“I don’t have teats,” Snow argued, but when he looked down his chest, he noticed they were a wee bit swollen. Glancing at Shen’s bared chest, it wasn’t too different than the alpha’s muscle-swollen pecs, yet Snow wasn’t brawny like the alphas. His pointed a bit, the nipples wider and longer than their flatter peaks. “Do I?”
“They’re a little puffy. Nothing like they’ll be one day when they’re full of milk,” Shen said. His smile ebbed, and he sighed. “What shall we do with you on the next full moon? I suppose you can’t stay here with us. It would be too dangerous for you.”
“He’s mine,”Vor snapped. “He goes nowhere.”
Snow lifted his surprised gaze to Vor. Thatminemade his womb ache… and his body yearn to be closer.
“Yours, hmm?” Greer asked, one brow rising.
“Ignore me.” Vor’s cheeks grew red. He dragged his gaze from Snow and eyed the flames, one broad hand rubbing over his mouth and chin, the weight of the world appearing to land on his shoulders. “I doubt he’ll still be here by then.”
“And where will he go?” Hwa asked before turning Snow’s chin.“Do youhave somewhere safe you can go?”
“Even if he did, we couldn’t escort him any farther than the boundaries. He wouldn’t be safe on the roads alone,” Shen argued before Snow could answer.
“Do you have someone safe you can turn to?” Owan asked Snow.
Snow shook his head. “I have distant cousins in Francia, but they might write to my father notifying him I was there. My step-papa would learn I was alive… and he might try sending another assassin. Perhaps one I can’t convince to let me run away from.”
“That decides it,” Shen said. “Snow stays here for as long as he needs.”
“Wait!” Klaus barked from the shadows. “When did we decide this? He was supposed to be here for one night.”
“All those in favor of Snow remaining here?” Shen asked, raising a hand.
Greer, Hwa, Owan, and even Lazlo lifted a hand. Snow turned to eye Vor who scoffed before half-heartedly lifting a hand.
“You’re outnumbered,” Shen said to Klaus. “Snow stays.”
The alphas looked satisfied—all but Klaus.
And Vor.
Snow eyed his alpha, his heart aching that Vor appeared unhappy.
“Areyou his, little prince?” Greer whispered beside him, obviously noting Vor’s unease.
Snow ignored Greer’s question, focusing on what Vorhadsaid. Mine. They were mates—it was abundantly clear Snow was where he belonged. Of course, they weren’t legally mated before the church, but it mattered little to him. Prince or pauper, properly mated or not, they were bound together by fate. He wanted to share his heat with his alpha.
He rose from the pillows and knelt at Vor’s feet. “Do you truly not want me here when my heat comes?”
“Of course I want you here,” Vor murmured before pulling Snow into his lap. Snow curled into his mate, getting warmer. “But not under these circumstances. This is our prison, Snow, and even if the wizard rarely comes, the longer you stay, the higher the chances he might learn you’re here. My only hesitation is fear for your safety.”
“I’ll leave if you truly feel it best,” Snow whispered, unsure where to turn next.
“Nay,” Vor spat. He sighed, closing his eyes for a couple of heartbeats. “Unless thereissomewhere safer for you?”
Snow shook his head. “No. I have nowhere to go.”
Vor met his gaze. “Then, for now, I suppose this is your home, too.”
Snow fought the smile coming to his lips.
“Don’t look so pleased,” Vor admonished.
Snow bit the inside of his lip to mask his excitement. He belonged to Vor—and in a fortnight, so would his bodyandhis heat. One day, Vor would put big, beautiful sons on him. Maybe sooner than either of them really wished.
That thought gave him pause. He didn’t want to raise their children in a prison.
