I gulped guiltily. “Yes?”
“Stop staring at me and help!” she said frantically. “I don’t think I made the best first impression I want to look nice.”
“You always look nice,” I said truthfully. “And wear the red.”
“The red dress?”
“He hates red.”
“Then I should wear black.”
“Nae…” I smiled. “…red is a symbol of power. Wolves aren’t allowed to wear it. We are to be humble even in our ruling of the earth itself. But you’re no wolf. You’re more, and it’s about time he recognized the power you have.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m still part vampire—”
I swallowed her protest with a kiss. “That you are.” I nodded. “But your blood sings with the earth, I can feel it pulse beneath my fingertips, dancing, singing the song from the Earth to the Heavens. Give it some time, and maybe you’ll be singing to the moon as well.”
Tears filled her eyes as she grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. “I would love that… my king.”
Desire so intense attacked me. I pushed her back against the bed, spreading her legs wide. “We can be late.”
“You just said—”
“I’m an idiot.” I growled, devouring her next protest. “And I will be king if only so I can be late to my own damn table…” I lowered my head. “…and feast on my mate instead.”
SERENITY
I wore the red.
My legs trembled with nerves as we made our way down a long pathway that at one point broke out so that there were stars overhead. The glass plane over our heads was thick enough that I assumed nobody could see through. The sky was beautiful though.
We walked for what felt like miles.
My feet started to ache.
And then we were in another building. When I turned back and looked through the windows, the castle was in the distance. So, we really had walked a mile or so.
The building appeared old on the outside. But on the inside, there were immaculate riches I could have never comprehended in my long life.
Chandeliers hung down the middle of the room. A roaring fireplace was at the end of the long table for a king.
And Mason’s father stood, wearing a black suit and tie as he eyed Mason with fury that even I could sense.
More warriors stood watching, their eyes straight ahead, their shields in place, their armor shining with pride and the insignia of a wolf on their chests.
I wondered if the wolf was Mason.
Or his father.
Or maybe it was someone else.
A few beautiful women were lined up near more men who had different patches and awards on their jackets.
It was this strange alternate reality that I assumed had its own government. It finally made sense why Mason was so important. Why we needed him.
Why the Watchers wanted him too.
He was desired by every world but his own.