17. Chapter 17
Chapter seventeen
Alexander
X ander wanted more of this.
He wanted more easy conversation and exhilarating flirtation. He wanted more of Hunter’s satisfied smiles, and Greyson’s full belly laughs, and Destiny’s teasing siren eyes looking at him with sass and trust and desire. He wanted more days showing her his home and his people, of experiencing Avondale through her eyes.
Xander wanted more of Destiny.
He wanted all of her.
Xander watched her glow beneath the twinkling lights and thought that there’d never been a Christmas festival this beautiful. Despite the chilly night air, he never felt the cold, not when he was basking in the warmth of Destiny’s attention. His pack was happy. His family was happy. His people were happy.
Xander was happy.
He’d realized it when he hopped on stage beside Destiny to tell the kids the Christmas spider story. It had felt so natural. He hadn’t been worried about saying and doing the right thing, hadn’t been preoccupied with his own anxiety and self-doubt. Even the press hadn’t shaken him. And it was because, for the first time in a long while, Xander was truly happy.
He was still buzzing with energy when they returned to the castle. He was prepared to beg Destiny to hang out a bit longer but, luckily, the rest of the pack had the same idea. When Greyson took her arm and steered her toward their wing, she didn’t protest.
The packhouse felt better when she was in it. His life felt better with her in it. Xander needed to make sure she knew it.
“What kind of tea shall we have?” Greyson asked, as they removed their coats and boots in the packhouse foyer. “We need to unwind. So, perhaps chamomile or lavender?”
“Lavender,” Destiny replied, padding across the living room to stand in front of the fireplace. “Even if it doesn’t make me sleepy, at least it’ll thaw me out a bit. I’m still freezing.”
Greyson went to the kitchen to make tea. Hunter stoked the fire. After turning on some quiet music, Xander plopped onto the couch, stretching out with a thick blanket.
“Frosty, there’s a spot right here with your name on it,” he declared, patting the couch beside him and lifting the corner of his blanket in invitation. “Grey got to sit beside you all evening. It’s my turn.”
“Twat,” Greyson said, not looking up from the tray he was arranging on the bar top between the kitchen and living area. “Aren’t you still supposed to be groveling? You’re in no position to make demands.”
Xander snapped his mouth shut, eyes instinctively going to Hunter. They weren’t in play mode, but he hadn’t forgotten Hunt’s warning after his bratty taunts during the sleigh ride. Xander felt a thrill of excitement at the idea of being punished, even as he dreaded the thought of being denied snuggles with his omega.
Hunt grinned his lazy, dominant grin that made Xander’s stomach flutter. He always knew what Xander was thinking, what he needed, even when Xander didn’t understand it himself. It’d been that way since they met.
“Ask her again, without being a brat,” Hunter ordered sternly, though his lip twitched like he was fighting a smile. In the flickering firelight his eyes were molten amber and as intense as ever.
Hunt’s intuition must’ve told him that Xander needed this time with their omega. Though Xander knew it was his own fault, he was a little jealous that Destiny had taken to Hunt and Grey so quickly. Their relationship with the popstar was already intimate and comfortable. It made Xander’s insecurities try to resurface. A familiar, insidious little voice reminded him that he was the fuck up of the pack. Of course, Destiny preferred his packmates.
“Pretty please, Destiny, may I help you warm up?” Xander asked, ignoring his intrusive thoughts and batting his lashes at her playfully. “I’m an arrogant asshole, but I am genuinely trying to make amends and earn your trust. So come snuggle me, please, before you catch pneumonia.”
He gave her his brightest smile, hoping she could see the sincerity beneath his teasing. Destiny quirked an eyebrow at him, then proceeded to short circuit his brain by pulling her sweater dress off. Xander had seen his fair share of naked women, but never had he seen a body he wanted to worship more. And she wasn’t even naked, wearing a camisole and leggings that molded to her generous curves like a second skin.
God, her skin. Xander’s eyes traced every inch of her bare arms and chest, the swell of full, perky breasts, all of it the warm tawny brown of fallen leaves. When Xander finally got the chance to peel off her clothes, he’d probably embarrass himself. His cock was already painfully hard at this glimpse of skin. He couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t cream his pants at the sight of her naked form.
Xander realized he was staring, and Destiny’s smirk told him she’d noticed, had let him have a good, long look. He licked his lips, trying to remember what they’d been talking about. His brain was definitely suffering from the fact that all his blood had rushed to his dick.
“Take your shirt off, Princeling,” Destiny demanded, gesturing at the offending article impatiently. “Don’t you know anything about preventing hypothermia? Skin to skin contact. Duh.”
Xander’s mouth fell open. He could see what she was doing—giving him the intimacy he craved, wrapped up in their safe, playful antagonism. It was a gift, an acknowledgement that she saw him. The real him.
“If you wanted my clothes off, all you had to do was ask. This wouldn’t be the first time I gave you a strip show.” Xander hoped she felt the gratitude beneath his words, because he was suddenly so incredibly grateful for this omega and the profound impact she’d had on their lives. “Get over here. The anticipation is killing me.”
Xander whipped his shirt over his head and tossed it aside, and then she was beside him, her skin warm and alive against his. Xander pulled the blanket over them, breathing her in greedily. Her scent was so much like her personality—sweet with a spicy streak beneath. Peppermint and cinnamon with a hint of ginger.
“You really are a brat, aren’t you?” Destiny griped, snuggling close, and resting her head on his shoulder. “Poor Hunter has his hands full with you, huh?”
Xander chuckled, absently burying his face in her hair. He stroked his hands over the goosebumps on her arms. Though he was happy to help her get warm, he was even happier to rub his scent on her, and to get hers on him. It was soothing, the way her scent was becoming more prominent in the packhouse, mixing with theirs like it was meant to. He sighed out a contented breath and felt her shiver. Xander didn’t think it was from the cold.
Just to be sure, he breathed his reply into her hair. “Hunt has big hands. There’s room for another brat.”
Destiny shivered again, her breaths speeding up when Xander followed his words with a soft kiss against her temple. She tilted her head up to look at him, her moss green eyes darkening as her pupils dilated. The thread between them went taut—that pull of awareness tugging him inexorably toward her. Xander lowered his head slowly, watching her, giving her a chance to pull away, to show any hesitation or anxiety.
“Do I have to go and find some mistletoe?” Destiny said, and the teasing huskiness of her voice nearly undid him.
The castle could’ve been burning to the ground and Xander wouldn’t care. The moment he felt her soft, plump lips pressed against his, he knew that he would not be the one to end this kiss. He would never be the one who ended all the many kisses left to come. Xander would kiss her as long and as often as she’d let him because this was enough. This was infinite. This was joy.
Then her lips parted, and she was letting out a little moan at the first touch of their tongues and Xander thought he might be on fire after all. He was burning from the inside out and nothing would soothe the burn but more of her. As if she’d read his mind, Destiny buried a hand in his hair, pulling him closer, opening her mouth in invitation. Xander bit her bottom lip before plunging his tongue into her mouth, searching, tasting, claiming.
In the end, it was Grey who ended the kiss. “Bloody hell, mate, this is extraordinarily hot, but the tea’s getting cold.”
Destiny pulled back, blinking dazedly. Xander would’ve laughed if he hadn’t been just as wrecked. And with her swollen lips still in easy reach he couldn’t think of anything but kissing her again.
“Thank you for a beautiful day,” she whispered, snapping Xander’s attention back to her siren eyes, which were filled with tenderness—tenderness for him . Xander would do a great many things to earn that look every single day. “Thank you for sharing your home and people with me. You earned five stars as a leading man. Today was perfect.”
Xander swelled with pride and satisfaction at the praise. A purr rumbled in his chest, surprising them both. Destiny smiled at him—warm and without a hint of sarcasm—and any remaining insecurities Xander felt melted away. She liked him. It didn’t matter which of them she’d liked first or gotten closest to the quickest, as long as she still had room in her heart for him. That was more than enough.
She settled against him with her cup of tea, turning her bright smile on Grey. “When did you bring the tea? I didn’t even notice.”
“Five minutes ago, when you were being properly snogged and Hunter and I were watching and salivating,” Grey replied, settling on Destiny’s other side. “I believe I’m the only one who hasn’t had a little smooch today.”
Xander laughed as Destiny leaned over and pressed a kiss to Grey’s pouting lips. She sighed contentedly when Grey took her face in his hands and kissed her again, lingering for a long moment before letting her go. She looked dazed again when he pulled away.
“Drink,” Xander told her, gesturing to her teacup. “It really will get cold if you keep letting us kiss you. Not that I mind.”
Destiny smirked at him, but obediently sipped her tea. They talked awhile about the events of the day and the rest of the festival schedule, then on random topics until Destiny’s eyes began to droop. When she yawned for the third time, Xander pulled her to her feet.
“You need sleep,” he said, his protective instincts kicking in. “You’re welcome to stay here, or I can walk you to your room.”
Destiny grinned sleepily. “Your groveling skills weren’t impressive enough to get me into your bed.”
Xander laughed. He might’ve finally met his match in the brattiness department. They were going to have so much fun.
“Let’s go,” he growled, pinching her rear and enjoying how she yelped in response.
It was late and the castle corridors were mostly empty as they walked back to the guest quarters. When they reached her room, Destiny threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. She was warm and soft and wonderful, and she fit against him so perfectly. He never wanted to let her go.
“Good night, Princeling,” she said. Then she pecked him on the lips and disappeared into her room.
Xander was practically floating as he turned away, which is why he nearly collided with the person emerging from the room beside Destiny’s. When they let out a surprised squeak, Xander saw that it was Mina, looking uncharacteristically rumpled. Her eyes widened comically when she saw who he she’d run into.
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” Xander said with a laugh. “Do you and Sasha ever sleep? Or do you plot world domination day and night?”
Mina laughed and patted her hair. “Not every night. Sorry, your highness. I’ve got to start watching where I’m going. Good night.”
Xander waved goodbye as the royal assistant headed briskly in the opposite direction. With his thoughts back on Destiny, he returned to the packhouse, certain he wouldn’t find sleep anytime soon. He didn’t mind, though. He had lots to think about.
Xander requested an audience with his parents the following morning. He joined them for breakfast in their private dining room, arriving so early that he found the room empty aside from a pair of assistants laying the table. Too wired to sit, he was pacing in front of the fireplace when the first of his dads arrived.
King Raj startled when he saw his son. He made a big show of looking at the clock, then raised his thick, dark eyebrows at Xander. Xander started to speak, but was interrupted when another of his dads strode in.
“Alexander is already here? Since when does our son arrive anywhere before us?” King Anton demanded, taking his seat at the end of the table.
Xander tried again to reply, but the entrance of his remaining parents cut him off. King Malik and King Vasili escorted his mother to the other end of the table, then sat on either side of her.
“Is our son fully awake, dressed, and demanding breakfast, all before noon?” King Vasili asked the room in general. “And after a long day of royal duties, no less! To what do we owe such an honor?”
Xander scowled, raking his hair from his eyes with an impatient hand. He tried not to let their sarcasm bother him, but it was a reminder that he’d created the low expectations they had for him. It would take time to change that perception.
“My loves, I’m sure our son has a reason for joining us this morning. Shall we have breakfast and let him explain himself?” Queen Raina suggested mildly. His mother never seemed to need to raise her voice to be heard. All of his fathers tuned in the moment she spoke. “Malik, darling, will you bless the food for us? Raj, Alexander, sit down.”
They followed his mother’s orders and soon began to eat, his parents watching him expectantly. Xander took a breath and squared his shoulders. He met their gazes solemnly, forgoing his normal rakish grin.
“First, I’d like to apologize.” Xander had thought hard about what he wanted to say, but he’d known that this is where he had to start, regardless of what else he said. “I’ve been immature and ungrateful these last few years. Maybe all my life. You’ve worked hard to give me a charmed life, and to prepare me for the responsibilities that come with it. I’ve taken it all for granted, and I’m sorry.”
Raj’s eyebrows nearly reached his hairline, but Xander’s other parents managed to maintain more neutral expressions. No one spoke. His mother nodded encouragingly, her ice blue eyes full of affection.
“I want to start working to change that, if you’ll allow me. I know that I’ll ascend the throne soon, that I could’ve done so by now if I’d gotten myself together sooner.” Xander took a deep breath, refusing to let himself wallow in his guilt. “I can’t change the past, but I can do better moving forward. I’d like to take a larger role in managing the country. I’d like to join more meetings, observe you more. And I welcome any feedback and advice you’re willing to give me along the way.”
His parents exchanged a weighty look. Xander held himself still, keeping his posture confident but respectful. He wouldn’t wither under their scrutiny as he had so many times before.
Finally, King Anton sighed. “We’ve waited eagerly for this day to come. We’ll begin immediately. You’ll join us for our morning briefing.” Xander’s mother gave her mate a pointed look, and Anton’s voice softened. “We’re proud of you, Alexander.”
Xander exhaled heavily, his shoulders loosening. His mother’s eyes twinkled merrily at him, reminding him of their conversation outside her library. If I didn’t believe you would be a great king, you would not be inheriting the throne. She’d always had faith in him, even when he didn’t believe in himself.
“You handled the press well yesterday,” King Malik said. “And you certainly made up for that silly article. Miss Duvalle seems to have forgiven you. You seem to be getting along quite well now.”
Xander grinned. His dads weren’t as perceptive as his mom, leading him to believe that his parents had discussed this topic before. The four of you will rule well together , his mother had said. Four. She’d known from the start.
“Do you think it’s possible to know someone is your mate after only a few days?” Xander asked. He found that he craved his parents’ advice. Not as monarchs, but as people who’d shown him a what a happy, healthy relationship looked like since long before he knew how rare such a thing was.
“Do you think it’s possible?” King Vasili replied, his beard twitching despite an obvious attempt to maintain a serious expression. “That’s all that matters.”
Xander looked down at his hands, then back to his parents. He couldn’t fight the smile spreading across his face. His mother smiled back, and then they were all grinning like fools.
“Yes, I do think it’s possible,” Xander answered. “Actually, I know it is.”
His mother rose quickly, rounding the table and stopping at his side. Xander smiled wider as she pressed a kiss against the top of his head. Then she leaned over the table to pour him a fresh cup of tea.
“Tell us everything,” she demanded.