Nyx sat stiffly against the head of the bed, the sheets pulled up to her waist like armor. She had listened to the King's explanation in silence, green eyes steady, soldier-sharp even now.
"You marked me," she said finally, voice even but low. "Against my consent."
Dorian's jaw tightened. "To keep you alive."
She nodded once, the motion clipped, disciplined. Her training had been drilled into her from toddlerhood — obey, assess, adapt. She was still a soldier before she was a mate. Before she was a woman.
"So now what?" she asked, almost clinically. "How do we unravel this so you can mate with your intended?"
Inside her head, Kelly's jaws dropped so hard she could almost hear them click. Are you f—ing crazy?
Shut up, Kelly.
Oh no, hell no, Kelly snarled, rolling in her mental space like a thundercloud. We are NOT throwing this fish back into the sea. And if you think you are, I will never show up for you again.
Nyx kept her face neutral, eyes fixed on Dorian, but her stomach twisted.
The King stared at her for a heartbeat, incredulous. And then he laughed.
It wasn't a polite chuckle. It was a full-bodied, rich, sensual sound that rolled through the suite like a storm front. It vibrated in her chest, coiling low, making heat bloom in places she did not want to think about.
Her wolf purred. See? Ours.
"Dorian…" she said, warning in her tone.
He took a step closer, smile curved and dangerous. "Honey," he said, voice like velvet over steel, "there is no going back from this. This is it." His eyes burned silver. "My queen. Get used to it."
He leaned in, part threat, part leer, and all promise. "You will be mated before the week's end."
Nyx's breath caught. She shrank back into the blanket without meaning to, suddenly understanding Little Red Riding Hood's fear of the big bad wolf. Except this wolf wore a suit and looked at her like she was already claimed prey.
Kelly moaned in glee. Finally.
A soft knock at the door broke the charged silence.
"Enter," Dorian barked, still watching Nyx as he slowly straightened.
Beta Cassian walked in, moving with a soldier's quiet precision. He glanced at Nyx, and for the first time she saw something like respect — and sympathy — flicker in his eyes. He gave her a slight, almost imperceptible nod.
"Forgive me, Your Highnesses," he said, voice clipped.
Nyx jerked slightly at the plural greeting.
Stephen's expression stayed neutral as he continued. "The press has the hospital surrounded. We'll have to use the tunnels to get out of here."
He hesitated, eyes flicking to Nyx again. "The Princess Liora is on her way up now with her parents. And she is…" His mouth twitched. "…loud."
Even as he spoke, raised voices echoed down the hall.
Then the door burst open.
Liora swept in like a storm of perfume and silk, crown askew, eyes blazing with entitlement. The guards outside shouted, but she was already in the room, words spilling from her lips before she'd even seen where she was going.
"Dorian!" she snapped. "This is over. You're coming with me."
Nyx's wolf lifted her head, a low growl curling in the back of Nyx's throat. Dorian turned toward the Princess, his shoulders squaring, his presence suddenly a wall of power.
The room held its breath.
"Out, Liora," Dorian said softly—too softly.
The sound wasn't a shout. It was low, measured, and laced with something that sent a chill straight down my spine. That voice didn't need to raise itself to be terrifying.
Liora, of course, was completely unaffected. Too self-absorbed to recognize danger when it stood three feet away, wearing a tailored suit.
"No, Dorian." She lifted her chin, eyes gleaming with fury and delusion in equal measure. "I am here to take what is mine. You are mine."
He didn't answer, just stared—the kind of still, predatory silence that made the air heavier.
Liora kept talking. "We can do this the nice way…" She turned her gaze to me, eyes narrowing with disdain. "…or the way everyone says it goes when a thief refuses to return stolen property."
The insult hit, but I didn't move. Her drama didn't scare me. Professionals had shot at me. She wasn't one.
In the back of my head, Kelly made a low, amused sound. Is she serious right now? Please tell me she's serious. I live for this kind of stupid.
Not now, Kelly.
Fine. But if she gets smacked, I'm rewinding it like three times.
Dorian's voice rumbled in my mind suddenly, low and restrained. Cassian. Get her out of here. Now. Before I do something regrettable.
My twin stood there, chest heaving, every inch of her trembling with anger and entitlement. I'd known Liora all my life, but seeing her like this—spoiled, venomous, blind was like meeting a stranger.
And the strangest part? For the first time, I realized we didn't really look alike.
Sure, we had the same eyes, but hers were duller, somehow flat, where mine sparked. The years of privilege had softened her, dulled her instincts. Mine sharpened me.
I exhaled slowly and, out of pure habit, deferred to rank. "Your Grace," I said evenly, "I'm sure we can work—"
"No!"
The word exploded out of Dorian before I could finish, shaking the walls. The lights overhead flickered once, twice, as if even the electrical grid was afraid of him.
"The matter is settled," he thundered. His eyes burned gold, bright enough to pierce through the shadows. "Out, Liora. And don't come back unless invited."
For once, even Liora looked startled.
The door opened behind her, and Cassian stepped in, silent as ever but radiating authority. He didn't need to say a word. His presence alone was enough.
"Your Highness," he said mildly, though his tone left no room for argument. "This way, please."
Liora's jaw dropped. "You can't be serious—"
Cassian raised a brow. "I can. And I am."
Her glare darted between me and Dorian, fury simmering like acid. "This isn't over," she hissed.
"Everything with you," Dorian said dryly, "is over."
Cassian's hand landed gently on her elbow, guiding her out as she sputtered protests all the way down the corridor.
When the door finally shut, the silence left behind was deafening.
Dorian rolled his shoulders once, tension cracking through his frame. Then his eyes found mine again.
"You'll leave the hospital today," he said flatly. "We're heading back to the capital. I'll send someone to assist you."
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." His tone left no space for argument.
I folded my arms, ignoring the pull in my shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere until my team checks in. They're my people. I don't abandon them."
His gaze sharpened. "You're not their commander anymore."
I glared. "And you're not my Alpha."
He stepped closer, shadows shifting around him. "Don't test me."
I felt the bond flare, his authority pressing against my mind, heavy and electric. For a heartbeat, I almost submitted. Almost. Then I remembered who I was.
"I don't take orders in hospital gowns," I said coolly.
The gold in his eyes dimmed to silver—control snapping back into place. "Fine. You have until sunset."
And just like that, he turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind him.
Kelly exhaled a long, dramatic sigh inside my head. Well. That was hot.
Shut up, Kelly.
No, seriously, I wish I had popcorn for this. You two could power a city with the tension in the room.
I leaned back against the pillows, closing my eyes, feeling the echo of the bond still burning in my veins.
There really was no going back now.