Chapter 10 #2
Torin crouched down to Killian’s level, examining the blob-shaped cookie with appropriate seriousness. “Oh no. I am terrified.”
“You should be! It’s SUPER scary!”
“The scariest cookie I have ever seen.” Torin’s voice was grave, but his eyes were twinkling.
Killian beamed. “You get TWO because you’re the BES guard!”
“I am blessed.” Torin took the cookies, and when he glanced up at me, his eyes were suspiciously bright. “Your Majesty, you did not have to-”
“You protected my son,” I said firmly. “You didn’t hesitate. You were right there, fighting immediately. This is the least I can do. I wanted to show you all how much I appreciate all your hard work.”
“It was my honor.”
I hugged him, which surprised us both. “Thank you. Truly.”
He hugged me back after a moment of shock. “Always, my queen.”
We made our way through the castle, delivering cookies to everyone who’d helped during the attack.
The guards who’d fought off the assassins, the maids who’d comforted Killian afterward, the healers who’d checked on Sorcha.
Everyone got cookies, and everyone got to hear about Killian’s scary monsters.
“They’re SO scary!” one guard said, playing along. “I might have nightmares!”
Killian was delighted every single time.
One of the maids approached me hesitantly while Killian was demonstrating proper scary monster technique to a guard. “Your Majesty, if I might have a moment?”
“Of course. What is it?”
“It’s my sister. She works in the laundry, and she’s been having trouble with her hands. Arthritis, the healer says. She’s worried about losing her position.”
“What’s her name?”
“Elsa, Your Majesty.”
“I’ll speak with her and the healer tomorrow. We’ll find a solution. Maybe a different position, or treatment that might help.”
The maid’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Of course. Come find me if there are any other concerns.”
We reached our last delivery. A guard stationed near the western corridor. He was young, maybe mid-twenties, with friendly eyes and a warm expression.
“Your Majesty,” he said, bowing. “To what do I owe the honor?”
“We’re thanking everyone who helped during the attack,” I explained, offering him the plate. “You were one of the first to respond.”
“This is very kind, Your Majesty.” He took a cookie. “The young prince helped make them?”
“Oh yes. He helped a LOT.” I gestured at Killian, who was covered head to toe in flour and chocolate.
The guard chuckled, warm and friendly. “I can see that. He looks like he had fun.”
“So much fun. The kitchen looks like a disaster zone.”
We were both grinning when I felt it. That prickle of awareness that meant Mal was nearby.
I turned to find him standing at the end of the corridor, watching us with an expression I knew too well.
Oh no.
“I hope I am not interrupting,” Mal said, his voice pleasant but with an edge that made the guard take a small step back.
“Not at all. We were just-”
“I can see what you were doing.”
“Delivering cookies?” I said slowly, confused about why his jaw was so tight.
“Yes. Cookies. To guards.”
I sighed when I realized why he was being an ass. “Oh my god. Not again.”
The guard was backing away. “I should go. Thank you for the cookies, Your Majesty.”
“Excellent idea,” Mal said.
The guard practically fled, I rolled my eyes as I turned to my very dumbass mate.
“Mal-” I started.
“I want to eat your cookies.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Your cookies. HE was eating them. They should be all for me.”
“My cookies,” I repeated, biting my lip harder to keep from losing it.
“Yes. I want to eat your cookie. Your hard work. Not him. I should be the one eating your cookie.”
I couldn’t hold it in anymore and started cracking up so hard I had to lean against the wall.
“Why are you laughing?” Mal looked genuinely confused.
“I’m sorry to tell you this,” I chuckled, “But half the guards just ate my cookie. It was a very pleasant experience, would definitely do it again.”
Tears slipped from how hard I was laughing. Gods, it sounded incredible, and he had no damn clue.
“That many?!” He grunted, “You baked for all of them?!”
I rolled my eyes. “Killian helped, yes. But don’t worry. My most delicious cookie is all yours, and will always be.”
He looked at the basked in confusion. “Is it there? I’m kind of hungry.”
“I am too. Can I have more cookies?” Killian asked, oblivious to whatever weird energy was happening between his parents.
“Yes,” I managed through my laughter. “Let’s go give some to Grandma!”
“That is not what I-” Mal started.
“Come on, baby.” I took Killian’s hand and headed toward Sorcha’s quarters, still trying to contain myself.
Mal followed us, looking increasingly confused and frustrated.
“Why does Papa look mad?” Killian asked, glancing back at his father.
“Papa’s being silly.”
“Papa’s always silly,” Killian agreed.
“I am not silly,” Mal protested.
We dropped Killian off with Sorcha, who took one look at our faces and wisely asked no questions. Then I walked, very deliberately, to one of the more deserted corridors in the castle. The old wing that was mostly used for storage.
The moment we were alone, I rounded on him.
“What was that?”
“I do not like other men looking at you. He was smiling at you.”
“Because I was being nice! That’s what people do, they smile when someone is nice to them. You can’t get jealous of every single men in this castle.”
“Oh, I can. He was smiling too much.”
I sighed, the laugh from before already forgotten. “Are you serious right now?”
“Yes! I am jealous of everyone!” The words burst out of him like he couldn’t hold them in anymore.
“Really?”
“Especially the fucking guards. Torin and anyone who makes you smile!”
“This is insane.”
“I feel insane.” He grunted, then, in a lower voice, he added: “I feel like I am losing you.”
That stopped me cold. “What?”
“Even though we reconciled. Even though I am back in your bed and we made love recently.” His voice cracked slightly. “I feel like you are slipping away and I cannot stop it.”
I looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the genuine fear in his eyes, felt it pulsing through our bond. This wasn’t possessive alpha bullshit. This was real fear. And I felt like shit for not realizing before.
“Mal,” I said softly, but he shook his head.
“I am terrified of losing you. Of you realizing you deserve better than a jealous fool who cannot even control himself around guards who are just accepting cookies-”
“Stop. Stop right there. You’re being an idiot.” I stepped closer, putting my hands on his chest. “I love you, with all my heart and my might. I am yours, just as much as you are mine. We’re two halves of the same soul, Mal. And I’m not going anywhere.”
“You are certain?”
“Yes. We belong together, even if sometimes I get mad because you piss me off, even if you get jealous of every male in here. Even if I piss you off. We’re Mal and Wen, forever. That’s it. End of discussion.”
“I love you,” he said. “So much. It consumes me. And I would never get pissed at you. You’re always right, even when you aren’t.”
I snorted. “I know. Now kiss me before I change my mind about finding your jealousy endearing instead of annoying.”
He kissed me, hungry and intense, his tongue plunging deep into my mouth, tasting of desperation, as if he couldn’t get enough of my flavor.
His grip found my waist, fingers clamping down like vices, pulling me flush against him until there was no space left between us.
I could feel exactly how much he wanted me, the hard length of his cock pressing against my stomach through our clothes, rigid and pulsing. Oh, gods. Have mercy.
“Here?” I rasped against my mouth, my lips swollen from the assault, breath coming in short bursts. We were literally in a hallway.
“Right here.” His voice was a challenge, low and daring.
My hands fisted the front of his tunic. “Someone could see.”
His eyes flicked to the shadowed ends of the corridor, the torchlight moving on the ancient walls. We were kind of hidden in the shadows, but still. Wolves had great vision.
“Then we better make it quick.” He grunted. I nipped his lower lip in answer, drawing a bead of blood that I licked away, the metallic tang mixing with his salt.
He made a rough sound, a guttural growl from deep in his chest, and backed me against the wall, his body pressing mine into the cool, uneven stone that bit into my spine through the thin fabric of my gown.
The chill seeped into my skin, contrasting the fire building low in my belly.
His mouth found my neck, teeth grazing the sensitive spot below my ear with just enough pressure to send electric jolts straight to my core.
I shivered despite the heat, my nipples peaking against the rough weave of my bodice, aching for touch.
His hands were already pulling up my skirt, bunching the fabric at my hips with impatient yanks, the silk whispering against my thighs as cool air kissed my exposed skin.
“If anyone comes-” I started, my heart hammering, glancing toward the arched doorway at the far end, where footsteps could echo any second.
“I will handle it.” His voice was a dark promise, fingers hooking the edge of my panties and tugging them aside roughly, the fabric scraping my inner thighs.
“How?”
“I will kill them,” he said, his fingers sliding through my wetness, parting my folds with a slick glide that made my breath hitch.
I gasped at the contact, the rough pads of his fingers bumping my clit before moving lower, my hips jerking forward involuntarily, seeking more.
“Or cut out their tongue. Whichever is faster. No one interrupts this, and no one sees what’s mine. ”