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“Now presenting His Majesty, Alpha King Tyler Giles of Somberglen.”
Addisyn stepped forward to curtsy to her mate. The king and queen nodded. Alpha Tyler’s eyes met Addisyn’s before he passed by with his entourage. Lexi could swear she saw the tiniest blush cross her sister’s face.
“Now presenting His Majesty, Alpha King Fletcher Daniels of Willowfrost.”
Addisyn’s twin, Madison, stepped forward to curtsy to her mate. The king and queen again nodded. Alpha Fletcher winked at his betrothed, and Madison let out a quiet giggle.
“Now presenting His Majesty, Alpha King Xander Rush of Obsidianvale.”
Lexi took her turn stepping in front of her family. The butterflies swelled in her belly, and she did her best to tamp them down, trying not to get too carried away thinking about this stoic man in front of her. The sharp features of his face were set in stone, but his hazel eyes twinkled in the candlelight. She quickly dropped her gaze to the floor.
It was appropriate that his last name was Rush because he made her heart flutter. Truthfully, she was ecstatic to be paired with Alpha Xander. He was handsome and powerful, and he didn’t care what people said about him.
She remembered seeing Xander for the first time. He was walking into the entryway as she was coming down the stairs. He was all muscle and ferocity. When he sat to have tea with her father, he didn’t seem to notice her, but when she went by the table to kiss her father’s cheek, she felt his white-hot gaze on her.
One of the guards told her he was ruthless and territorial. She would be histerritorysoon. The thought was very appealing, but she shelved it for propriety.
Due to his gruff and quiet nature, it was hard to get a read on him and what his opinions or feelings might be. It was unclear whether this pairing was something he desired or if he was merely doing his duty to his kingdom. She hoped that was just part of his display as an alpha.
Lexi further hoped that Xander would be able to find love for her even if the marriage was just for convenience, or would this be a loveless marriage? She might be able to grow to love him. Perhaps he could do the same.
She bowed her head and curtsied, and her parents nodded behind them. She stifled an eye roll. Was she to be like this too? Xander bowed curtly, and then his eyes fixed on her. Her eyes lifted to meet his. The tension in the air was palpable.
It was as if time had frozen for this moment, and Lexi’s breath caught in her chest. For a fleeting second, she thought she saw fire in his eyes. His face, his still unreadable face, showed every bit of the danger lurking within him.
When she stood again, he took her hand and stole her away to the ballroom.
TWO
XANDER
“Today’s the day,” Xander mused to himself as he finished dressing. His thoughts were jumbled as he considered what waited for him at the party.
The ride to the birthday ball was silent, but his beta could read him like a book. “You’re nervous.”
“No.”
That didn’t satisfy him. “Want to talk about it?”
Xander sighed. “This day has been a long time coming.”
“Indeed.”
“It’s hard to believe the agreement between her father and I was forged so long ago. Tonight I’m bringing my bride home regardless of what anyone has to say about it.”
There was a pregnant pause in the conversation.
“You know, My King, there will be other people who will want to talk to and dance with Lexi tonight. It is her twenty-first birthday ball. Is that going to be an issue?”
Xander swallowed a growl. He knew it was her birthday, but he didn’t want anyone else near her.
“I just will have to stay by her side all evening. Conversation is fine, but no one else will dance with her. No one would dare take something of mine.”
He had a nasty reputation, but he honestly didn’t care. People would say what they wanted regardless of what was true. He let them talk. He didn’t have the time or energy to correct them. He was a king, and they were welcome to challenge him.
And yet, he wondered what his mate thought about him. Surely, she had heard the rumors, whispers, and stories. He had no idea whether she would succumb to idle gossip. He hoped she could love him in spite of it.
He was reminded of when he had come to talk with her father, King Alpha of Autumhart, and saw the princess for the first time.
