Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Fawn
I fall asleep to dreams of Wolf joining me in bed, and I wake alone in a quiet room. I find the silk robe waiting at the bottom of the bed, slip it on, pad through into the main room… and gasp, seeing a woman lounging on the couch.
“You enjoyed your sleep, I hope,” she says, a little frost in her voice and smile that instills a sense of guilt. She is pretty with large, dark brown eyes and wavy, red hair. Her gaze rakes over me in critical assessment.
“I’m Marigold,” she continues. “Seven’s favored lover.” Her smile turns rueful. “He begged me to introduce myself to make you feel welcome.”
Favored Lover? Begged her?
“That was nice of him,” I say, my mind scrambling and no small amount confused.
Stupid little Fawn. Did I really think someone like Seven would be interested in me and only me? Do I presume the same for Nox and Eiden, too. Such a fool. So gullible, so out of my depth in this beautiful city and people far more worldly than me.
Marigold seems familiar with the suite and confident, as she indicates I take the opposite seat.
But of course she is, if she is Seven’s favored lover.
Feeling awkward, I sit, wondering where Wolf is.
I understood Seven would have had lovers. He hasn’t even done anything to suggest he might be interested in me. I try to recall what Nox said; at least, I think it was Nox, but my mind is churning, and the words elude me. There was talk of me being Seven’s queen, but maybe it doesn’t mean what I think, more of an arranged marriage type of thing where the two parties are not intimate.
I still don’t know why he would want that. But I am grasping for ways to make this make sense. He is the leader of all. Maybe it is customary in his culture for him to have lovers and queens.
Oh, I am so wildly underprepared.
“How are you finding the city? It must seem terribly intimidating after living in a wolf village.” She lifts her nose. “Wolf shifters are so barbaric. More like animals than humans, really. I’m sure our homes and ways must be a shock.”
An unpleasant prickly sensation settles at the back of my neck. “My father was a wolf shifter.”
She smirks. “So I heard… Your poor mother.”
“You are very rude,” I say, my hands shaking as outrage fills me. I will rip her pretty hair out if she dares to make another disparaging comment about my late papa. I am gentle by nature—just like my doe—and do my best to get along with everyone, so I am shocked by the vehemence of my reaction.
“Oh, did I hit a nerve?” she says mockingly. “You know that’s my gown you’re wearing. One would think you’d be more grateful.” She inspects one perfectly manicured nail. “Or maybe you prefer walking around in those rags you arrived in?”
Before I can answer—or launch myself across the small space at her—the door to the suite swings open, and Seven strides in, followed by Wolf.
He does a double-take as he sees us. I instantly feel guilty, like I have done something wrong, for Seven’s huge body quivers with fury.
Wolf is likewise scowling. “I told you to get rid of her,” he says, directing his anger at Seven.
Get rid of her?
“Out.” Seven’s voice is low yet cracks like a whip. He reaches behind him to throw open the door again.
Confused and still stinging from witchy Marigold’s words, I jump up and turn a full circle, not even heading toward the open door.
I’m still searching for my wits and reacting to Seven’s stern command when the air crackles like electricity before a storm.
“Not you,” Seven says softly. His hands are on me, touching me, lifting me, and gathering me close into the cage of his arms. His forest scent bathes me, filling my lungs and soothing me.
I can hear a scuffling behind me: Marigold’s hiss and many footsteps.
How did Seven reach me so quickly? Did he shift?
The door slams shut. It’s quiet other than Wolf’s purr coming from behind me.
“There, little one,” Seven says, carrying me to the couch where he sits with me, still clinging to his arms.
My legs are spread wide, my knees are at either side of his waist, and my nose is buried against his throat. I’m shaking with the potency of my fear and rage and still reeling from that bark of his command, even though I have worked out it was not directed at me.
He rubs soothing circles on my back. “I’m sorry that I scared you.”
I hear a creak behind me, indicating that Wolf has sat down opposite. He’s still purring, which soothes me, as does Seven’s heady scent.
“S-she said she was your favored lover,” I stammer. “That I’m wearing her clothes.”
I feel a little sick—I want them off of me.
Seven curses softly, his hands tighten, drawing me closer into his embrace.
“I have lain with her on occasion. But she is certainly not my favored lover, nor does she even have permission to visit these rooms. In fact, I expressly forbade her from entering these quarters last night. It would appear she has a short-term memory. As for the gowns, they are new and brought here for you and only you. My sisters, whom you will meet soon, thrilled by your arrival, picked this small collection to tide you over until you have time to choose for yourself. Marigold has never been invited to stay, nor has she ever kept her clothes here.”
My mind scrambles over all he says.
“The guards have now removed her from your presence. You will not be troubled by seeing her again.”
My heart is still sore from her cruel words. The urge to cry is sharp and sudden. I’ve never been cross enough with someone to want to hurt them. The vehemence of my reaction to her scares me a little. But what she said about my papa being an animal—just no. And he was the sweetest papa anyone could wish for, and I loved him with all my heart. No one has ever been that cruel.
I question if I can live here anymore. It seems welcoming on the surface, but there is mockery and loathing below.
Seven’s gentle caress is a balm, though. My racing heart settles.
It was kind of his sisters, whom I have not even met, to provide these clothes thinking of my comfort, possibly understanding that I come from a small village and any clothes I had would not fit in here.
I reason that there are good and bad people in every place. Even in the wolf village, I did not get on with every person. Some were rude or mean by nature, and there were not always reasons for their behavior.
“Well, you really fucked that up, didn’t you?” Wolf says.
He has ever been blunt talking. Usually, his stern words are directed at me for some mischief. It makes me want to chuckle hearing him tell Seven off.
“I did,” Seven replies, his hands stilling. “Fawn, I can only apologize for my failing and assure you that it shall not happen again.”
His fingers resume the gentle caress up and down my back. His big, warm body covered in a silk shirt makes a pillow for my cheek. I feel an overwhelming urge to nip at the strong column of his throat. I slide my nose across, making it seem accidental when my lips make contact.
Just a faint brush.
His hands still. He makes a strange, rumbly sound in his chest. Not quite a purr. But it still sounds approving.
“How was your run this morning?” he asks, his caress continuing, stroking me gently.
“It was very pleasant, thank you.”
His chuckle is low and full of warmth.
My racing heart has settled somewhere along the way, and the sting of threatened tears has likewise passed.
I become aware of how I am clinging to him and how perfect it feels to be in his arms like this.
“So very polite,” he says, voice teasing. “Nox said you were a joy to behold skipping around the Royal Woodland. That Eiden is already besotted with you.”
“I like Eiden,” I admit. I can’t quite bring myself to admit how I feel about Nox—I need to talk to Wolf about what happened, but now, and while I’m nestled on Seven’s lap, does not feel like the appropriate time.
I wriggle, growling restless as I think about what we did.
“Well, I’m glad,” Seven says. “He has a sweet nature even if his stag is a little uncivilized on occasion.”
“I didn’t see any of that,” I say, relaxing into his touch, loving how my skin tingles.
Surprised by my boldness, I surreptitiously press a kiss to his throat.
“There’s no reason why you shouldn’t shift and visit as often as you choose,” Seven says, voice low and rumbly where we are pressed together.
He is distracting me from what happened with Marigold, reminding me of the good people and benefits besides being here. Shifting when I choose is something I have longed for. Whether he realizes it or not, his actions and words help me put the matter into perspective.
A sudden wash of heat rushes through me. I’m only wearing a silk robe with a nightgown underneath that is all bunched up. My pussy is naked. I can feel his clothing touching me very gently there .
The moment awareness of my compromised state of dress blooms, I rock my hips just a little.
My breath hitches when his clothing brushes against my sensitive clit. Distantly, I realize what I’m doing is not appropriate, but my hips seem to have a mind of their own. I bury my nose against his throat again, and this time, my teeth nip.
He exhales. His hands tighten, pinning me against him with one hand at my lower back, grinding me down.
“Does that feel good, little doe?” he asks.
Wolf curses softly on the other side of the room.
I try to jerk away.
Seven holds me fast, and I bite lightly against his throat like I’m holding him still even as he holds me.
“That’s my precious little one,” he says. Sliding one hand underneath the opening of my robe, he traces a path to the apex of my thighs. His knuckles brush lightly over the top of my pussy while his other hand, now palming my ass, keeps me still.
His thumb shifts just a little lower and right over my swollen clit.
It dips lower still, gathering the slick leaking from my pussy and spreading it all around the little swollen nub.
Gentle circles.
My breathing hitches again.
“Good girl,” he says. “Let me do this for you. Let me pleasure you in this small way.”
It is not a small way. I have dreamed of his hands upon me since he first arrived at my cottage. My hips jerk, but he holds me and continues his gentle petting.
I taste blood—his blood.
“Such a good girl,” he croons softly.
The rough pad of his thumb slides back and forth, coaxing me to higher tension. Heat and tension bathe my body.
It’s too much.
Not enough.
And then the sweet waves wash over me. I jerk and twitch in his arms, moaning against his bloody throat.
I heave a breath. All the tension cuts me loose.
He stills his thumb and slowly withdraws, and sliding both arms around me, gathers me close.
I soften against him.
“My beautiful Fawn,” he says, his lips against my hair. “Thank you so much for letting me please you.”
I feel boneless… and that I should be the one thanking him.
“She is still tired from such a long shift,” Wolf says gruffly.
“Hmm, it would seem she is,” Seven says. His fingers find the back of my neck, playing gently in my hair, soothing.
“I should like to sleep in my own bed tonight,” Seven says.
My ears prick up, although I am too languid to move.
“Understood,” Wolf replies.
“I think it would work best if you were also there,” Seven adds. “She will settle easier, being familiar with you. You are her Wolf, her protector.”
My heart skips a beat. Is he saying what I think he’s saying? I’m sated and sleepy, and although my body is relaxed, an unmistakable pulse of interest kicks off in my core.