Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Fawn
A t Seven’s insistence, I put some clothes on. This time, a floor-length gown in turquoise silk with silver embroidery along the neckline and hem. The looking glass I had at the cottage was small, old, and cracked. The one in Seven’s robe room is without a single blemish, large, ornate, and fitted to the wall—I can see the whole of me.
I have never seen myself in this way before and it comes as a shock.
My long, dark blonde hair is shiny and forms waves around my face and over my shoulders. My eyes are very large and dark brown; likewise, shine.
“You have your mama’s eyes,” my papa used to say. He always smiled when he did so.
I look like my mama, but when she was younger… if my mama were a princess.
What happened to the simple village lass with a wayward goat?
A sudden giggle escapes me… I hope Greta is not giving her new family any trouble. But then my smile fades, and a wave of homesickness washes over me. That time and place have gone, just as my parents have.
I miss them. Sometimes, the pain is sharp and raw, but more often, it is a dull ache. I take comfort knowing they are with the Goddess and watching over me, that this is the nature of life and all part of the wheel. One day, I will have a child or children, which is also part of life.
My hand settles over my flat belly. A family and a mate were never real before. Today, they are. I want that, I realize, a whole brood of little ones.
His scent arrives first, and I turn to find Wolf approaching me. His presence fills the robe room as his gaze centers on me. He prowls deeper, closer. His mere proximity ties my tummy in knots even though he is no longer a fanciful dream and now my mate. His tawny hair reaches his broad shoulders in shaggy waves, and his hair-dusted chest and belly are thick slabs of muscle disappearing behind the waist of his new leather pants. His human form is tall, even for a wolf shifter, and he carries himself with confidence borne of his many years as a pack enforcer. The little crinkles at the corner of his blue eyes speak of his maturity.
Everything about him is beautiful to me.
He cups my cheek and presses his lips to mine.
My heart plays giddy up as I consider what he just watched Seven do to me. My arms wrap around his neck, and I lean into him.
The kiss deepens, his lips moving hungrily over mine, our tongues dueling.
He rumbles a purr deep in his chest and suddenly hoists me up. My back collides with the looking glass, my legs wrapping around his waist. He flattens his body to mine, pinning me against the cool surface, and palms my breast through the silken covering—my nipple instantly peaks.
“I want you,” he rumbles, lips trailing down my throat. “Want to feel your hot pussy wrapped around my cock. Are you sore?”
“Please, yes. I’m not too sore.”
He nips against my throat and squeezes my nipple, making a sweet ache bloom. His hand slides down, tugging my dress aside before he fumbles between us to free his belt. Two thick fingers slide over my core. He huffs against my throat, finding me slick and wet. Then he lines his cock up and thrusts deep.
My back arches.
He shifts his hands to my ass, taking a better hold, then takes me hard and fast.
“Did you like his hands on you?” he growls. Each pounding stroke stimulates my already sensitive clit. “Is that why you’re so wet, my needy little brat?”
I mewl nonsense. His scent, Seven’s earlier attention, and what happened with Eiden and Nox earlier still conspire to have my body primed and eager. Tension racks me as I teeter closer to the summit, and then I tumble into bliss, my pussy squeezing lovingly over his hard, thrusting cock.
With his teeth embedded over the claiming mark, he stills and grunts, knotting me as a hot flood bathes the entrance to my womb.
There we stay, breathing gusty breaths as our pleasure lingers, and he continues to seed me in hot spurts while we remain locked together.
He lifts his head slowly and brushes my hair from my hot cheek. His lips tug up. “I like this look on you. Pink-cheeked, pretty, and well fucked.”
My blush deepens.
His answer is a lazy grin and a chaste kiss against my lips. He rocks his hips against mine, making more pleasure bloom where his knot stretches me.
“I can’t decide if I love or hate seeing his hands on you yet. I want to break every finger—I also wanted to come over there and fuck you from behind while he petted your clit.”
My pussy clenches.
“Someone likes the thought of being shared, it would seem. Probably for the best,” he says dryly. “I doubt any of your mates will be inclined to form an orderly queue.”
Mates. The way he says it makes me think he knows about Eiden and Nox.
I’m about to confess what happened in the Royal Woodland when he pulls out. The mess drips down my inner thighs and smothers my pretty dress.
I hiss my displeasure.
The wicked male only chuckles, pleased with himself.
He helps me clean up, and I don a fresh dress; this one is in lilac. We return to the lounge where Seven stands before the open balcony doors.
A knock sounds on the main door.
“Enter,” Seven calls. He turns, one brow raising as his gaze settles on us before it moves on to the double doors swinging open to admit a bowing servant.
“Your sisters are here, my lord.”
Sisters? My ears prick up.
There is a slight and telling delay before Seven says, “By all means, show them in.”
I’m a little nervous now. After Marigold, I’m not sure I’m ready for new acquaintances, even nice ones who choose pretty dresses for me. Not that I am given any choice. The double doors swing wide open, and two beautiful ladies sweep into the royal apartment. I instantly see the likeness to Seven, for they have the same golden hair and tall stature. The older of the two wears a white gown with gold embroidery at the collar and hem. Her younger sister is slightly taller and wears a gown of pale blue… she is also heavily pregnant.
“Oh, so this is where you have been keeping her!” the white-gowned older of the duo exclaims.
Wolf remains at my side. Seven takes a place on my other side as the sisters bare down on me with a cloud of scent and smiles.
A young soldier in palace uniform follows them, taking up a position by the doors as they close.
“Sisters,” Seven says with an incline of his head. “I told you we would visit in a few days.” He turns to me. “Fawn, Jude, may I introduce my sisters.” Seven indicates the older woman and then the younger, pregnant one. “Estelle and Persa.”
“We are far too excited to wait a few days,” Estelle says, waving dismissively at their brother. She smiles as she takes my hand in hers and kisses each cheek. “So lovely to meet you, Fawn and Jude!”
“Thank you,” I say, feeling shy in their regal presence.
She steps to the side and repeats the kisses for Wolf, who obligingly leans down.
“Be welcome, Fawn and Jude,” Persa says, following in her sister’s wake, dark eyes dancing with mischief. “It is truly scandalous that you have a wolf among your mates. It has been the talk of the city ever since you arrived.”
“Persa,” Estelle says firmly. “What have I told you about gossip?”
“Yes, sister,” Persa says demurely, winking at me.
“Well, you have met her,” Seven says brusquely. “We shall do a formal engagement later in the week.”
“Ha!” Estelle says, turning to her very pregnant sister. “I told you he would try to ward us off.”
“We both knew he would get like this over his Fawn,” Persa agrees.
“We’re taking her for tea,” Estelle says in a no-nonsense way.
Persa turns her bright smile on me. “We have everything ready in my suite.”
“You may take tea here,” Seven says folding his arms.
“Oh no, that won’t do at all,” Estelle says. “How shall we ever get to know Fawn with you looming over her shoulder all the time?”
“I would like to get to know Fawn, too,” Seven says bluntly and with a little bite.
“But you have been traveling with her for a week,” Persa says sweetly.
“Plenty of time,” Estelle agrees. “We shall not steal your sweet mate for long and return her safe and sound.”
“We promise,” Persa adds strength to their comprehensive pitch.
My tummy takes a slow tumble at them calling me Seven’s mate, but I’m also fighting a smile, seeing a tic thumping in Seven’s jaw. His sisters are charming, if a little forceful. Seven, despite being a kingly, Master Stag clearly has no idea how to deal with his two indomitable sisters.”
“Please say you will come to tea with us?” Persa says to me, her eyes imploring.
I glance from Wolf to Seven. “I would like to have tea.”
“There, it is settled.” Estelle claps her hands and turns to the young guard who accompanied them and still stands attentively beside the door. “Gideon, notify the servants we are returning.”
“Yes, my lady,” he says with a formal bow. He slips out of the room.
Seven narrows his eyes. “Gideon is a highly trained soldier and has duties beyond… organizing afternoon tea. A point I have mentioned more than once.”
Estelle waves a dismissive hand. “Oh, puff. He does not mind.”
“Have you actually asked him?” Seven grits out.
“Well, no,” Estelle says, sounding deeply affronted by this. “I didn’t like that other guard you allocated to us. He was very incompetent.”
“Incompetent? What you mean is they wouldn’t do whatever you asked.”
“Exactly,” Estelle says.
Persa giggles and steps forward to claim my hand again. “After Seven first met you all those years ago, he spoke of nothing else.” Her earnest eyes hold mine. “He never stopped looking for you, and now he has found you after all this time. Well, it’s surely a tale worthy of bards and poets.”
Seven groans.
Wolf snickers.
“Persa likes to read.” Estelle offers. “Do you read much, Fawn?”
“Occasionally.” I gulp and blush, thinking about the naughty book I borrowed from my best friend, Luna…
“We shall take good care of your mate,” Estelle says to Wolf before she offers a more formal bow to Seven and the first indication of deference of any kind.
I get the impression she is seeking to appease him and get her way. The two sisters are fun. I already know I shall love them both.
“See that she is back in time for dinner,” Seven says, relenting under the weight of sibling pressure.
Linking their arms through mine, they guide from the room. I glance back over my shoulder as I reach the door to see the two men standing side by side. Seven has folded his arms and is scowling. Wolf is scratching absently at his jaw.
The young guard, Gideon, is waiting outside and bows, seeing us exit.
“All is ready, my lady,” he says. He doesn’t look our way and keeps his eyes on the floor.
“Thank you, Gideon,” Estelle says. “I would like you to accompany us. We can’t have anything happening to Seven’s ward.”
“Of course, my lady.” He performs another gallant bow before sweeping his arm out, indicating us to precede him.
With the sisters on either side of me, we sweep down the corridor, servants and nobles making way and bowing as we pass. It is very disconcerting, and it is a relief when we arrive at the quarters, Persa explains, belong to her and her mates.
Gideon strides ahead of us to open the double-entry doors. He bows formally as we pass and then closes the door.
The quarters are not quite as grand as Seven’s but every bit as beautiful. There are already servants inside. A table is set on the balcony with all manner of treats, tiered cake stands, and formal settings for three people.
The servants quietly leave while Gideon stands attentively beside the balcony doors.
“We heard you had an unpleasant encounter,” Estelle begins, guiding me toward a seat.
“With Marigold,” Persa completes, her nose turning up in the air as she offers me a seat with spectacular views across the city. She sits to my left. “We do not like Marigold well.”
“The doe is presumptuous,” Estelle agrees, taking a seat to my right, where she lifts the teapot. “Fawn?”
“Oh, yes, please.” I slide my cup and saucer closer so she can fill it.
I add a little honey and stir it as the sisters prepare their tea.
“She has had her eye on Seven for a while,” Persa continues, offering me a plate of sweets. “But he never favored her. Not once.”
I take one with thanks and pop it in my mouth, groaning as the rich, creamy taste explodes across my tongue.
“Good, hmm?” Estelle says with an approving nod. “Try one of the lemon tarts. Or perhaps the scone with jam and cream?”
I take a lemon tart from the tiered arrangement and put it on my plate.
“She will be extra witchy now that you have arrived,” Persa says, selecting a small slice of cake for herself. “But if she suffers, it will serve her right for being so rude.” She suddenly beams at me. “I already know that we shall be friends. When is your season due? Oh, I do hope there shall be some babies.” She puts her hand against her round belly. “It would be nice for my daughter or son to have a playmate. I have two more children, Pipa, three, and Galan, five, but they are a handful, and I thought it best to acquaint you with them in stages.”
“I… I have never had a season,” I admit.
“You haven’t?” Estelle says, frowning, as she lowers her teacup to the saucer. “But now that I think about it, that would make sense. I’m sure I read about something similar.”
Persa smirks. “So did I.”
Estelle shakes her head, her smile wry. “If you are talking about those spicy romance books you devour, they are hardly a source of credible facts.”
“It was a tale about a doe living secretly in a human village. She never had a season until a stag patrol came through. Their scent triggered her.” Persa grins. “The patrol had no choice but to tend her.”
“And how many were in the stag patrol?” Estelle asks with an arched brow.
“A dozen,” Persa says, fanning herself and winking at me.
Gideon makes a weak, strangling sound—I had forgotten he was standing to attention beside the open balcony doors, listening to everything we say.
“It was a scandalous tale,” Persa says. “And I enjoyed it well. You can borrow it if you like.”
“Thank you!” I squeak. I don’t want to offend her kind gesture in sharing what is clearly a cherished book, but I am also confident my libido does not need further stimulation.
“I will ensure you get it before you leave.”
The rest of the afternoon passes pleasantly. I learn that Persa has three mates: a high-ranking noble, a doctor, and an artist of some renown. Estelle, while older, has yet to choose a mate, although several suitors are mentioned.
It comes as a surprise when Nox and Eiden arrive to collect me.
Persa hurries to an adjoining room, only to return with the promised book. It has a plain leather cover with fancy gold writing that takes me a few moments to decipher… Mounted and Bred by the Stag Patrol.
I gulp and slam it against my chest, my eyes darting nervously toward Nox and Eiden.
“What is this?” Nox asks, his tone laced with suspicion as he points at the book.
“Cultural insights,” Estelle says. Her smile is one of fake innocence. I choke back a laugh when Eiden quirks one brow. “Fawn very sweetly expressed an interest. You might want to ensure she is somewhere comfortable and uninterrupted when she reads it. It will be quite the challenge, and at least she will be somewhere soft if she falls asleep.”
“Maybe I could just tell her?” Eiden says, his brows drawing together.
“It’s all very dry, educational material,” Persa wades in. “Better if we discuss it with her afterward.”
Nox is wearing a strange expression that I can’t quite decipher. “Fine then,” he says.
“Speak soon, Fawn,” the two ladies chime in together, coming to the door to wave me off.