“Oh, you mean running off at the first opportunity you get?”
Defensiveness swirled in my gut. “Well, yes,” I said, and I had to grit my teeth to stop myself from stopping, “I was scared that being with you meant my entire future might end up sl*pping away. A human future. But I was reminded today that my path may be different than what I thought and I owe this whole thing a shot – or, at least, I owe you shot.” My face burned in embarrassment and I couldn’t bear to make eye contact with him.
Griffin didn’t let me shy away. Clasping my chin in his grasp, he turned my face towards his and I nearly gasped when I saw the look in his eyes.
Pure and total adoration-there was no mistaking it. I’d seen that look in mated couples a million times. Undying devotion-like I’d just told him he won the lottery or like I was proposing marriage. “I knew you would come around, little fox,” he whispered, “I knew you’d see that you belong to me eventually. There is no fighting fate. Any path you could take leads to me.”
I swallowed down the last of my vulnerability. His possessive words didn’t terrify me the way they used to. I didn’t know if that was because Twas trying to accept the mate bond or I’d just heard him tell me that I belonged to him too many times.
“For the record,” I clarified, “I need to take things slow. This kind of stuff…it’s new to me. You can’t throw me into some kind of role and expect me to roll with it. I’ll just disappoint you. I need time to get used to you, to actually get to know you as a person.”
Griffin smirked. “Oh, little fox. I highly doubt you could ever disappoint me, but if you did…well, you’d just end up over my knee like you were earlier today.”
I wanted to roll my eyes and tell him that wasn’t helpful but I managed to refrain.
“Exactly how slow would you like to take things, little fox?” Griffin asked.
“How about we start with a date?” I asked. “I know that’s not how you guys usually do things, but I’m not a wolf. I want to get to know you as a person. Not just because you’re my soul mate or I’m supposed to love you. I want us to choose each other.” I hadn’t meant to say that last part but it was true. If I was going to try and accept the mate bond (for now, at least) there had to be some balance. I didn’t want to end up like most of the mated couples I knew-pregnant and barefoot within a year. I wanted to know everything about him. I needed to know that the connection between us wasn’t just some cosmic fluke, but that we actually worked as people.
Another part of me, a small part that I’d never dare say out loud, wanted to know that Griffin was worthy of me…and that
I was worthy of him.
A large smile-not a smirk-overtook Griffin’s face.
“A date it is,” he grinned.
“Having perfected our disguise, we spend our lives searching for someone we don’t fool.”
– Robert Brault
When I told Griffin that I wanted to go on a date, I hadn’t expected him to work so quickly. But I guess he had latched onto the idea and wanted to make things happen as quickly as possible. And he did.
Griffin insisted that I get ready immediately and he’d back within the hour to “pick me up.” Before I’d had time to protest, he was out the door and I was back in an empty bedroom-again. While part of me felt all too nervous to spend the night with Griffin, my grumbling stomach wasn’t complaining. Getting drugged, dragged across the continent, and fed painkillers wasn’t easy on the stomach. I was more than ready for a little sustenance. I*
For a moment, I stood dumbfounded in the room. How did Griffin expect me to “get ready”? I had none of my things.
You have none of your things from home but there is a gigantic closet full of clothes in your size, my brain reminded me.
Before I could begin sorting through the mess, there was a knock on the door. Don’t tell me that’s Dr. Inessa again. I don’t think I can handle another surprise visitor today. That feels like all I do. Sit in this bedroom and wait for people to knock on the door.
“Who is it?” I asked.
“My name is Mary, Your Majesty,” a soft feminine voice spoke from the other side of the door, “His Majesty mind linked me and asked that I help you prepare for the evening with anything you may need.”
Hearing people call me “Majesty,” being waited on…it was all so new. Part of me wanted to outright reject Mary and tell her I’d be fine, but I stopped myself.
You’re accepting the mate bond and everything that comes with it, remember, Clark? Having someone wait on you is
“everything that comes with it. Besides, having a second opinion on an outfit might not be the worst thing in the world.
“Sure, come in,” I called back. ‘As soon as I gave the go-ahead, Mary entered the room, head bowed. She was nothing more than a little sl*p of a girl and she couldn’t have been much older than me. Although she kept her head bowed, I could make out bright green eyes from across the room.
Is every werewolf in the world just exceptionally beautiful?
Mary kept her gaze on the floor and stood silently like she was waiting for instructions. “Well, hi,” I said, scratching my n*eck awkwardly, “It’s nice to meet you. I appreciate the help since I’ve got several hours of jetlag and sleeping pills to get rid of.” If Mary noticed my slide remark about being drugged, she certainly didn’t say anything. I
“I’m honored to help, Your Majesty,” she said, “Would you like me to prepare the bath for you first?” (*
“That actually sounds wonderful. Thanks, Mary.”
Even with her head low, I could see her beam at the praise as she scampered off into the bathroom.
It only took her a few minutes to return and I had to practically beg her to wait in the bathroom while I bathed in Griffin’s ridiculously-sized jacuzzi tub. Mary had insisted on “helping me wash,” but that was just a touch too far for me. I’d need to be ninety-years-old and frail before I’d let another human being bathe me.
Even Griffin? My mind piped up and I couldn’t stop the blush. Where were these thoughts coming from? Was it my new acceptance of the mate bond or just the fact that I was back in his presence after a few weeks away?
I soaked in the bath for around twenty minutes. There was no shortage of room and Mary had used some sort of soothing lavender scent that I couldn’t stop breathing in. It was the first time I’d felt truly relaxed since arriving at the castle. Of course, Mary rapped on the door at the twenty-minute mark to let me know my time was winding down. I stumbled out of the soothing bath, wrapped in a fluffy towel. Mary was waiting for me in the bedroom, a couple of outfits laid out on the b*d. Her head was still bowed, not daring to glance at me.
I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I knew people were going to refer to me as “Your Majesty,” whether I wanted them to or not but I wasn’t Medusa. I wasn’t going to turn anyone to stone just for looking at me.
“Mary,” I said, and she hummed in reply, “It’s okay to look at me, you know. We can make eye contact. I know you’re trying to be respectful and all, but we’re basically the same age. You don’t need to stare at the ground. Please look at me.”
Mary hesitantly obeyed my request, her green eyes meeting mine for the first time since she’d entered the suite. Just as
I’d expected-she, like every other werewolf I’d met, was ethereally beautiful.
I gave her a smile when her eyes met mine and she smiled back. “If you allow it, Your Majesty,” she said, “The castle help is often taught that ‘we’re not allowed to make eye contact with any of the Royals, especially the Queen.”
“Why ‘especially’ the Queen?”
“Because you are for the King’s eyes only,” Mary said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. (2 Great. More possessive werewolf etiquette that I had no idea about and I definitely will not be abiding by.)
“Well, that’s kind of dumb,” I replied, “Everyone can see. Unless the King is going to keep me locked in this bedroom all the time, I’m not just for ‘his’ eyes.” As soon as the words were out my mouth, I almost regretted them. The last thing I needed was to give Griffin more ideas.
I walked closer to the b*d and examined the three outfits that Mary had laid out for me. They were all dresses. There was a blue, form-fitting dress, a black one with spaghetti straps, and a mint green number with straps that fell below the shoulders.
“I hope you don’t mind, Your Majesty,” Mary cut in, “But the King instructed that you only wear a dress tonight. I thought these might be a few good options.” I nearly rolled my eyes at that-of course Griffin wanted me in a dress.
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