ware of how unsteady his breat

high-handed than you, and he’s an alpha. I am, too.” Part of him w

, “You’re forgetting yourself, husband.” Royce slammed him against the door so h

our every whim, but you’re not in Perugia

ill be. Is that understood?” That low, deep voice and strong sce

ead to the side. Baring his throat. Royce went very stil

ly as a sign of respect, usually to older alphas they were related

yce lifted his hand and pressed his thumb

k him. It was the most innocent, non-invasive form

there. After a short while, the anger receded from Royce’s scent. He le

ng his gaze, even though the urge

off, and his k

heat during a skirmish attack by a group of Pelugian alphas. Your people raped hi

ened all the time during the war, on both sides. He still felt guilty for his aggressive behavior

thing your people did when you were a child. But I will blame you if you scare Lucien with

He has nowhere to go. He comes from a very old, influential family, but th

le surprised by such kindness. No matter how unfair it was, rape vic

valued. The Cleghorns were old money. It was surprising that they had taken

ouse.” Haydn’s eyebrows flew up. He was bewildered for a moment before remembering that in the Kadarian socie

father wasn’t a pedophile,” Royce bit out. “The marriage

e didn’t forget anything, but Lucien is accepted into polite so

age. I’ve never seen him as one. But Belinda does see him as a parental figure Lucien e

sense, as did Royce’s protectiveness. “T

like surprise flickered in Royce’s eyes as if he hadn’t expected Haydn to

. He looked around and raked a hand throug

your housekeeper told me where it is, but I’m not

ng him out of the room with a steady hand on his ba

on his unprotected back. But he had to accept it. This man was his husba

y come to blows a few minutes ago.

stopping in front of a d

rridor if you need anything.” Ha

it, to establish that they bot

oming awkward. Haydn crossed his arms over his chest. Finally, Royce said, “Don’t take it persona

iny wrinkle appeared between Royce’s brows. It was taking him

us to be celibate for the rest of our lives?” Grimacing, Royce said, “I

stuff,’” Haydn said, thou

ullshit. Are you sure you don’t have a knot?” He expected Royce

could say anything, Royce pushed him inside the bedroom. Closin

. “Do you truly want it?” Haydn cocked his head t

ing people since I was sixteen, Royce. I might be good at it, but it’s not something I want to do.”

eta. I’m an alpha.” Haydn would’ve liked to say that he was sh

re sense. His strange reaction to this m

alertness, the way he bristled from having Ro

xpecting him to be angry. Haydn wasn’t sur

ically requested a beta.” Did Taube not want th

my family does.

a. There are more alpha politicians than there are be

ed in Royce’s scent when he was angry was his true alpha scent. Sighing, R

e, Haydn had to admit. The estate was beautifully situa

visually spectacular, especially in the reddish rays of the setti

thirty-five have to serve ten years in our army regardless of whether t

tubbled jaw, straight nose, sensual m

at have to do with anything?” Royce

, and she was drafted when she turned seventeen.

When I presented as an alpha a few years later, my moth

true scent and somewhat hinders my senses, but now I have to live with it if I don’t want h

gs had been done in Pelugia for centuries. Everyone already knew who

tation is still an event for every child, and we think that knowing who you will present as

l is eleven years younger than me. By the time h

king him pretend to be something he isn’t.” Ah. That exp

Haydn m

Royce’s younger brother died, that would have likely be

ing,” Haydn said. Royce looked at him, a long loo

cted,” he said at last. Haydn chuc

d, batting his eyela

Royce snorted. “More ridiculou

he said. “I certainly am.

ed a little to himself, looking at the sunset. Royce hadn’t even bothered

was trustworthy. It pleased Hay

aybe he and Royce could become… friends? What mo