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Healer Rhea's POV

Romulus had stood, tall and proud for the work he had accomplished thus far with his father and his own reign. But here was one of the reasons he had worked so hard to preserve Amory's memory.

Even if he never believed to see it in his lifetime, he had hoped that Rhea would have been kissed by the moon, awaiting their destined reunion with the rest of her family and his.

Her approval was what he strived for, and to see the added tears from mere flowers and touch-ups in the garden created by her mother...It was all he needed to conclude he was doing something right.

"It...It looks the same."

"It was well preserved from the fires. The statues did have to get a new coating, as the ashes had stuck to the stone. But besides that, everything is as it was....I regret never being able to take the tour with you." She allowed herself a laugh, though hid it kindly behind her hand as she tightened her grasp on his arm—Worrying over a slip in the dirt.

"The smell...Gods, I feel like I am a child again."

"Then we are even, because as I stand beside you—I am still not used to looking down." Rhea had grumbled the rather cruel word under her breath, allowing a grin to spread across his face with ease.

He found it rather amusing the way she spoke without worry to him.

But then again, he was thankful for it.

"How did I do today?"

"Wonderfully annoying. There is only so much I can do without the rest causing an uproar. Is it awful to say I cannot wait for the next?"

"Oh, I can promise a wonderful fight for the next. I can complain about plenty—N-not that it's on you or your father. It's just the convergence to one Kingdom did not transpire as smoothly as everyone here believes." It was the truth he didn't want to admit to, not to mention the issue of Rogues funneling through.

Although that was now settled.

"Kieran is rather kind."

"Kind...Kind is a good word for it. Though the dinner will no doubt be a chance to pitch his son to you."

"Is that a fault? I am meant to be a single female." A growl escaped him, and a laugh followed as she stood in front of a lovely patch of Yeldas just by her feet.
"Not for long."

"I suppose...Though I never gave you a proper answer." Romulus' eyes flared with realization as he tilted his head. His wolf hoping to look more kinder to the small and feeble female. "I cannot promise much in my position, and what little my property is worth in comparison to what you have now..."

"Amory, I do not care about any of that."

"You should. Those in your position are to gain something in a marriage and mating."

"Alright, for the years that we have stayed within the castle. The castle that is yours. Your summer manor. The—" Her head shot towards him and it nearly gave her a whiplash.

"My summer manor...You don't mean it survived, do you?"

"Yes, it has, my little female. And I intend to use it after our mating—Marriage. What was the term you used? Honey-Moon? Yes. That would be a grand idea." Her eyes narrowed as she huffed away.

"Cruel, bribing me." Romulus couldn't sense anyone nearby, thought it didn't mean there weren't onlookers up above. But he couldn't help himself, not when he had caught up to her small and cautious steps as he hurried to wrap his arms around her waist and pulled her back into his embrace.

A kiss on her cheek as he nuzzled into her neck.

"I have been called many things, Amory, but there has not been one female that had caught my eye. Not since I had caught a whiff of your scent. Your blood, on that dagger of yours—All after a Rogue attack." Rhea had stilled, but it hadn't been out of fear.

But guilt.

"I realized you were alive, only to think I lost you once more...Weren't you the one to say last night that love is possible between us?" She nodded, and it earned her another kiss to the same spot on her cheek, though his nose trailed up her cheekbone as well.

"Wolves do not love easily. But when we do, it becomes fiercely—Protective—Dangerous. And to even think of another male touching you, touching what is mine, it makes me bloodthirsty." A gasp had escaped her, how was it that such a dirty notion had caused such a blossom in her lower half?

"H-how?"

"How a wolf can become bloodthirsty? Little Queen, how else?"

"No—You've possessive of me already, wolves...I didn't think your wolf would agree with things so quickly." A dark chuckle followed, and Rhea could've sworn that mere action had claimed her own breath.

Stephan had never been able to do that trick. And Romulus hardly managed a few touches before electing this admiration.

"Careful, female...I can smell many things. And arousal is a calling card."

"It—It's difficult."
"I can imagine. But we will be patient and it will be worth it." She shook her head, not sure if she should admit to this, but she truly could not put anything more in between them.

"That isn't what I meant, Rom...My wound, it's a strain to get around. Let alone—That is why I wanted to speak with you properly." It dawned on him that Amory was still injured, still struggling, but he truly did not want to use this sort of bribe—As she had already mentioned it.

"Who?"

"Pardon?"

"I said, who, Amory. Do not make me ask again." Her eyes flared as this was the portion that she needed to admit to. "Alpha Stephan." The grip he had on her tightened.

A claim.

"What did, Alpha Stephan, do?" Heat had started to blossom on her face as she tried to take an inhale, but it had been pained as he took a rather sharp nick to her weakened side.

"He made me feel good...I—I don't know how to describe it."

"Did he fuck you, Amory?"

"No. I told you, I'm pure."

"Yes. But I foolishly thought that caused your innocence. Now I am thinking differently about—" She turned abruptly towards him. "And you? Are you pure?" She spat, her question raging the fire in her eyes.

How dare he!

"What did that damnable Alpha do?" She closed her eyes, realizing that this is what she was in store for. That he would be jealous, controlling, and demanding.

Though, she supposed it wasn't much different to any other male in his position.

"He touched me, he complimented me, and made me feel something after feeling like an utter failure—I will not apologize or feel guilty for that, Romulus." She reserved her tears, and the only reason he had caught wind of them is by the scent.

The space between them had felt larger than life itself, and his step had been interrupted by her cain. "Today has been tiring, my King. I believe I need to rest." She informed, bowing her head to the side in spite before continuing off back to the entrance.

This may be Romulus' castle as of now, but Amory had grown up here—She knew the halls better than she knew the male proposing to her. So perhaps she needed to remind herself who she was.

That she, Amory Valvarian, did not have to be guilty of a damn thing.

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Date: 06/24/23

Time: 9:41

Words: 1273