Chapter 171

Nolan swept me back into the safety of the tank. A dozen Gamma warriors piled in quickly behind us and we started our way back down the mountain.

At the base of the mountain, Nolan and I had the good fortune of changing into a new ride. A limousine was waiting for us. Once the door slammed shut behind us, I finally felt like I could begin to relax.

Neither of us spoke for several minutes. It was not awkward silence. More like comfortable quiet. We were both still reeling from the intensity of the past few hours.

Outside, the storm raged on. But the closer we got to the palace, the smaller and more distant it seemed.

I cracked open a bottle of water, took a few sips and then offered it to Nolan. He chugged the rest.

“What now?” I asked idly. I scooted my body close to his. “I can’t believe this is finally over.”

He stared straight ahead at the closed driver’s cab partition.

“It’s not over,” he muttered, frowning. Then he turned, looked at me intently and asked, “I should have killed him, shouldn’t I?”

My jaw dropped. “Are you serious? You always said you didn’t want to kill him.”

“I didn’t. I still don’t. I just wonder…”

“…what people are going to think?”

He nodded.

I pulled away, squared my body to face him fully. “Nolan. He gave up his right to the throne a long time ago. He has no valid claim anymore.”

“It may not be valid, but he does have a claim. A birthright. And there are still plenty of werewolves that believe in the same twisted ideologies he does. That look at him and see their true Alpha King.”

“That’s only what Adan wants you believe.”

Nolan blinked at me, silent.

“His little band of followers was just captured along with him. That was all he had, Nolan. You think the general population wants that psychopath running our country? The majority of werewolves only want safety and order. Not war-mongering and mass kidnappings. Tell me you know that.”

Nolan hung his head and nodded yes – unconvincingly.

“Did he say something to you?” I asked.

He was quiet a moment. “Yes. He said he will get out. And he will come after me again.”

“So make sure he doesn’t get out.”

Nolan sighed. He looked at me and nodded sensibly. “You’re right,” he said, his tone of voice lighter. “I know you’re right. I guess I just let him get inside my head.”

We received word from Nolan’s secretary that Luna wanted us in her dining room for a meal and a celebratory drink. Nolan returned a message in reply, requesting an hour to prepare.

Back in our room, I grabbed Nolan’s hand and led him to the bath. I started the hot water running while we peeled each other’s clothes off. I had the easier job, as Nolan was still only wearing pants. He stripped me of all my wet layers and then we lowered our bodies into the steaming tub.

I positioned myself between his legs, leaning back against his chest, and let him wash my hair again. He seemed to enjoy doing it, and I found the feeling immensely pleasurable, too.

Finally my skin forgot the icy chill of the mountainside. But the bath made me sleepy too, had me wishing we didn’t have to get dressed again after this and go back out into the world of other people.

Just when we were finally clean, Nolan started teasing me. Touching places on my body that he should not be touching if we were trying to get ready for our late dinner plans.

I opened my mouth, about to say so. He plugged it with his thumb, which I started sucking on impulse.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said, answering my unspoken protest before I could get it out. He shook my head back and forth along with his own.

I released his thumb, swirling my tongue around it as he pulled it out. He was amused. And aroused.

“Let’s go to bed then,” I told him. “More comfortable than the tub.”

My long hair was still sopping wet, and we’d only roughly dried our bodies. But Nolan threw me down on the clean black satin sheets anyway, not caring about that at all, and climbed on top of me quickly.

We then proceeded to make a big, wet, tangled mess of our sheets and ourselves.

Nolan got word to his mother around the time we were supposed to meet her, making sure she knew we’d be late.

“It really doesn’t matter,” he said again when I told him I felt bad. “My mother was the one who reminded me of something very important recently.”

He paused for effect. And succeeded in baiting me into asking for more.

“And what was that? What did she remind you about?”

“She told me that taking care of my wife should be my top priority.”

I felt my face getting hot. Nolan smirked, his eyes telling me yes, my face was red.

“She really said that?” It was hard to believe.

Harder still to believe was the surprise that awaited us in her dining room.

Nolan told me not to worry about dressing up, but I did anyway. An audience with the Luna Queen was something I would never take for granted, not after the critical treatment I had received every other time I’d seen her.

He dressed in beige suit pants and a black shirt, but left the jacket and tie behind. I found a black dress that toed the line between professional and sorta-fancy, paired it with a floral-on-black pashmina threaded through my elbows and beige heels, gold hoop earrings, and my gold necklace.

I was so, so glad I got myself fixed up adequately. Because when we finally reached the Queen’s dining room, it was not only her waiting for us there.

Nolan’s father, the Alpha King, was dining with us tonight too.

As if the King’s uncommon and unexpected presence were not enough of a surprise, both of Nolan’s parents stood when we entered the room and welcomed us warmly.

I wanted to ask: Who are you and what have you done with my in-laws?

Once all the semi-formal greetings were complete and the four of us were seated at the table, Nolan’s mother raised her glass.

I accepted a flute of champagne from an eager servant at my side.

“To my extraordinary son,” Luna announced, “and his extraordinary wife. The two of whom are sure to be remembered for their remarkable deeds long after we are all departed from this world.”

It was a heavy thought. A very big picture kind of idea that I decided I didn’t want to think too much about.

I tapped the Queen’s glass with my own, then the King’s, then Nolan’s. Three of us drank to the toast; Nolan set his glass down warily without taking a sip.

“I have some writing to do tonight,” he offered in explanation. “I would like to keep my mind sharp. I plan to address the public first thing in the morning.”

We were walking back to our room afterward when Nolan asked me a question I’d been waiting to hear.

“Did you know that your friend Lucy was involved with Adan?”

I sighed. “Not until recently. She told me the day that he declared war. She was a wreck.”

“Is she okay? Did he hurt her?”

“Oh, no. Well, I don’t think so. She told me he threatened her, though. She thought he was having her followed, too. After you told me about how he’d been stalking me, or whatever you want to call it, I knew she was probably right.”

“Well. I’m glad she is okay.”

“That’s nice of you to ask. She was very worried that I would be mad when I found out. She blames herself. Because, I guess, he was getting information about me from her while they were dating.”

Nolan nodded smally. Like this was something he already knew. “I’d like to see her soon,” he said. “I bought a new phone for her.”

I laughed. “She’ll be over the moon. When should I have her come over?”

We’d reached our room. I started kicking off my shoes and disrobing the second Nolan closed the door behind us.

“How about tomorrow night? You could invite your family as well. We can host them all for dinner. I’d like to thank Evan, too, for his help.”

“Okay. I’ll text them all tonight.”

“And… one other question.”

I turned to look at my husband, found him looking nervous. “What is it?”

His voice was quiet. “Why weren’t you on the plane?”

I puzzled at this question. “What do you mean?”

“You were supposed to be on your flight when I was at the orphanage. You should have been in the air by the time I was shot. Why weren’t you?”

“My wolf wouldn’t let me,” I told him. “And then I felt you get shot.”

“You felt it?”

“I did.” I clutched the center of my chest and grimaced, remembering the pain. “It hurt really freaking bad.”

Nolan chuckled, shaking his head with his eyes closed.

“You’re remarkable,” he said. “Your magic is very rare, Yena. And very powerful.”