The prince. It’s the fuckingprince. He’s the third alpha. His ocean and pine scent wafts across the distance between us like it’ll reel me in to his side. But Raelynn’s doing that for him as she ushers me toward the royal family.
Nolan falls in behind us, expression thunderous. He can’t exactly veto a royal meet-and-greet, but he’s seething. The only thing more dangerous than an overprotective bodyguard is an overprotective bodyguard who’s also one of my scent-matched alphas.
I’m vaguely aware of the king and queen waving as I approach. Of my knees bending in a curtsey as appropriate, followed by the queen clasping my hands and telling me how wonderful my music is. But I’mentirelyfocused on how her sonsmells like the most beautiful beach I’ve ever been to, and how I want to crawl into his arms as if he’s a bed of warm sand.
Prince Kellen is handsome. He stands much taller than me—all of these scent-matched alphas do—but his hair is almost the same shade of dark blond as my natural color, underneath the dye. His blue eyes track me with large pupils as I settle in to pose for the press photos. I manage to mumble out a “Hi” to him and then smile for the camera before the closeness of all three alphas andespeciallyKellen sends my knees wavering.
I tilt as the room spins again. Out of the corner of my eye I see Nolan move to intercept, but instead of his warm hands, it’s Kellen who steadies me with a hand on each arm.
“Easy, there,” Kellen says. “Are you unwell, Piper?”
I manage to smile up at him. “No, I’m fine.”
“We can call for a doctor—Mother?”
I don’t hear his mother’s response. Kellen’s touch feels infinite on my skin, like his hands are already familiar. The look his bodyguard is giving me over Kellen’s shoulder is intense enough to melt me, and Nolan… Nolan’s frozen on the spot.
Cameras flash. Whispers erupt while Kellen continues to hold my hand until his father clears his throat. Kellen drops his hands from me like I’m hot coal and I inhale deeply. My lungs refill but I’m still unsteady.
“Are they dating?”
“Ohmygod, did you see that?”
“Prince Kellen and Piper Sumner, who would’ve thought?”
Those in attendance of this gala don’t even pretend to hide their loud accusations.
“Out. Now,” Raelynn says. She’s flanked by the royal family’s attendants who usher all four of us along. Nolan and Prince Kellen’s bodyguard follow, and despite lightheadedness taking over, I’m able tofinallywalk out of this room.
But the damage has already been done. The press has seen what they want to see. And as I’m notactuallysick, I may have to explain.
If I’m outed as an omega my career is over.
This is all I think about as Raelynn and Nolan escort me from the gala, leaving two of my scent-matched alphas behind.
CHAPTER 4
Nolan
Raelynn Roberts’knock is a staccato rap against the suite door. She doesn’t bother waiting for me to answer. Instead, she shoulders into the room—her power suit still crisp and phone already at her ear in case there are more existential emergencies requiring her personal attention.
She focuses on Piper, who’s currently sprawled sideways over the plush ottoman in the living space, half-cocooned in a fuzzy throw blanket.
“Piper.” Raelynn says her name like an accusation. “Sit up. Are you hydrated? Are you in pain? I told the hotel to get us an in-house physician.”
Piper doesn’t look up. “I’m fine. Didn’t I just say that five minutes ago?”
I press my lips into a fine line. Piper’s not sick, but what just happened at that gala wasn’t nothing.
“You’renotfine.” Raelynn clicks her tongue which is the equivalent of a war drum. “You basically staggered off the stage like you’re faint or—I hope not—drunk, and then had to be rushed out through a fire exit. You are not fine, and even if you were, your career is not. So. We’re going to have someone look at you anyway.” She pivots to me, narrowing her eyes. “You.You should have told me how serious this was. You’re her damn bodyguard, are you not?”
“I am.” It’s my only defense. I won’t be the one to spill Piper’s omega secret. My loyalty is to Piper alone.
Raelynn huffs, swipes her thumb across her phone, and proceeds to multitask her way through three conversations at once.
Piper’s cheeks are still flushed from the aftermath of the gala’s disaster. Her eyes flick toward me, bright but edged with exhaustion, and she makes a weird, apologetic face as if to say,Sorry you’re stuck in this circus.
More stuck than I realized an hour ago.
