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She was sitting on a bench in front of the coy pond, a sort of moat that sat between a bouquet of orchids and bluebells. But to Xander, there was nothing more beautiful than the sight of Lexi in her robe and slippers, her bedhead hair frizzy and fragrant even from a fair distance.
He sighed to himself before she noticed him, gazing up from having her face cupped within her hands.
She looked like she had been crying, the sight of her emerald eyes permeated by lightning streaks of reddened veins. The sight struck his heart like a gong.
“May I join you?”
Lexi nodded, and he sat next to her but not touching her. It was difficult for him, but he wanted to respect her boundaries, especially since she had been so disinterested in his closeness the night before.
“Are you all right?” he whispered softly.
She wouldn’t look at him when she spoke. She gazed at the coy pond, watching the exotic fish dance around in their isolated world of freedom.
“I’m sorry I lost my temper. He said something in French about me being half-breed … that really hit a nerve for me.”
Xander wrapped this arm around the bench to face her, then squeezed the wooden frame. It made him furious to think about what other members of the staff could be saying about her, about them, about their union. No wonder she was so distant from him the night before.
“I understand, Lexi. And you don’t need to apologize. Do you not think they haven’t seen me lose it on them, once, twice, maybe fifty times since becoming king?”
He saw her smile, which thrilled him to no end. She then turned to him, her parted lips as erotic as her naked body.
“Is that so?” she jested.
“Oh yeah,” Xander said, dramatically waving an arm up in the air. “I was crowned at a very young age, so I knew nothing other than yelling. It took me time to create this sedate being you see before you.”
Lexi sat up straight, pressing her back against the bench. She edged herself closer to him, her eyes moving to his mouth, a subtle but enticing sight.
“Thank you, Xander,” she said, her voice sensual and exciting. “You have no idea how much it means to me that you understand my plight. Truly.”
Xander wanted to tell her that he would literally do anything in the world for her. But they had known each other for only a few days, and she didn’t understand the concept of mates the way he did as a full shifter. So he touched her chin and tilted it to him, adoring the way her breathing increased when he did so.
“I do understand, Lexi. And I will never let anyone speak that way to you or speak down to you ever again.”
Her eyes fluttered up at him, and she tilted her head. He moved to her, touching their lips together lightly, and a romantic flourish of electricity moved through them like an energy surge.
Xander’s body and heart wanted to scoop her up and take her to the bedroom, but he couldn’t push it. He would let her show him what she desired and when she desired it.
The scent of her lips was candy sweet, indicating that she had moved from feeling anxious and sad to excited and intrigued. When they parted, Xander had his arm around her shoulders, and she bit her lip in front of him as her eyes began to shimmer once more.
“We have a tour of the city today,” Xander whispered, playing with her hair gently. “Go get yourself ready for that. I’ll meet you for breakfast in about an hour, then we will head out.”
Lexi nodded, and Xander stood, helping her up before he became lost in her mouth again. She held his hand as they moved through the gardens, kissing it before returning to their bedroom to get ready.
She was seemingly affectionate toward him again, which was a good sign. He went to see Stephen, the beta, right hand, and assistant to the king. He met him in his study, standing solitary against the window.
“Good morning, My King,” he said, bowing his head.
“Good morning, Stephen,” Xander replied, posing next to him by the window and crossing his arms. “I want to update you on the situation with Lexi and also ask for some of your advice.”
Stephen nodded. He had the same energy as Maureen, except Xander always felt more warmth and overall genuine concern coming from him. He was small for a shifter but had a fierce-looking pointed face similar to Xander’s.
“There was an incident in the private kitchen this morning. The staff doesn’t seem to be taking to her too well, leaving Lexi to feel quite alienated. I’m thinking that a personal guard would help her confidence, but it has to be someone familiar.”
Stephen nodded again, looking his king directly in the eye with a hooded stare. “Harper is the name of her friend and her personal guard when she was in her youth. She could aid you in your goal to help Lexi familiarize herself with the palace and its staff.”
Xander frowned, pursing his lips at his longtime friend and beta.
“It bothers me that you know more than I do about my mate,” he said casually.
