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“Galen, I told you about this because I wouldn’t have felt right keeping it from you, not giving you the opportunity to decide for yourself. But I assumed you’d say no, and now...you’re saying yes, and I...I can’t let you do it. I can’t let you give up the pack.”
“You’re not letting me do anything. I am choosing to do it.” I backed her against the door, pressing our bodies together, cupped her face in my hands and kissed her. “So, what do we do now?”
“Now we tell Bjorn.” She pressed her lips to mine, with a kiss that was too short for my liking. “I’m sure there’s some ritual or ceremony that has to be done. They seem to have one for just about everything.”
“Do we have to tell him right now?” I glanced around the room. “We’re alone for the first time in days. It would be a shame to waste the opportunity.” I bunched up her dress and inched it up her silky, toned legs. “And I should probably get some practice in if I’m going to be your consort.”
“Practice does make perfect.” She hitched her leg up on my hip, ran her hand along the hard length of me and guided me inside of her.
“Talia.” I whispered her name as I buried myself in her over and over again. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” She moaned in my ear, nipping the lobe.
Her breathing quickened and muscles tightened. She was close, so close to climax, but I was catching up. I loved making her come. It turned me on. There was nothing sexier than watching and feeling her orgasm.
Weak kneed, we slid to the floor. I pulled her onto my lap and cradled her against me. Now that I’d gotten a chance to touch her, to be with her again, I couldn’t stop. I needed to feel connected to her.
I needed to be with her whenever, however I could. Talia was like a drug and I was addicted.
“I guess we should talk to the alpha.” I nuzzled into her neck, kissing behind her ear.
“Good idea. But I think we should find you some clothes first.”
“I’m not the only one who needs clothes. You might want to change into something more practical too. I don’t think you’re going to convince the demon wolf goddess that you don’t want to marry her husband if you show up dressed for a wedding.”
Talia sent Valerie out to gather clothes for the both of us and to notify Bjorn that we needed to speak with him. The Deofol pack alpha arrived and was less than thrilled to learn I’d accepted the position as consort.
“We spoke about this, Talia.” Bjorn pulled Talia aside, gripping her arm harder than necessary. “You said you wouldn’t trap Galen. The role of consort is no way for an alpha to live.”
“I love him, Bjorn. You and the pack need me to be the Bone Clan princess and to be happy about it.” Talia stepped back, jerked her arm out of his grasp and pointed at me. “This is how I do that.
“I understand.” Bjorn stroked his white beard and paced the floor of the exam room. I could almost see his conniving mind word.as he figured out his next move. He glanced at me, and narrowed his gaze. “I’m sure he feels the same way, but with the news of his father passing and the circumstances around his death, I don’t see how Galen could stay and fulfill the role of consort.”
“Don’t talk about Max.” Talia rounded on him, her face flushed with anger. She cared for my father and was as protective of him and his memory as I was. “An alpha like you isn’t worthy of speaking his name.”
“Easy, princess.” Bjorn wasn’t offended by the slight. In fact, his knowing smile said quite the opposite, as if he’d expected her to react that way. “I knew of Maxwell Long Claw. He was a formidable wolf in his day. Which is why the manner of his death troubles me.”
“He was sick.” Talia crossed her arms over her chest. “His body couldn’t fight the infection any more.”
“Wolves don’t just get sick, Talia. Especially not a wolf as strong as Maxwell Long Claw was.” Bjorn scratched his cheek and jaw. “It’s been bothering you too, Galen. I can see it in your eyes. The question that haunts you. How did he get sick? It wasn’t from natural causes, I can tell you that.”
“And how would you be able to tell me that?” My fingernails elongated, and hands partially shifted. My temper and my wolf got the better of me. “If you had anything to do with my father’s death-”
“The Long Claw pack wasn’t a concern of ours until you brought Talia to the summit, and confirmed Valerie’s research. She’d been tracking down our lost princess, you sped the process up bringing her out in the open like that, but we would have found her eventually.” Bjorn folded his arms over his chest and widened his stance. “No, Galen Long Claw, you need to look closer to home for the source of the mysterious illness that caused your father’s death.”
“Northwood.” The sharp point ends of my canines pricked the soft tissue inside my mouth. My wolf was close to the surface, fighting my will and pushing to break free. “How do you know this?”
But if Bjorn was telling the truth, there wasn’t anyone in the room for us to take vengeance on.
“I’m isolated from the rest of the world, Galen, but not entirely cut off. Word reached me from the summit. There was talk of your father’s death after you and Talia left the meeting early.” Bjorn lips parted in a satisfied smirk.
I didn’t smell a lie. He spoke the truth or believed he did, but he wasn’t offering it out of the goodness of his heart. He didn’t want me with Talia, even as her subject or consort. Bjorn wanted me out of the picture entirely and information about my father’s death and the Northwood pack’s possible hand it in was a good way to do it.
But I saw the play for what it was.
“My father was at peace in the end. He died in his sleep and I buried him. That was the end of Maxwell Long Claw. Nothing I do will change that.” It pained me to say those words, but I put as much conviction in them as I could to convince Bjorn.
I would have my vengeance on the Northwoods. But not until I free Talia.
