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Practically. The water did it, I think.A stream ran through the center, disappearing under the far wall, but in the middle was a pool of water, deep turquoise with sparkles of sunlight funneling down from an opening in the high ceiling.It comes up from somewhere below and then runs off there. Want to swim?
Instead of answering, I took a great leap and landed in the pool, sending water splashing every way. He joined me and we swam and dunked one another, at some point with unspoken agreement shifting into our human forms and continuing to frolic as if nothing had changed. It was the most fun I’d had possibly ever, and when I accidentally bumped him, and he gathered me close, I recognized that he was as turned on by me as I was by him.
He kissed me, and held me close, then broke away and shifted back before anything else happened. Stunned, it took me a moment longer, but I wanted to talk, so I went wolfie as well.Leif, I thought…didn’t you want to umm…
More than you’ll ever know.He nuzzled me and urged me toward the side.But it’s not time yet. When a queen mates it does require ceremony and all those things. We can’t deny your people that.
No. We can’t.I shook, sending droplets every which way.So what do we do?
Get to know one another?He trotted toward the tunnel.Take our time.
That would have been my vote, too, until now.
Chapter Thirteen
I sat on a chair behind the throne room, waiting for whoever this second suitor was. They hadn’t even told me his name but Candace knew. She just had that smirk on her face when I asked her.
I could’ve demanded she tell me but the truth was, I simply didn’t care.
These were men who were contracted to mate with my twin sister and now I was getting the sloppy seconds. Then again, over email, Jillian had said they weren’t technically seconds since she’d never even met them.
Still, having my life planned out for me wasn’t my idea of a life at all.
At least I had this new emerald green velvet dress to make me feel better. It accentuated the color of my hair and made my eyes sparkle.
Damn it! I should’ve worn an ugly dress. One of the old ones that would make this whole meeting seem like a farce. He would run for the hills and never look back.
“I need to change,” I said, getting up but the sound of a trumpet caught my attention.
“No time. He’s here.”
I scoffed and crossed my arms over my chest. “He’s late. I can be late, too. Let’s not forget who the queen is in this scenario. I am gracing his presence not the other way around.”
Jeez, my head was getting bigger and bigger by the day.
Candace said nothing, just looked at the floor. Maybe she was ashamed of me. I was kind of ashamed of myself, truth be told. “Fine. Let’s just greet him and get this over with.”
I hated this. Candace gave me the signal and I walked around into the throne room where only a dozen or so people would be watching the interaction between me and…”
“Your Highness, may I introduce…” The fellow with the trumpet began to speak, but another man shushed him.
“Let’s not be so formal. After all, I am meeting my betrothed. We are going to spend the rest of our lives together. My name is Gunnar and you must be Janis, Your Majesty.” The man with wheat-colored hair and golden eyes walked up to the throne, a little too close for comfort. He jutted out his hand like he was a salesman instead of someone who wanted to marry me—bed me—whatever in the hell these people had in mind.
Okay, I’m not stupid. I know what they had in mind but, to me, it was like meeting a stranger.
I refused to take his hand, instead, laced my fingers in my lap. “Gunnar, it is very nice to meet you.”
Gunnar clapped his hands and gave me a broad smile. If I wasn’t so averse to all of this betrothal business, that smile might’ve melted me a little.
Maybe a lot.
“Thank you. Now, shall we begin the proceedings?”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Proceedings?”
Someone had clearly missed briefing me on this guy. He was obtrusive and pushy, mores o than Leif, and that was saying something.
“Yes. I came all this way to seal this betrothal. When are we to be married?”
