Grabbing a small suitcase from the dressing room, I toss in a
couple of pairs of jeans and some T-shirts. Then I go into the bathroom and
fill my makeup bag with some basics—face wash, moisturizer, mascara—
and my toothbrush.
Back in the bedroom, I’m taking my phone out of my evening bag when it
vibrates in my hand. I check the caller ID.
Nicky.
Do I answer it? Ignore it? My curiosity gets the best of me. “Nicky, what
reason could you possibly have for calling me?”
“Don’t hang up, Bella. I have him. I have your Northstar.”
My blood runs hot, then cold. I sit down on the end of my bed. Then I stand
right back up again. I can’t think. I can’t breathe. “How did you find him?
Where is he?”
“He’s safe, Bella. He’s with me. I bought him at a black-market auction in
Spain. Two of my paintings were recently stolen, and it was rumored they
were to be sold at an underground auction. I went there to retrieve them. It
was just luck that I stumbled upon Northstar. You told me so many stories
about him, I knew it must be him.”
“We haven’t heard anything about him since he was taken. Can you send
me a picture so I can see him?” Before I’m even done asking the question,
Nicky texts me a picture.
“My gods! It’s him.” My knees buckle as weeks of worry and tension
evaporate, and I sit back down on the bed in relief. “Is he hurt? There was a
lot of blood when he was taken. Does he look injured in any way?”
“He’s right as rain as far as I can tell. But you would know better. Come
and see for yourself.”
“Where are you?” I stand up again, excited at the thought of seeing
Northstar.
“Earthside. Italy. I’ll text you the address.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. And Nicky, thank you,” I say, receiving his
address on my phone.
“For you, Bella, anything.”
I end the call and bite my bottom lip. Northstar is alive! I can barely believe
it. My first instinct is to call Ash and tell him the good news. But I stop
myself and turn off the location services on my phone instead. If Ash does
come home, I don’t want him to be able to find me. He left with Jessica. He
made his decision. He chose her.
Forgetting about packing for the hotel, I quickly formulate a new plan. I
can’t travel point-to-point on Earthside. It requires too much power. Power I
don’t have yet. I’m going to have to go up to the preternatural plane and
then slingshot back down to Italy from there.
I decide to go back to Westmoreland because if the Queen senses me on
Avalon, she may decide to keep me there. I’m stirring the embers of my
power into a roaring fire and concentrating on Mari’s new stables when I
hear Ash’s heavy footfalls coming up the stairs of the penthouse.
He charges into the bedroom with his hand outstretched to me. “Seraphina!
No!” He must have sensed my power when he arrived at the condo. His
smoky magic wraps around me, but I’m already vibrating and ready to
jump.
When he reaches me, his hand passes through my fading essence. All that’s
left is my voice hanging in the air, “Good-bye, Ashton.”
Then I’m back in Westmoreland. But I’ve missed the stables entirely and
have landed in the kitchen right behind my father-in-law, who’s getting
something out of the fridge.
“Hello, Nina. What brings you home?” Reg doesn’t even flinch at my
arrival and closes the fridge door as he regards me with his fathomless
stare.
“I just popped in to grab something,” I stammer.
“In the future, you should text me or Mari and let us know you’re coming.
Like your mother, I cover the island in a magic firewall for security. I felt
your power and allowed you through, but if I’m not paying attention, you
could bounce off the firewall and land gods know where.”
Reg’s ringing phone on the breakfast bar draws both of our eyes. Ash’s
name is displayed on the caller ID. Reg and I look at each other, and I know
I have to leave right now. If Ash asks him to detain me, Reg can most likely
keep me here.
“Mari is outside by the pool. I know she’d love to see you.” Influence and
persuasion are rich in Reg’s voice.
“I’m sorry. I have to go.” I find my power and release enough to jump
Earthside in a flash of light, concentrating on the address Nicky gave me.
As I leave, I feel Reg’s power close over me like a fist, but I slip through his
fingers just in time.
And then I’m Earthside. This time in Italy.

I land on a cobblestone driveway on the inside of a closed gate. Turning my

back to the gate, I look up the long driveway to a handsome Mediterranean-
style villa. The red clay tile roof, green-gray limestone block walls and
terra-cotta bricks trimming the windows and doors scream old-world
charm. The house is enormous, and as I get closer, I spot spectacular
gardens and arched passages to outdoor patios and courtyards.
I have no idea whether I’m even in the right place. Since there’s only one
way to find out, I hurry up to the front door and use the metal, lion-head
knocker to tap on the heavy wood door. When I release the knocker, the
door swings slowly open to reveal Nicky.
“Ciao, Bella, you made it. So good to see you.” Nicky stands in the
doorway, rubbing his hands together.
“Yeah, good to see you, too, Nicky. Where’s Northstar?” I’m not trying to
be rude, but I’m only here for one reason.
“What? No kiss hello? That’s not how we do things here in Tuscany.”
Nicky grabs my shoulders and gives me a lingering kiss on each cheek.
“There. Was that so hard? You always were so impatient.”
“I just really want to see Northstar. He’s been missing a long time. I can’t
believe you found him.” I bounce from foot to foot.
“Come, then. Let me reunite you.” Nicky stands aside, holding out his arm,
indicating I should enter. The interior of the house continues the
Mediterranean theme with high ceilings, white stucco walls and a terra-
cotta tile floor. Passing through several arched doorways, I follow Nicky
until we reach a rustic kitchen. Then, we go out the back door where there
is a stone patio with a garden planted along the edge. I can smell the thyme
and rosemary, as well as the lemon trees.
It’s nighttime, and the farther we get away from the courtyard, the darker it
gets. When I stumble, Nicky reaches out and takes my hand, saying with a
soft chuckle, “Here, let me guide you. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
After we pass an expansive grove of olive trees, we finally arrive at the
stables. A large structure made of the same stone as the villa.
Nicky opens the creaking barn doors and flips a switch, bathing the stables
in light. “He’s in the stall at the very end.”
The horses regard me with big brown eyes and soft snorts as I walk quickly
to the last stall. And there he is. It’s him. It’s Northstar.
Jogging the last few steps, I pull open his stall door and scan him from top
to tail. His regal head is up, and his ears are forward. I throw my arms
around his neck and hug him fiercely, burying my face in his soft coat.
He responds with a loud nicker. Releasing him, I look into his baby-blue
eyes and am not surprised to see tension. He must be so confused.
Telling him how much I’ve missed him in a low voice, I run my hands
along his withers and down each flank. Then I skim my hands down each
leg and check his hooves. The hind hooves show some unusual wear
patterns. That’s when I notice the kick marks on the stone walls. Some look
new, but most don’t. None of the horses I saw are anywhere near as tall as
Northstar’s twenty hands and couldn’t have made the marks. Like a
bombshell going off in my brain, I realize he’s been here the entire time. I
start to sweat.
Northstar pins his ears back and paws the ground. I turn to see Nicky just
outside the stall.
“He can sometimes be a little aggressive with people he doesn’t know. You
should probably stay back.” I don’t have enough power to get us both out of
here. There’s only one thing to do, I have to jump to Westmoreland and
come back with my Gorm contingent as backup to get Northstar.
Nicky ignores my warning and rubs his chin thoughtfully. “Does anyone
know you’re here, Bella?”
The tone of Nicky’s voice makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
“My husband knows I’m here,” I lie. “I’m going to call him about travel
arrangements for Northstar. I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’ve
done. For finding him.” As I do this song and dance to stall for time, I pull
on my magic, and it jolts to life inside of me. I’m just about to jump to
Westmoreland, when the art-deco bracelet I forgot I was wearing tightens
painfully around my wrist, and my magic disappears. What the fuck!
Pulling up the sleeve of my sweatshirt, I look at the bracelet that’s giving
off a soft glow as if lit from within, and then I raise my eyes to Nicky’s
inscrutable face.
“I can think of a way for you to repay me.” Nicky’s emotionless tone chills
my blood. “And there’s no need for you to make any arrangements for
Northstar. This is his new home. Just as it is yours.”
 Chapter Twenty-four

I ’M POWERLESS. AND WITHOUT my power, I must bide my time

until I can figure out what to do next. If growing up with a dangerous
predator, the Queen, has taught me anything, it’s that being smart helps you
live to fight another day.
After Nicky takes my phone, I give Northstar a good-night nose rub and tell
him there’s nothing to worry about. Then I follow Nicky back up to the villa
where he escorts me to a large dining room and pulls out a chair for me.
The patina of the stone-covered walls, dim light from the wrought-iron
fixtures and heavy furniture give the room an intimate atmosphere.
“Bella, glass of wine?” Nicky’s tone is oddly casual, as if he isn’t holding
me here against my will.
“Please tell me what’s going on,” I say, my voice low and even. Even
though I’m more angry than scared, no one knows I’m here, and I have no
power. I’m in no position to be making demands.
“Always so impatient.” Nicky goes to the sideboard and selects a bottle of
wine from the built-in rack. After he inserts the tip of the opener into the
cork, he watches me with dark eyes as he screws the opener all the way in
and extracts the cork from the bottle. Then he fills two glasses and sets one
in front of me before dropping into the seat next to me at the end of the
table.
“Be reasonable. You can’t keep me here. I—”
“I can keep you here. And I will.” He stares intently into my eyes.
What’s with all the strong eye contact? Is he looking for any remnants of
his mark? Attempting to establish vampire hypnosis? When we met, he’d
been able to use mind control on me because my magic hadn’t come in yet,
and then he’d marked me without consent. Sofie had removed his mark, but
even though I have my power now, with it suppressed, I have to keep from
falling under his control again. I will not be his victim a second time.
I focus on keeping him talking. “How did you manage to kidnap Northstar?
Taking him from Avalon couldn’t have been easy.”
“Do you remember Thiago Casado? The Controller of Spain who visited
your court shortly after you married Mountcastle. I sent him there, and the
witch that was with him, Ana Morata. Thiago and my father are working
together, so he agreed to act as a spy for us in Avalon and do a couple of
things while he was there. Things like poisoning your dogs, kidnapping that
stupid unicorn you talk incessantly about, and leaving a few witch spells for
you to trip.”
“So, you were behind all of that.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Why did you
do it? What were you trying to accomplish?”
“I did it because you married Mountcastle, you dumb cunt.” Nicky shouts,
his temper flaring unexpectedly. “You weren’t supposed to marry him. You
were supposed to marry me. I was punishing you. And kidnapping
Northstar served a dual purpose. I knew taking him would break your heart
and would also give me leverage. A carrot to dangle in front of you to make
you come running.”
Being called the C-word makes me grit my teeth, but I have bigger fish to
fry. Darting my eyes to the bracelet, I notice it’s looser now that I’m not
trying to use my power. “What’s with this bracelet? What have you done
with my magic?”
He leers at me. “It’s an insurance policy. And one I’m glad I paid for. I
wasn’t sure how much magic you actually possess. Although you come
from a powerful family, you never seemed to have much of your own when
we were together.” Nicky nods to the bracelet, which is still radiating light.
“The bracelet contains a capability-suppression spell, which was activated
when you set foot on my estate. The witch, Ana Morata, created it for me.
And the fact it’s glowing like that tells me you now have quite a bit of
magic at your disposal. Which is good news indeed. Don’t worry. The spell
is temporary. We have plans for your power, and you’ll get it back as soon
as we move you to our island stronghold on the preternatural plane.”
“What do you mean by plans, Nicky?” I toy with the wineglass but don’t
take a sip. If he thinks I’m going to drink anything he serves me, he’s
delusional.
“I think I’ll let my father fill you in on that. Try the wine. It’s an excellent
vintage.” Nicky smirks, an ugly twisting of his lips. “I’m not going to roofie
you, Bella. I have other ways to exert my mastery over you.”
“Ash will come for me, Nicky.” I hope. But even if Ash wants to find me, I
don’t know how he will.
“I’m depending on that.” Nicky slams his fist on the table. “I’ll be waiting
for him. Come. I’ll introduce you to my father and show you to a room
where you can make yourself comfortable while we wait for Mountcastle.”
Nicky stands up.
I can’t help but notice that Nicky, who’d always been temperamental, seems
even more volatile now. Leaving my wine untouched, I follow him through
the house. Each time we pass a member of the staff, I consider calling out
for help, but they avert their eyes when they see me.
Nicky must read my mind. “Don’t bother. No one here will help you.
They’re loyal to my father and to me.”
When we reach a heavy wooden door, Nicky knocks and waits until a deep
voice calls, “Enter.”
When Nicky opens the door, I precede him into the room and find a
handsome, slightly older version of Nicky seated behind a mahogany desk.
“Father, allow me to introduce Nina. And Nina, this is my father, Franco
Rossi, Master Vampire and Controller of Italy.”
Franco stands and gives me a shallow bow, his power like frostbite against
my skin, so cold it’s almost burning me. He’s powerful but not as powerful
as the Queen or Reg. “The Princess of Avalon and daughter of the Lady of
the Lake. We’ve been anticipating your arrival for quite some time now, my
dear.”
“Really? And why is that?” I hold his dark stare.
He extends a hand to the chair in front of his desk. “Why don’t you have a
seat so we can talk?”
“I’ll stand.”
Franco’s eyes cut to Nicky. “I see you haven’t taken her in hand yet.”
Nicky shrugs his shoulders. “She can’t resist forever. I’ll break her soon
enough.”
Franco shifts his eyes back to me. “You play a very important role in our
future endeavors. We have plans to expand our Earthside territory and thus
our fortune, power base and influence. We supported Spain’s annexation of
Portugal. And in return they’re helping us gain control of Switzerland. Now
that that is underway, I want France. For myself. I don’t want to split it with
Thiago as I originally promised. Your family’s magic is the linchpin to
making that happen.”
When Thiago had visited Avalon, he’d petitioned the Queen for her support
in annexing Portugal. She’d refused. Apparently, Thiago’s loyalty was for
sale to the highest bidder. And now Franco is trying to double-cross him.
There’s no honor among empire building royals.
Folding my hands in front of me, I ask the obvious question, “What makes
you think I’ll help you? That the Queen will help you?”
Franco pierces me with his black eyes. “Because soon, we’ll be family.
You’ll be married to Nicola, and you’ll make an appeal to your mother on
our behalf. You’ll be very convincing.”
Franco’s icy power is a prickling sensation in my head as he enters my
mind. “You know I’m already married, right?” I ask, using sheer force of
will to push him back out of my subconscious.
“That’s a situation easily remedied.” Franco places his hands on his desk
and leans forward. “Then you’ll belong to Nicola. You can either give
yourself to him willingly, or we’ll take you by force. I’m not sure how
much you know about vampire mind control, but it can take many forms. It
can be a gentle hypnosis guiding you in the right direction, or it can turn
you into an obedient slave with no will of your own. The harder you try to
keep us out of your mind, the harder we’ll have to push to get in, and we
may accidentally push too hard. We could destroy your sanity, leaving you
as little more than a shell of the enchantress you are now. I really hope, for
your sake, it doesn’t come to that.” Franco sits down and reclines in his
chair. “I’ll wait for you to come to terms with your new lot in life, but I
won’t wait long. There’s no reason to fight it. You’ll want for nothing as
Nicola’s wife. Think about what I said.”
I’ll want for nothing except my freedom, a life with Ash and any hope of
love.
 Chapter Twenty-five

N ICKY SHOWS ME TO a spacious bedroom with white-plaster

walls, hand-hewn hardwood floors and sheer drapes covering the
windows. It’s a beautiful jail cell, but a jail cell nonetheless. Once Nicky
locks me in, I pace back and forth on the hardwood floors and ask myself
two important questions. What would Ash do? What would the Queen do?
Ash would stay calm and play the long game. He wouldn’t lose his head
and do something rash. The Queen would put on her “you have nothing to
fear from little old me” facade and then strike with the force of a great
white shark surging up from the depths when the moment is right. I’ll do
both.
Looking inward, I locate my magic, but it’s only a flicker and keeps
disappearing. It’s like a pilot light that won’t stay lit. I wish I could send a
signal to Ash and tell him not to come. That it’s an ambush. Or get a
message to the Queen to warn her about what the Rossis have planned.
The bracelet’s radiance mocks me, and I’m not going to be able to do
anything with my power until I get it off. After trying the clasp and
confirming it won’t release, I smash the bracelet on the marble vanity of the
adjoining bathroom but do nothing more than hurt my wrist.
Going back out to the bedroom, I open the closets to find them full of
clothing in my size. The Rossis set a trap, and I walked right into it. Fuck!
If only I had waited and talked to Ash instead of running headlong into this
mess and possibly dragging him into it as well.
With no phone and no clock in the bedroom, I can’t tell what time it is.
With nothing else to do, I climb onto the bed and sit against the headboard
with my arms and legs crossed. Closing my eyes, I picture the rugged
coastline on Westmoreland and think about swimming in my underwater
sanctuary. It relaxes me, and I drift off.
That’s how Nicky finds me. “Bella, wake up.”
“What time is it?” I ask, becoming instantly alert.
“Five o’clock in the morning. Come. We don’t have a lot of time before
sunrise.” Nicky’s command is impatient.
I swing my legs over the bed, and he abruptly grabs me by my upper arm
and drags me out of the house. Carrying a lit torch, he marches me in the
opposite direction of the stables into a forested area until we reach an
imposing restored mill tucked away in the woods alongside a river. The
operational water wheel splashes loudly on our approach.
“It was once a grain mill that served humans from miles around. Now we
use it for . . . other things.” He indicates the tall stone building that has
several windows and double doors large enough to drive a team of horses
and a wagon through.
His tight grip hurts my arm and fear lances through me as we cross a low,
wooden bridge over the river. What is waiting for me in that mill? What
will he do to me once we’re inside? The growing panic in the pit of my
stomach tells me I’m not going to come out of that mill in the same
condition I went in. Feigning a stumble on the uneven planks of the bridge,
I fall hard on my knees and then my chest as I thrust my hand into the
water. “I need you,” I cry out to the Queen in my mind. With my cheek
pressed against a rough plank, I know this pitiful effort is in vain. This
water doesn’t contain the Queen’s magic.
“Get up. I don’t have time for your clumsiness.” Nicky gives me a firm
nudge in the ribs using the toe of his boot.
Pushing up to all fours first, I get my feet under me. He clutches my arm
again in a pinching grasp and propels me toward the mill and whatever
awaits me there.
We enter the building through a side door, and once inside, Nicky places his
lit torch in a wrought-iron holder. “What do you think of your big, strong,
dragon now, Bella?” Nicky’s tone is both scornful and boastful.
My eyes fly to the back wall of the mill, and I swallow a scream at what I
see. Ash is chained to the stone wall. He appears to be unconscious and is
bleeding from several large slashes in his lower chest and stomach. His eyes
are swollen shut, and his face is battered. There are seven witches,
including Ana Morata, dressed in dark robes and standing in a semi-circle
around him. They’re chanting and taking turns fanning smoke over Ash
from a metal bowl in front of him on the floor.
Keep it together. You got Ash into this, and it’s up to you to get him out.
“What are they doing to him?” I ask, frozen in place as I take in the scene
playing out before me.
Nicky brutally yanks me up against him, my back pressed to his front, and
whispers in my ear, “Well it wasn’t easy, and it’s costing me a fucking
fortune to have these witches on the payroll, but it’s a shape-shifting
negation spell. Only the most skilled witches can perform it. I had to collect
them from several different covens. As long as they keep the smoke in
contact with him and recite the incantation, they can keep him from calling
his dragon and shifting, which really levels the playing field, don’t you
agree? Everyone thinks it’s the vampires and shifters that are the most
dangerous, but it’s the black witches you really need to watch out for. Their
spells are powerful, and they’ll do anything for money. Anything.”
“Are you the one who beat Ash up? Hurt him?” I’m going to kill you for
this, Nicky.
“Me? These hands?” Nicky releases me and holds his hands in the air like a
surgeon who’s just scrubbed in. “Gods, no. I don’t do my own wet work.
I’m an artist. These hands are much too precious. I have people for that
kind of thing. Did you know the stomach and eyes are the most vulnerable
parts of a dragon? We cut him up just to watch him bleed.” He flicks his
hand to the corner of the room where Franco is talking to three vampires in
black suits. “Boys, wake him up!” Nicky shouts.
Franco observes from the corner as the three vampires advance on Ash. One
is carrying a bucket of water and tosses it on Ash before the other two take
turns delivering body blows. Ash grunts and raises his head. His eyes meet
mine, and it’s as if we’re the only two people in the room.
A deluge of emotion surges through me, stealing my breath. Looking into
Ash’s pain-hazed eyes, it hits me. I’ve fallen completely and utterly in love
with him and will do anything to save him. Whether Ash loves me back or
not isn’t important. All the Jessica business that was such a big deal only a
few hours ago means nothing to me now. Everything else has fallen away,
and Ash being able to live a long, full life is the only thing that matters.
Even if he lives that life with someone else.
“Let him go, Nicky. You have what you want. You have me.” I fight to keep
the desperation out of my voice.
“But do I have you, Bella?” Nicky glides a single finger down my cheek.
“Yes,” I say with a low but steady voice, turning into his touch. I was wrong
about my speech at the charity gala being my performance of a lifetime.
This is. “I never stopped wanting you, Nicky. You know my marriage to
Ash was arranged by the Queen for the purpose of political alliance. I only
went through with it because the Queen forced me to. Don’t you remember
how many times I tried to contact you when we were first separated? You
were the one who ghosted me, remember? I don’t care about Ash in the
least. Let him go, and I’ll void the marriage contract and marry you as soon
as possible.”
Ash’s stare bores into me, but I can’t look at him. I’ll give myself away.
“If you’re willing to succumb to me, prove it right here and now.” Nicky
drops his hand from my face, and I watch as his irises bleed from dark
brown to red and his olive skin pales and glows eerily in the gloom of the
mill.
“What do you want me to do?” I ask, afraid of the answer.
“I want you to get on your knees in front of me, Bella. Take me into your
mouth, suck my cock, in front of your husband.” Nicky grabs my head in
both hands and tries to force it down.
I fight the pressure of his hands. Before I can explain that I can’t kneel in
front of anyone but the Queen, Nicky brutally backhands me across the
face.
My head snaps to the side. Even though I’ve never been hit in the face
before, enchantresses are tough, and growing up under the Queen’s heavy
hand has prepared me for violence. I turn my head back to Nicky without so
much as a whimper.
“You’ll do what you’re told, bitch, or suffer the consequences.” Nicky grabs
me by the back of the neck and curls his lips back, revealing his fangs right
before he thrusts his hand between my legs, his fingers violently trying to
push inside me through my tights. Then Nicky turns his crimson gaze to
Ash. “Mountcastle, pay attention while I fuck your wife.”
Ash thrashes viciously against his restraints but is unable to break free as
the witches continue to chant and fan the smoke over his body.
Nicky gets right in my face. “Don’t fight me. After I’m done with you, the
boys are going to kill him. It’s up to you how that happens. Quickly or
slowly. Quickly is a knife through the heart. Slowly is the boys drinking
him dry. They’re itching for a taste. Dragon blood is a real delicacy.”
“Please don’t kill him. Please. I’ll do whatever you want. Give you
whatever you want.” I beg for Ash’s life even though I know Nicky will
never let him go.
“That’s more like it.” Nicky chuckles as he savagely buries his fangs into
the soft skin between the base of my neck and my shoulder, shooting his
vampire venom into my bloodstream. I’ve been bitten by Nicky before and
know he can make it unbelievably pleasurable or unspeakably painful. He’s
choosing pain, and I’m thankful. While the physical agony is terrible, it
distracts me from the mental anguish of my husband watching me be
assaulted.
I hear the tap of rain on the clay-tile roof of the mill, and at first, I think it’s
the splash from the water wheel. But then the skies open up and the rain
pounds down on the roof and against the windows. There’s a crack of
thunder overhead that shakes the stone foundation of the mill before a bolt
of lightning right outside the windows bathes the mill in a blinding flash of
light. When the light recedes, the Queen is standing in the room.
With Nicky’s fingers painfully groping my tender flesh and his fangs inside
me, I scream and point to where Ash is chained to the wall. The Queen
spies the glowing bracelet on my wrist, and with an energy bolt from her
fingertip, explodes it into a thousand tiny pieces. My power soars to life
inside me like a firestorm, filling me completely.
Then time speeds up.
Using my power, I launch Nicky into the air. He flies across the room to
land with a thud against the stone wall before sliding to the floor. Then I
snatch up the smoking metal bowl and hurl it through a window, the sound
of glass breaking lost in the thunder and lightning storm.
With the smoke from the bowl dissipating and the witches now silent, Ash
breaks out of his chains with a bellow of rage and instantly shifts to his
dragon form. His ferocious yellow eyes scan the room, the thick green and
black scales of his skin hiding the damage to his torso.
The seven black witches scatter like rats, but the Queen whips her power
around them and hoists them high into the air.
While his powerful tail lashes around him and the heavy muscles of his
back flex, Ash tracks the three vampires that tortured him while he was
helpless and uses his white-blue dragon fire to incinerate each of them as
they try to escape. The black ash of their bodies drifts to the floor before
disappearing into thin air.
In the confusion, I almost miss Franco helping Nicky up from the floor and
the two of them running out of the mill.
Ash swings his spike-covered head toward me and nuzzles the bloody bite
mark on my neck. I press a hand to his cheek and breathe him in for a
second. Then I take his head in my hands and look into his fierce yellow
eyes. “Kill Nicky.” I’m not sure how much Ash understands in this form.
Ash hesitates as if he doesn’t want to leave me.
“I’m fine. Go kill Nicky.”
Ash nods once and on four powerful legs stalks across the mill before
bursting out through the large doors.
“Seraphina, what shall we do with these witches.” The Queen asks mildly,
looking almost bored even though she has seven powerful witches
suspended against the high ceiling of the mill.
“They bespelled Ash so he couldn’t defend himself and watched while he
was tortured and almost killed. They deserve to die. Kill them all.” I seal
their fate with no remorse.
“As the Princess commands it, so shall it be done.” With a flick of the
Queen’s wrist, the seven witches burst apart like gore-filled piñatas.
I fall to my knees and lift my face to the spray. “Long live the Queen,” I
shout at the top of my lungs. If the Queen hadn’t shown up when she did,
Nicky would have raped me in front of Ash and then killed him. How can I
ever repay her?
When the bloody mist subsides, I rise from my knees and stare into my
mother’s eyes, hoping she can see my gratitude. “Thank you for saving us.
There’s so much I want to say, but first, let’s go find Ash. He’s injured. I
need to make sure he’s okay.”
“Come. I’ll take you to him.” The Queen takes my hand and jumps us out
of the mill.
We land in the courtyard close to the house, near the herb and lemon tree
garden. Although the sun is still below the horizon, the sky is partially
illuminated, showing that Ash has Nicky backed up against the stone of the
house. Ash’s warm power is in the air, tethering Nicky Earthside, but
Franco is nowhere to be seen.
Nicky’s overwide eyes and gaping mouth betray the fact he knows he’s
about to die. And he’s right.
Ash lunges forward and bites Nicky’s head off with one snap of his jaws.
Nicky’s body sags to the ground, and Ash spits out his head before torching
both. The heat of the flames lick my face as I watch Nicky’s black ashes
smolder.
Franco suddenly appears in the garden and shouts, “No” as he sees his only
son reduced to dust and then completely disappear. The Queen and Ash turn
to Franco, but in a flash of light, Franco jumps out of Tuscany as the sun
crests the horizon.
Inhaling the scent of thyme, rosemary and lemon, I look into Ash’s dragon
eyes and give him a watery smile as tears of joy fill my eyes. He’s alive.
There’s only one small cloud hovering in the distance over this sunny
morning—we didn’t kill Franco, too.
 Chapter Twenty-six

A SH FLAPS HIS LEATHERLIKE wings, taking flight, and I watch in

fascination as he uses his powerful tail to smash down large portions
of the villa’s stone walls and then shoots flames inside to consume the
contents. Before long, the villa is a crumbling heap, its opulent furnishings
burning brightly and crackling loudly in the quiet morning air.
“Shifting will probably help heal some of his wounds,” the Queens says,
coming to stand beside me. “Why don’t we take a walk so he can shift back
in privacy when he’s ready?”
Giving Ash some space is probably a good idea. He isn’t modest, shifters
generally aren’t, but he’s injured and may want a few minutes to collect
himself after he shifts back. “I guess we could go check on Northstar,” I
reply, not really wanting to leave him.
On the way, I tell the Queen about everything the Rossis had planned and
the role the Spanish jaguar shifters played. Upon entering the stables, I rinse
the witch blood off my hands and face at the wall-mounted industrial sink
before hunting for some spare clothes for Ash. I find a pair of work
coveralls that I think will fit and leave them outside where he’ll find them,
while the Queen checks on Northstar and the horses.
“I’m not sure how you’re doing it—your power seems to be a little different
from mine, but you did the right thing in calling me, pulling me to you. I am
pleased to have been able to help you and Ashton.” The Queen walks the
length of the stables with her hands linked behind her back, inspecting the
horses on her way to Northstar’s stall. “Well, you have to give the Rossis
one thing. They know horses. These Andalusians and Haflingers are
spectacular.”
“If you hadn’t come—” The barn suddenly becomes dim, and I spin to face
the open barn door.
Ash’s huge body, extra bulked up because of his recent shift, blocks the
light coming through the door, and his golden eyes gleam as they lock on
me. The Queen was right and shifting had healed some of the damage to his
face. When I rush to meet him, he cups my face in his hands and stares into
my eyes. “Princess, are you all right?” His voice is a baritone rumble.
I place my hands over his. “I’m fine.” The bite mark on my neck is starting
to throb painfully, but he’s hurt much worse than I am. Running my hands
lightly over his chest, I find the coveralls already damp with his blood.
“You’re bleeding through these. We have to get you help.”
“First, let me see your neck. And why are you covered head to toe in
blood?” Although his deep voice is steady, his eyes are pain filled and
haunted.
“The witches met a gruesome end at the hands of the Queen. I cheered it on.
My neck will heal. Do you want to go back to Westmoreland?” I ask.
“Yes, I’ll heal faster there.” Ash skims his thumb up and down the side of
my neck in a gentle caress as he inspects the bite mark.
“Seraphina, you and Ashton both need medical attention,” the Queen
remarks as she leads Northstar out of his stall.
“Ash needs to go home to his clan,” I reply.
“What do you want to do with Northstar?” The Queen asks, giving him a
scratch on the cheek.
“Can you bring him and all the horses to Westmoreland? There’s no one
here to take care of them, and we don’t know if Northstar’s been bred to
any of the mares.”
“Northstar’s here?” Ash winces as he drops his hand from my neck.
“Yes, he was here the whole time. I’ll explain later. Let’s get you home.” I
take Ash’s hand.
The Queen pulls her phone out of her pocket. “I will send a message to
Reginald and Marigold to let them know to expect us.”
After the Queen sends the message, Ash and I shuffle outside, we’re both
tiring from blood loss and receding adrenaline. It takes our combined power
to jump back to Westmoreland.
Once we land in our apartment, there is a whirlwind of activity. Mari
wheels through the door with Reg not far behind and stops dead in her
tracks when she sees us. “Oh my gods! What happened?”
“Ashton, what do you need?” Reg asks.
“Call Max. Ask him to come take a look at us.” Ash puts his hands on his
knees as if he’s catching his breath after a long run.
Mari shoos Ash toward the bed. “Lie down until Max gets here. You’re
bleeding. Nina, you too.”
“I’m okay, Mari. Ash is the one who’s really hurt,” I say.
Max appears in the room, already wearing scrubs, a large pack on his back
and a medical bag in each hand. His voice is no nonsense as he looks
between Ash and me. “Who needs care first? You both look terrible.”
Ash sits wearily on the end of the bed. “Look at her neck, Max, and check it
for any magic.”
“No, Max. Take care of Ash first.” I attempt to overrule Ash’s command.
Ash snaps his golden eyes first to Max and then to me.
Max drops his medical bags on the floor and removes his backpack. “The
sooner you let me check you out, Nina, the sooner he’ll let me look at him.”
“Fine. Hurry, though.” I tilt my head to the side, and Max takes a good long
look at my neck. He announces the punctures are straight through, no
tearing, and there’s no magic in the wound. Then he gives me something for
the pain.
Mari and Reg also take turns looking at my neck and agree there’s no
magic. Mari offers to make a potion that will speed the healing of the bite
mark and I agree gratefully.
Ash stands up, and I help him remove the top part of the coveralls, pushing
them off his shoulders and down his torso until they sit low on his hips.
Mari gasps when she sees the damage to Ash’s chest and stomach.
Guilt swamps me. This is completely my fault. Mari and Reg are going to
hate me when they find out I’m the reason their beloved son and crown
prince was injured and almost killed.
“Lie down on the bed, Ash,” Max instructs. After doing a thorough exam of
Ash’s injuries, Max goes to his medical bag. “I’m going to stitch up the
deeper wounds.”
“Can you give him something for the pain first?” I ask.
“Pain meds won’t work on him. His shifter metabolism burns too hot and
fast,” Max says as he rummages through one of his bags.
Reg’s power fills the room. “I can use clan magic to take his pain away and
put his dragon to sleep, but he’s fighting me. He won’t let me help him
because he doesn’t want to take his eyes off you, Nina.”
Sitting beside Ash on the bed, I run my fingers through his hair as a few
tears leak down my face. “I’m not going anywhere, Ash. Please let your dad
help you. Please.”
“Princess, don’t cry. Your tears hurt me more than anything else.” Ash
adjusts his position on the bed, agony creasing his face. “I’ll let Dad put me
under, but you have to promise to be here when I wake up.”
“I promise.” Taking Ash’s hand, I press it to my cheek.
Reg’s power settles over us like a warm blanket. Ash closes his eyes, his
body slowly returning to its normal size. Although Ash’s breathing becomes
deep and steady, sweat beads on his brow as Max stitches him up. When
Mari brings me a facecloth dampened with cold water, I wipe Ash’s brow
and whisper, again and again, “I’m so sorry.”
After Max bandages Ash up, he announces that for Ash to make a full
recovery, he’ll need to do nothing more than eat and sleep for the next few
days and should only get up to shift. Mari leaves to tell the kitchen staff to
prepare all of Ash’s favorite foods, and Reg suggests I take a shower while
they get Ash into bed.
Making sure the water is scalding-hot, I wash the witch blood off of my
skin and out of my hair. Once I dry my hair and slip on some sleeping
shorts and a tank top, I peek out of the bathroom to confirm Max and Reg
are gone. Then I slide into bed beside Ash and cover him with my power.
It’s not necessary. Ash is perfectly safe here. In reality, my power is like a
mosquito netting around the bed when we’re already in a fortress, but I
want him to rest surrounded by me.
By my love.
 Chapter Twenty-seven

A SH SPENDS MOST OF the next two days sleeping, only waking

long enough to shift or eat. I lie in bed next to him, watching over
him and napping sporadically. Mari delivers food every couple of hours and
fusses over us both. She creates a medicinal potion from some herbs she
grew that helps speed up healing, and I rub it gently into the wounds on
Ash’s chest and stomach. I also use the potion on my neck and it quickly
closes the bite wound and reduces the bruising.
On the morning of the third day, Ash wakes up feeling much better. Max
says he’s healing well, and there should be only minimal scarring.
Dragonhide is pretty tough. When Max strongly advises one more day of
rest, Ash grumbles loudly about being “stupidly cautious” and gives him a
stony stare, but complies. Then we have a number of visitors who have
been patiently waiting to see us and make sure we’re okay.
Ben and Gia come by first. Ash and Ben catch up on what’s been going on
at the office while I tell Gia everything that happened after I left the gala.
Callum comes home from university and shares stories about campus life
that remind me I’m still a student, too. Reg, Mari and Dahlia join us for
lunch, and when Ash and Ben both ask Cal about any girlfriends, Cal gives
his older brothers a very clear “not in front of the rents” look.
Ash’s grandfather, Archie, visits later in the afternoon and shakes his head
at us. “I see you two did not heed my warning. Nina, I told you to be patient
with Ashton. And Ashton, I told you to be her partner. But you two did not
listen and ran afoul of a nest of vampires.” Then he raises his milky eyes
skyward. “Youth. It is wasted on the young.”
“We’ve learned our lesson, Grandfather.” Ash does not sound the least bit
chastened.
Archie slaps his knee and barks out a laugh. “Why do I feel like that’s not
true and you two have many more lessons to learn. All the hard way.”
The Queen does not come to see us. Sick room visits are not her style.
After everyone leaves, Ash and I fall asleep. When we awake, we’re
tangled up together, our arms and legs entwined. There’s no place I’d rather
be.
“I think we need to talk,” Ash says somberly.
“What’s your favorite food?” I ask, delaying the discussion I know is
coming.
“Steak.”
“What do you like to do for fun?”
“Camping.”
“What’s your favorite color?”
“Green. And this isn’t the kind of talking I meant.” He props himself up on
a couple of pillows.
“I know,” I say quietly. Pushing myself up into a seated position, I sit cross-
legged facing him. I’ve been dreading this conversation. He’s going to be
furious with me for going to see Nicky, and almost getting him killed. I
don’t blame him. “We might as well start at the beginning. How did you
know I’d gone to Italy?”
“My father. When you left Westmoreland, he followed your magic. He
noticed you went to Europe instead of coming back to Australia. He thought
you might have gotten lost, taken a wrong turn, so he followed your magic
to the villa. Once he had the address, he let me know so I could find you.
But you weren’t lost at all. You knew exactly where you were fucking
going.”
I look down at my hands before meeting Ash’s eyes again. “Nicky called
and told me he’d found Northstar at an underground auction. I believed
him. I wanted to tell you, but you left the gala with Jessica. I thought our
marriage might be over.”
“I didn’t leave the gala with Jess. I put her in a car and came straight home
to you. But you left the condo before we could talk.”
“I was hurt and confused. I’ve known about the marking ritual and that you
didn’t perform it since we came to your court. Then the longer we were
here, the further apart we seemed to grow. We didn’t spend any time
together, communicate in any way. The gala was the last straw.”
“I didn’t mark you because I wanted to give you some time and space. I
didn’t want to rush you into anything.” Ash blows out a sigh. “Then I threw
myself into work to have something else to focus on. My dragon was
pushing me every day to mark you. I was at constant war with myself. It’s
my fault we grew so far apart. That you felt you couldn’t talk to me.”
“I was so ecstatic to hear that Northstar was alive that I didn’t stop to think
Nicky had an agenda. I had no idea what he was capable of or that I was
walking into a trap at the villa.” Then I fill Ash in on the part that Thiago
Casado and Ana Morata played in Nicky’s deceptions, including the magic-
suppressing bracelet. I add the fact that the Rossis were planning to use my
family’s power to fuel an Earthside territory grab.
“I was no better. As soon as I heard you went to an address in the Rossis’
Earthside territory, I thought you’d left me and gone back to Nick.” Ash
shakes his head. “Since we’ve been mated, I seem to have lost the ability to
think straight where you’re concerned. If you were a witch, I’d think you
put a spell on me. My whole strategy was to find you and kill Nick. I
walked right into their ambush. The witches and Rossis men were waiting
for me, and you know the rest.” Ash’s lips thin and his eyes are hot. “When
you said you never cared about me—“
“I didn’t mean that. I was trying to save your life. It was my fault you were
there.”
I’ve fallen in love with you.
I think about saying the words out loud, but it’s not the right time. He was
almost killed because of me. I don’t want him to think I’m using the words
as a “get out of jail free” card. And what if he doesn’t say them back? Or
worse, what if he says them back because he feels obligated to? I know he
cares about me. He risked his life for me. But how much of that is him, and
how much of it is his dragon and sense of duty?
“When Nick put his hands on you, bit you, I’d never felt more helpless rage
in my life. I would gladly die to protect you. You getting hurt is my biggest
fear,” he grits out, before turning his head away from me, as if he can’t
stand to look at me.
“Can you ever forgive me, Ash? Can we try again? I don’t want to lose you.
I want you back.”
His eyes meet mine once again. “That’s impossible.”
Have I lost him? “Don’t say that, Ash.”
“I never went anywhere, Princess. My dragon and I have always belonged
to you.” His expression gentles as he pulls me into his arms. “There’s
nowhere for me to come back from.”
My heart soars at his words. He’s mine. I want to reconnect with him fully;
be surrounded by him—have him on me, under me, in me. Kissing his
mouth and along his jawline, I let my hand trail down his chest and past his
stomach to the waistband of his gray sweatpants.
He grabs my hand and places it over his heart.
“Why not?” I breathe.
“You need time to heal.” Ash kisses my forehead. “You were brutalized,
assaulted only a few short days ago. In some ways, you were hurt worse
than me. You need time to process what happened.”
“What Nicky did to me wasn’t about sex. It was about controlling me,
scaring me, keeping me down. It’s the same reason he cut you up when you
were restrained. Nicky was a coward. Yes, he bit me. Touched me. But I
threw him against a stone wall, and you killed him. Bit off his head and
burned him to a crisp. I’ve processed what happened. Unless it’s you who
needs time to get over this.” I lower my eyes, afraid of what I might see in
his. “Do you look at me differently now?” I worry that seeing Nicky attack
me was too much for Ash to handle. That maybe he sees me in a different
light now, as somehow tainted.
“Absolutely not,” Ash buries his hand in the hair at the nape of my neck,
using it to tip my head back so I can’t avoid his gaze. “I want to be inside
you every minute of every day.” Then he kisses me hard, letting me know
with the rough urgency of his mouth on mine that he’s telling the truth.
“I think that’s enough talking for a while.” I suck his bottom lip into my
mouth and give it a little nip with my teeth.
Ash moans in agreement.
“Since Max said you’re still on bed rest, you just lie back and relax.” I spy
his growing hard-on through his gray sweatpants. “I’ll do all the work.”
Cupping him over his pants, I shoot him a wink. “You won’t have to do a
thing.”
He flexes his hips up, pushing his dick more firmly into my hand. “You’re
making me laugh with these lines, which I think are supposed to be mine.”
“I’ll just put the tip in. I promise.” I draw an X over my heart.
“Now that’s definitely my line.” He rolls me onto my back and presses his
hard cock against my core. “And I have no plans to stop at just the tip.”
I’m grinding up against him, when there’s a knock at the door and we hear
Mari call out, “Lunchtime.”
Ash mutters a curse and flops onto his back. “We have to get out of here.
She’s going to mother me to death, and then what would be the point of all
this rest.”
“That’s how she shows love, Ash. Your mother brings food. My mother
kills witches. Tomato. Tomato. I’ll let her in. Pull the covers up over your
hard-on.”
He grabs my hand and stares into my eyes, his brow furrowed. “You sure
you’re okay?”
“You’re alive, and we’re together. That’s all I need. What about you? Are
you sure you’re okay with everything that happened? That you still want
me?”
He puts my hand back on his massive erection. “Does this answer your
question? Trust me, I’m sure. If I wanted you any more, I’d pass out from
lack of blood flow to my brain.”
To celebrate the Queen’s visit, Mari throws a small party the following
evening. Small by her standards. There are a couple hundred guests at this
“intimate” affair. Max gave Ash the all clear to resume normal activities
this morning, so we’re both able to attend.
After snagging a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, I decide to go
in search of Ash. The dinner has already been served, and I haven’t seen
him in almost an hour. I suspect he’s trying to squeeze in a bit of work, so I
head up to our apartment to catch him in the act.
Walking into our apartment, I’m stunned to see Jessica and Ash sitting in
the living area. Ash’s color is high, and his eyes are fixed on her. They
immediately stop talking when they see me.
Ash’s golden stare meets mine, but he doesn’t say anything, and I can’t
pinpoint his expression. What did I walk in on here?
I’m rooted to the spot, my heart racing, torn between fleeing and staying,
when I hear Ben’s voice. “Nina, don’t go. As entertaining as it’s been
watching you and Ash flounder around in this marriage, I have to step in.
Ash, Nina needs to know what’s going on. You can’t protect her from this.”
I hadn’t noticed Ben and Kat standing together at the far side of the room.
Kat’s arms are crossed over her chest, her face as hard as granite.
“Kat, when did you get back? Where’s Sofie? What’s going on here?” I ask.
“I just arrived. Sofie’s still in Greece. But she’ll be here shortly.” Kat
unfolds her arms but doesn’t smile. “And I’m here because Ash asked me to
investigate the threats you’ve been receiving.”
“You were supposed to be on holiday.” I look from Ash to Kat. I hadn’t
known these two were even on speaking terms. Is Kat angry because Ash
asked her to work when she was supposed to be off with Sofie?
Kat adjusts her glasses. “I found I’m not very good at taking vacations. So
instead, I had Ash send me all the threats so I could take a closer look.
When the threats first started arriving, a variety of dolls were used from
multiple manufacturers. Then as the threats became more violent, the
perpetrator focused on one doll. The one that looked the most like you. But
the dolls were hacked up in each threat so a new doll was needed each time.
How many people are ordering more than a dozen sex dolls at five thousand
dollars apiece? Not many. So I traced the delivery of those dolls, and lo and
behold, they were all delivered to Winters Engineering offices across
Perth.”
“Winters!” I give Jessica a death glare. “You cunt!” My enchantress magic
flares, and Ash is immediately beside me, wrapping his arms and his power
around me.
“There are more than two hundred guests downstairs. And I thought you
didn’t like that word,” Ash whispers in my ear.
“Sometimes, it’s the only one that fits.” I rein in my power.
Kat points at Jessica. “Meet your tormentor, Nina.”
“The threats started before I even left Avalon. All this time. All the added
security. The depravity of those images. Why, Jessica? Tell me why,” I
demand.
“Because of you, I’m not with Ash.” Jessica’s angry eyes rake over me. “I
worked my ass off to get this project to a place where I could call him
home. I thought with the threats against you, he’d leave you on Avalon. I
thought we’d would pick up right where we left off, but no, you followed
him here and ruined everything.”
“Jess, Nina didn’t follow me. She’s my mate. I brought her here.” Ash’s
voice is firm. “I never led you on. There were never any promises between
us. You know that.”
Jessica gives Ash a simpering look. “What do you see in her? Why would
you dilute your dragon blood with an outsider? I thought if I could get her
out of the way, you’d change your mind. You’d choose me. I always
thought it would be me.”
“That was never going to happen. I chose the Princess a long time ago. A
part of me chose her when I was nine years old. She’s always been the one,
and she always will be.”
“There’s more, Nina.” Kat doesn’t take her eyes off Jessica. “She hired a
mercenary. Took a hit out on you. She confessed just before you walked in.”
So that’s why Ash looked so flustered—anger, not passion. “I should
fucking kill you, Jessica.” My voice is surprisingly calm.
“Let me kill her.“ Kat stalks Jessica like a lion, licking her lips.
“No, I’ll kill her,“ Ash says. “You were right about her all along, Princess.
I’m sorry I didn’t listen. I thought it was a case of simple jealousy. You told
me about your jealous ancestors. You said yourself, you’re a jealous
Scorpio. I thought it would blow over once you saw there was nothing
between Jess and me. But your instincts were correct.” Ash turns to Jessica.
“Killing a fated mate is punishable by death according to our law. I’ll be the
one to kill her.”
I can’t let Ash kill someone he once considered a friend. The fact that he’s
willing to is enough. “No one’s going to kill her. Let her live. Let her watch
us have a long, happy life together, Ash. Let her watch me have your baby.
Sometimes the best revenge is living well.”
“Seraphina, you always were softhearted. I have no idea where you get it
from,” the Queen says from the doorway to our apartment.
Pivoting, I see the Queen, Reg and Mari.
“But there are consequences for Miss Winters’ actions. She has perpetrated
a grievous offense against the sovereign realm of Avalon. Actively
threatening the life of Avalon’s future ruler demands retribution. Jessica,
you will live because the princess wants your suffering to be long and slow,
but as the Queen of Avalon, I will have satisfaction.”
Jessica stands and backs up several steps.
“Come here, Jessica Winters. Kneel and hold out your hand.” The
command in the Queen’s voice cannot be ignored.
Walking stiffly forward, Jessica falls to her knees in front of the Queen and
presents her hand, palm up.
The Queen removes her long necklace with her spelled iron dagger
dangling off it like a pendant. Then she stabs the knife straight through
Jessica’s palm.
Jessica screams in shock and looks up into the Queen’s face but wisely
doesn’t speak.
Then the Queen makes a small incision in her own palm and takes Jessica’s
hand in hers. “Repeat these words. I, Jessica Winters, swear on my own life
that I will never make any type of overture, either as friend or foe, toward
Princess Seraphina of Avalon, Prince Ashton Mountcastle or any of their
bloodline, into perpetuity.”
Jessica repeats the pledge word for word.
The Queen gives a small smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “I, the sovereign
ruler of Avalon and Lady of the Lake, swear to these witnesses that if you
break your oath, I will sign your death warrant. The Gorm will hunt you
down and ensure your death is long and painful. They’ll take you apart
piece by piece. We are in a blood pact now, and you are marked as such.”
“You are also banished from all our territories from this day forward for all
time.” Reg takes on his Council of Seven persona.
“Just kill me,” Jessica whimpers.
“I am killing you,” I whisper back.
“Perhaps you are not so softhearted after all, Seraphina.” The Queen’s voice
holds a note of respect.
“Be gone.” Reg’s voice and power boom throughout the apartment.
Jessica disappears from the room and my life. Where did she go? I don’t
know and really don’t care.
The Queen turns to me. “You are safe now. It is time for me to return
home.”
“So soon? I haven’t had a chance to thank you properly for saving us,” I
say.
“Yes, Nimue. Because of you, our children are alive today.” Mari bows her
head slightly, and Reg follows suit.
“No thanks are necessary. I simply provided a little distraction. They took
care of the rest. I prepared Seraphina for the world we live in, just as you
prepared Ashton.” The Queen waves a dismissive hand before her gray eyes
lock with mine, her expression softening a fraction. “You’re a very capable
young enchantress.”
My heart beats faster at her praise.
Then the Queen’s hawk eyes dial in on Ash. “Ashton, I think it is time you
took my daughter away on a honeymoon. An extended one. Somewhere
unforgettable.”
“Arrangements are already being made, Your Majesty. “ Ash smiles at me
and then turns to the Queen, the set of his shoulders confident. He always
forgets he’s supposed to be intimidated by her.
“I’ll see you back in Avalon in a few months.” I bow to the Queen. “Good-
bye, Mother.”
“Good-bye, Daughter.”
In a flash of light, she’s gone, and I give a half-hearted smile, wishing she
could have stayed a little longer.
 Chapter Twenty-eight

D URING BREAKFAST THE NEXT morning, Ash is unusually quiet

and eats hardly anything.
“Are you feeling okay?” I watch him drink his black coffee and move the
scrambled eggs around his plate.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s say our goodbyes and get going.” Ash pushes his
plate away.
After hugging Reg, Mari and Dahlia, and promising to visit again soon, we
jump to the condo in Perth. When we land in the penthouse, I take a look
around and purse my lips, remembering what Jessica said about all the
females Ash has smashed here.
“What do you think about selling this place?” I toss my bag on the couch
and stroll to the floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the spectacular ocean
view.
“I don’t. This is prime waterfront real estate.” Ash wraps his arms around
my waist and pulls me back against him. “Why?”
“Are you holding onto the memories of your bachelor days? The females?”
I ask.
Ash nuzzles my hair, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “I don’t
remember anyone from before you. No one. They don’t exist.”
“Good answer. Can I at least redecorate?” I turn to face him, wrapping my
arms around his waist.
“Do whatever you want. It’s your home now, too. We should probably look
into purchasing a house with some land. More room for all your pets.”
“That would be wonderful. But I still have to return to Avalon every six
months.”
“We’ll work it out. As long as we’re together, nothing else matters.” Ash’s
eyes morph from hazel to golden. “You’re the most precious thing in the
universe to me. When we’re not together, you’re all I think about. I want to
know what you’re doing every minute of every day.”
“Is that because you’re worried I’m doing something reckless?”
“I’m protective of you because you’re so important to me. Not because I
don’t think you can handle yourself. There’s a difference.” His face grows
serious. “You’re going to be a queen one day. You can’t rely on me or
anyone else to make your decisions. You have to make them yourself. You
have a mind of your own, and I wouldn’t change a thing about you. Not a
single hair on your head. You’re the most exciting female I’ve ever met.
You wouldn’t be you if you were predictable or always did what was
expected. Our life together will never be boring, that’s for sure.” Ash
presses a tender kiss to my lips that lingers for several heartbeats. “It’s time.
I don’t want to wait any longer. I want to mark you. Claim you fully. But
before I do, I need to make sure you understand what it means.”
“Tell me whatever it is you think I need to know.” Nothing he can say will
dissuade me from going ahead with the marking ritual. I’ve been waiting
for this moment for a long time.
His large, warm hands encircle my upper arms; his thumbs graze over my
skin. “Once I do this, we’ll be bound together for all time. Eternity. This
goes beyond marriage contracts and binding ceremonies. There’s no way to
reverse or break a marking. And it will never fade. Even in death, we’ll still
be connected in a transcendent way. Markings are ancient shifter magic and
are everlasting. Do you understand? Once we do this, there’s no going
back.”
“Yes, I understand.” I nod solemnly at him. “I’ll be yours, and you’ll be
mine forever.”
He takes my hand and silently leads me up to our bedroom.
I tug him to a stop just inside the bedroom door. “What’s it going to feel
like?” I ask, anticipation building low in my belly.
“It’s supposed to be very pleasurable for both of us.” Ash caresses the side
of my face with the back of his hand. “I’ve never marked anyone before, so
I guess we’ll find out together. After it’s done, our sex life is supposed to be
even more electric, charged up, than it already is. We’ll be connected on a
deeper level.”
Throwing my arms around his neck, I pull him toward me and claim his lips
in a deep kiss, touching my tongue to his. Longing and desire thunder
through me. I strain to be closer to him, not wanting to lose contact with
him even as he undresses me. He rips open my blouse, buttons scattering
around the room, and unfastens my bra with one hand. Then he undoes my
jeans and slides his hands inside the waistband of both my jeans and panties
and pushes them down over my butt as I kick off my sandals.
When I’m naked, Ash breaks the kiss and stands tall. “Get on the bed.”
Doing as he asked, I kneel in the center of the bed and watch Ash with
blazing eyes.
He toes off his shoes before reaching back over his head and pulling his T-
shirt off with one hand. Then he unbuttons his jeans and pushes them and
his boxers down, allowing his erection to spring free. Stepping out of his
clothes, he gives his dick a couple of strokes and joins me on the bed, not
breaking eye contact with me.
He’s so fucking sexy. My mouth waters, and my pussy floods.
When we’re kneeling in the middle of the bed, facing each other, Ash puts
his hands in my hair, kissing and licking into my mouth. He sucks on my
lower lip and then says, “Turn around and face the headboard.”
When I do as he asks, Ash comes up right behind me and places my hands
on the padded headboard above my head. “Keep them there.” He kisses my
shoulders and skims his fingers up and down my back and butt, making me
shiver. Then he repeats the action on my front before his hands close around
my breasts, and his thumbs and forefingers roll my nipples, sending
firebolts of lust streaking to my core.
Pressing my hands into the headboard, I arch my back and wiggle my butt
against his hard length. “Don’t tease me, Ash. I don’t want to wait.”
“Today is not about teasing.” Ash gathers my hair into his fist and whispers
musical words from a language I don’t recognize as he drops small kisses
from the nape of my neck down the length of my spine to my tailbone.
Then he reaches between us to grab his cock and fills me, making me gasp
out a moan.
“Yes,” I arch even further to take him deeper.
Ash grasps my hips as he rocks forward and back, fucking me slow and
deep.
I shudder as his length rubs over my G-spot, and my craving for him rises
like a storm surge. “It’s been so long. More.”
He pulls my wrists behind my back and pumps into me forcefully. My
pussy clenches around him, welcoming him home and relishing in his
control. Then he places my hands back on the headboard, and with one of
his hands on the small of my back and the other around the base of my
throat, he straightens me up. With the change in angle, he’s not inside me
quite as deep. I whimper a protest.
He rotates his hips in a circular motion and moves his hand from the small
of my back to play with the center of my pleasure.
“Hold on, Princess.” His tone contains a promise I’ve never heard before.
Then he swoops my hair over one shoulder and whispers again in the
lilting, foreign language right over the throb of my pulse before biting me.
The white lightening of magic and bliss pound through me, tearing a scream
from my lips and almost stopping my heart. Pure energy and rapture rush
from Ash to me, firing through my veins and arteries until I think I’ll
spontaneously combust. I’m not sure my body can hold all the pleasure, and
just when I think I’m going to burst into flames, Ash releases my neck and
turns my head, sealing his lips to mine in a soul-stealing kiss. Our essences
mingle and merge until we’re a part of each other in a way we never were
before.
The atmosphere in the room changes, like the air molecules have been
altered, and the fresh scent of ozone that often follows a lightning strike
fills my nose. Then my muscles spasm in an orgasm so hard, I teeter on the
edge of consciousness. Ash wraps his arms tightly around me, and I swear
it’s the only thing that’s keeping me from flying apart. He continues to
move inside me as the intensity of the magic and my climax recedes and
I’m left panting and shaken. After several deep thrusts, Ash finishes, his hot
cum jetting inside me.
As the storm passes, we’re both sweat covered and breathing heavily. Ash
kisses me on the neck where he just marked me. Leaning into him and
allowing my head to fall to the side, I reach my hand back to play in his
hair, still coming down from the most erotic and primal experience of my
life.
Then a deep, gravelly voice I don’t recognize fills my head. “Hello,
Seraphina. My name is Archer, and I’ve been waiting for you for a very
long time.”
I faint dead away.
Continued in Live Wire.
 Thank you for reading!

Thank you for taking a chance on this book. I hope you loved reading
Charged Up as much as I loved writing it. Let me know what you think by
leaving a review. I read and really appreciate all reviews, so please leave
one wherever you purchased this book.
 Live Wire

Queen's Court, Book 3

I F YOU ENJOYED Charged Up, continue to be a part of Ash and

Nina’s adventures in Book Three of the Queen’s Court Series, Live
Wire.
 Hear from Ash

Want to know what goes on inside the mind of a dragon shifter before he
claims his fated mate? Find out in Before the Beginning – Ashton’s Story.
This FREE download is a prequel to Power Hungry, Book 1 of The
Queen’s Court series and is available exclusively to my newsletter
subscribers. Join today to get Ash’s point of view.
Spoiler alert: When your dragon forces you to claim a pain-in-the-ass
princess as your fated mate...you fight it every step of the way.
Get it here: (https://BookHip.com/ZCKGCPH)
 Acknowledgments

No one does it alone. There are so many people who helped to make this
book a reality.
Thank you to my editor, Maggie Morris for your thoughtful editing and
insightful feedback.
Thank you to my cover artist, Stephanie Saw for perfectly capturing Nina’s
vibe in a kickass cover.
Thank you to my proofreaders, Aislin Lynx and Megan Breininger for all
your cheerleading and confidence building.
A huge thank you to all of whose who read this book early. Much love even
though I can’t name you all here.
Extra special thanks to my husband and children who encourage me to
follow my dreams.
Also by Wanda Swan

The Queen’s Court (in reading order)

Power Hungry

Charged Up

Live Wire

High Voltage
 About the Author

Wanda Swan is a Amazon #1 best-selling author of fantasy romance where

love and passion meet murder and mayhem. She pits imperfect heroines
against the odds where they must combat internal demons and external
chaos to find themselves, their perfect match, and their happily ever after.
When she isn’t wreaking havoc for her characters, Wanda is hiking to keep
her butt firm, watching cooking shows even though she doesn’t cook or
daydreaming about fantastical new worlds.
She lives in small-town Ontario, Canada, with her family and a Boston
Terrier who thinks she’s the queen of the castle.
 Find Wanda

You can find Wanda in all the usual places: