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“Your Stefano came knocking on your door earlier.”
My eyebrows shot up. “My Stefano?” Oh my God – did that mean Stefano knew I had a man in my room? Did that mean Venetto knew, too? If they did, why weren’t they raising a fit?
Alejandro’s voice was distinctively cool when he answered, “Yes, your Stefano.”
I finally noticed how he had stressed the word ‘your’ and I shook my head quickly, realizing how he could have misinterpreted things between Stefano and me. “We’re like siblings.”
“Of course.”
“No, I mean it,” I insisted. “He doesn’t like me that way and I don’t like...” Seeing the inscrutable expression on his face, I told him exasperatedly, “I don’t lie. Warriors don’t lie.”
Alejandro’s lips slowly curved into a smile. “And since my little kitty’s a warrior, I guess I should take your word for it then?”
“Yes.”
He looked at me for a moment. “Then I believe you, little kitty.” He reached for something behind me, causing his body to press against mine. When he pulled away, I was breathless, my nipples erect at the brief brush of contact with his chest.
He grinned.
Oh, crap! He had deliberately—-
“Cocky wolf.” But I couldn’t help sighing when he only bent close and took my lips with a quick, deep kiss.
“Beautiful little kitty,” he purred against my lips, “And you’re all mine.” He pulled away and handed me a sealed envelope. “This came from Stefano.”
It took me awhile to get my senses back, my fingers trembling as I tore the envelope open. The first part of his message had me frowning. Stefano and Venetto had gone away to one of our northern territories. It seemed my father’s nephew, Raoul, was starting a rebellion there. If Venetto hadn’t adopted me or my sister, he would have been next in line to the pack’s leadership. But he would never make a good pack leader, not even if he was a natural born shifter. He cared too much for himself and too little for the pack.
The second half of the missive had my eyebrows shooting up.
“What is it?”
I shook my head. “I’ve received a proposal from Pasquale, heir of the Hernandez pack leader.” I rolled my eyes, but when I looked at him, I realized that Alejandro was oddly tense. Maybe he thought I was being disrespectful to a peer?
I said apologetically, “I’m sorry if I offended you. You see, this prince and I have a history. He’s a nice enough sort, but he’s made it clear if I were to choose him, he will not settle for being my Cavaliere. He wants to be my consort.” I shook my head. “It’s time I tell him...”
“Tell him...what?”
Alejandro’s question had me blinking. “That I’ve found my consort?” I expected him to smile. I expected him to make a joke. But instead, he was quiet.
When he spoke, his words weren’t what I wanted to hear. “And who is your consort, little kitty?”
Coldness wrapped its arms around me. I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation. “Who do you think it should be?”
He didn’t answer.
I whitened. “I told you last night, didn’t I? I could only do this with a consort.”
He said flatly, “I thought you were playing hard to get.”
Chapter Eight
ALEJANDRO
“You can’t be serious.” He spoke the words tightly as he swiftly put on his clothes. His little kitty was doing the same, and for a moment he imagined that those naked curves were being caressed by another pair of hands.
His blood went cold with rage.
No fucking way.
Calys turned to him with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
He cursed at the sight of it. She was obviously hurting, and she was just as obvious in her desire not to show her pain. With another muttered curse, he turned away and pulled his shirt over his head. He couldn’t risk looking at her any longer. The longer he looked, the more tempted he would be to change his mind about being her consort.
Consort.
That was just another term for husband in their world, just one step away from being a mate. Had he really thought she was just fooling around when she told him she would only go to bed with him if he were to agree to be her consort? The question made Alejandro uncomfortable. Guilt started to stir inside him, but he ignored it. Even if he had subconsciously known she meant the words, he had not taken her virginity. She was still pure, a worthy bride for any pack leader’s heir.
Not that she needed to be anyone’s bride.
He was her Cavaliere. She didn’t need anyone else to be by her side while she had him. Unfortunately, he had to make her see things his way first. Not exactly an easy task, Alejandro considered as he looked back at Calys, who was now fully dressed and still obviously hurting.
