Chapter Twenty-Nine
Archibald
My bonded are feeding our bride at the table as I retreat to the skies. I need the open air to think clearly.
I almost made a grave mistake last night. An indescribably huge mistake that would have eaten me alive if I had done it. It doesn’t matter if it was alpha hormones; it is my job as an alpha, aleader, to control myself. And I would have failed.
Thankfully, Ben and Theo saved me from the worst of it. My bonded. The alphas I’ve attached my life to. My lovers and best friends.
But I’m afraid even the threat that I waved in front of Fern, after she’d been terrorized by that uncertified—and illegally settled—chime, was enough to ruin any feelings my bride might have grown for me.
I stretch my wings and glide, my mind racing faster than the air whizzing by me.
She ran from us, though we’ve not harmed her.The thoughts that dance through my mind are wholly separate from each other, and yet each true in and of themselves.
She would have rather been raped by those monsters than pleasured by us.
She obviously has some defensive skills and watching her destroy that gargoyle’s wing had made me proud as fuck.
She will never settle as a center. She hates us. Our kind.
I shift my weight, causing me to circle left on the air current.
We’ve done nothing terrible to her. Nothing out of the ordinary.I sigh.But perhaps she is out of the ordinary.
Maybe Theo is right and we need to...
My thought trails off as I see five gargoyles in fatigues flying towards our home. I arc back quickly, dropping low to catch a current and beat my wings as quickly as I can without seeming frantic to get to the house.
I land on the balcony, hissing “Get her on your cocknow! And grab a blanket for her!”
My center will not be seen fully nude by anyone but my chime.
But more than that, I need her busy, languid, pleased.
My bonded don’t question me: Ben runs for my room and Theo pulls Fern close, standing and holding her to his chest, following Ben. Her big golden eyes flick to me, meeting mine for a second, and away.
I turn to the balcony just as I hear my bedroom door close. A moment later, the officials from the National Squadron land.
“Earl Archibald, we’re sorry to arrive unannounced. We came in a hurry, having heard some disconcerting news.”
“Of course, Admiral,” I respond evenly, having taken in his rank from his uniform. I don’t know him by sight. “What can I help you with? Would you like tea?” I ask easily as I stride to the kitchen.
“No, sir. We’re here to check on your bride. The one you claimed at the ceremony four nights ago. We got a report,” he says cryptically.
I look at him hard and he has the sense to look abashed. I wait a beat longer than is polite, glaring.
“My bride is busy with my bonded, Admiral.”
“My apologies, Earl Archibald, but we must really see her for ourselves.” He shifts back and forth.
I frown and pace to my room, “Cover our bride, I do not want other males seeing her nude,” I call through the door. The Admiral and two of his alphas are directly behind me.
A beat and Theo hollers, “Enter.”
I swing the door open and Fern is laying in bed, her head on Theo’s chest, his arm around her, tucking her to his side. Her lustrous hair is swept across the pillow and on the other side of Theo is a very nude Ben, who Fern is reaching for. The sheets have been tossed up, covering most of Fern. They all stop and look at the officials.
“As you can see, Admiral, my bride is in fine condition and quite busy here.” My words are clipped.
