Chapter 39 - Always follow my lead

HADRIAN

The throne room is dark. The only light comes from one window, the rest is covered with curtains. The room is empty except for my father. Deep shadows cloud his frame. There hangs a chill in the room that leaves a shiver over my spine. Nero is already growling and on edge. I try not to let his wariness get to me and step further into the room.

“Good afternoon, father,” I say as I kneel in front of him.

My father grumbles and I take it as my sign to stand. His hawk eyes follow my every move like they’re searching for something.

“As you might know, Alpha Amadeus has died. And there has been unrest in his pack ever since…”

I don’t confirm or deny his statement. I’ve learned that neither answer is the correct one.

“The Snow Moon pack has no leader now. He has no heir to fill his place…”

I think of Graciella. She is his heir, but my father acts as if she doesn’t exist. I told Emma that Graciella had to be alive because there was no record of her death. I believed that to be true, but something nags at me. What if not all that happens within the kingdom is recorded or if those records are hidden?

“I need you to break up the land and divide it over the surrounding packs.”

“Of course father.” I reign in my confusion. Something as mundane as pack border issues is not something the King bothers himself with.

Are the words of Alpha Amadeus true? Are there things hidden from my knowledge? Are people unhappy in the kingdom? Is this phase of prosperity fake and corrupt?

I think I need to see for myself.

“I hear you have been going to the archives.” My father says.

The other ball drops. I tense for a short second. I had a feeling that we wouldn’t come out unscathed, but the guard was quick to tell my father.

“I wanted to show Emma the palace towers.”

“Hmm, Emma.”

I grind my teeth hard when my father speaks her name. The doors of the throne room open and General Zeno walks in like he owns the place. Nero growls at General Zeno. He is ready to attack and pushes me to shift.

“Good afternoon, Your Majesty. Could I steal a moment of your time?” His voice has a heavy grate and it’s painful to my ears.

“You may.” My father gestures for him to come in. “Hadrian, entertain our guests until we’re done here.”

I nod at my father and walk with calculated steps in the direction of the exit.

“Prince Hadrian.” Zeno grates.

“General Zeno.”

He sends me a degrading smirk. “How is your mate these days?”

I ball my fists to prevent myself from doing something stupid. “Fine.”

“Must be hard, being mates with someone so fragile.”

Nero is going full-on mayhem in my head and I slowly grate my teeth from left to right. I don’t answer, just continue to walk until I’m out of the throne room.

*“We should go back. Challenge him to a duel.”*

*“We are not going to attack Zeno.”*

*“I wasn’t talking about that lowlife.” *

————

I make my way back to my rooms. I need Nero to calm down in my head and search for our mate. I need her to calm me down too. She’s like a drug and I need my fix.

Emma is not in our bedroom, but I hear chatter in the dressing room. I’m drawn to the sound of her laughter. I want to see her smile. I want to see her enjoy even the smallest things.

I walk through the doorway of the dressing room and spot Emma spinning around in a satin slip dress. The fabric falls softly over her curves. I swallow, because this definitely doesn’t calm me down.

“Oh my,” Paulina calls.

Emma finishes her twirl, facing my way. Her hair is falling in loose waves. They brush along her cheeks, which are slightly flushed. She has a wide smile and the sight almost knocks me over. The smile only lasts for a split second, then it drops in an instant when she spots me.

*I need a drink.*

I turn away and let them continue their little jubilation. Whatever it was, doesn’t include me.

There was a minute today where she wasn’t disgusted by my touch. Couldn’t be disgusted by the sight of me. For a minute she was mine. I know it was due to the mate bond, it draws her to me even if she doesn’t want to. I let myself believe for a second that it was because she wanted to.

I work my way through two disputes until I know that the coast is clear in the dressing room. I change into a black suit and knot the tie around my neck. I suppress a growl at the restrictive feeling.

My attention is pulled to the soft studs behind the wall next to the doorway. I can hear Emma shuffle her feet over the floor.

I frown and walk to the doorway. I look around the wall and Emma has her eyes closed as she thumps her head lightly against the wall.

“Are you okay?”

Her eyes open in shock. “What? Yeah, I’m great.” Her eyes are wide and filled with unease.

“Are you sure?”

Emma groans and lets her head fall. I quickly reach up and place my hand between her head and the wall, to soften the blow. Her hair is soft against my palm.

I lean closer. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not a princess. I don’t know how to do princess things. I’m just going to embarrass myself tonight.” She walks away from the wall and throws her arms in the air. “I didn’t even know what a banquet was. And now I’m expected to know your customs and rules?”

I follow her as she paces through the room.

“What if I need to talk or dance? I don’t know how to dance.” She shrieks.

I don’t like it when she stresses. I know living here causes her already a great amount of stress and this only adds to it.

I wrap my hand around her wrist. “Calm down. Breathe.”

I make sure to keep plenty of space between us and keep the contact to the bare minimum.

She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Her heartbeat gets more steady. I know it’s the mate bond calming her down, but I wish it was me.

“I could teach you a dance trick I’ve learned.”

“You dance?”

I narrow my eyes at her skepticism. “I was taught a lot of etiquette when I was younger.”

“All right then. Teach me.” She takes on a standard position with her arms raised in the air and waits.

I let her wait for two more seconds and I see her getting uncomfortable by the flush of her cheeks. I take her hand and place the other on her waist. Her hand is tiny and soft and I press my thumb along her palm. With my other hand, I spread my fingers over the yellow satin she wears. The curve of her hip beneath my fingertips is soft. Then I pull her close to me.

She gasps and her skin flushes brighter. I let myself be engulfed in her sweet scent. It gets easier to ignore the silver around her neck. I’m even starting to appreciate it. It makes others wary and makes them keep their distance from her.

“So what is this trick?” Her voice is scattered and she clears her throat.

I begin to move us around the open space in the room. Guiding us to the melody of my imagination. The only sound is that of our footsteps.

Emma missteps and apologizes. She starts to look at her feet, but it doesn’t make me stop.

“It’s more a rule and a trick.” I twirl her around and she does so with hesitation and stocky movements.

I pull her back and resume our dance around the room. I lean in to whisper in her ear. “The rule is to always follow my lead.” I enjoy the effect it has on her. How the flush spreads over her shoulder and how her heartbeat picks up.

Emma continues to step on my toes, but a little less than before.

“The trick is to at least pretend to know what you're doing.” I continue to guide her around the room as if this is the best dance in the world. For me, it is because I can illicitly hold her. And after a few more rounds, Emma starts to get the rhythm of the dance.

“Is that the rule you live by?” Emma peeks down at her feet again.

“What?”

Her eyes move up and connect with mine. “It just seems that you’re pretending a lot. You say you’re fine when you’re actually not.”

This time I’m the one who falters a step. Emma apologizes again and I shake my head. Her words shake me. She sees right through me.

I’ve never been the best, the strongest, smartest, or fastest. Usually, that title goes to my sister, but pretending to be all the things I’m not, has gotten me where I am today.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just that you don’t have to pretend with me.” She mutters.