Chapter 29
Liana’s POV
The dinner had already started by the time Alaric arrived.
Late.
As usual.
The hall had been filled with nobles sipping wine and exchanging empty pleasantries, but the moment he stepped inside, the entire room tensed.
He didn’t acknowledge anyone.
Didn’t glance at the noblemen, didn’t bother with formal greetings.
His eyes locked onto me.
And then, in front of everyone, he strode straight toward me.
Amurmur rippled through the room
The king never appeared with his mated. Never acknowledged them in public.
And yet, here he was-
His hand reaching for mine.
I barely had time to react before he took my hand and pulled me to my feet.
Gasps echoed around us.
I opened my mouth, about to ask what the bell he was doing, when-
His grip tightened, and the next thing I knew-
I was on his lap.
Dead
I was dead.
The hall was silent.
Absolutely silent.
Not a single noble dared to breathe too loudly.
My back stiffened, my pulse hammering as I felt the solid warmth of Alaric’s chest against me. His hand rested lightly on my waist, his grip deceptively casual, but I knew better.
This was deliberate.
I clenched my jaw, forcing my expression to remain neutral.
Across the room, Brielle looked like she was about to explode.
A quiet chuckle rumbled from Alaric’s chest.
I turned my head slightly, my voice low, “What the fuck are you doing?”
He bummed, reaching for his goblet. “Enjoying dinner,”
Lexhaled through my nose. “On your lap?”
Alaric took a slow sip of his wine, completely unbothered
Chapter 291
Then-
He tilted his head slightly, his lips hovering near my ear.
“You look better here,” he murmured.
Heat crawled up my neck.
The room was still watching.
Waiting
The council members, the nobles, the women who hated me–all of them sat frozen, their disbelief tangible.
Alaric smirked against the rim of his goblet, eyes glinting with amusement.
He was enjoying this
The bastard.
exhaled sharply, forcing myself to relax against him.
If he wanted to play this game, fine.
1 reached for his goblet
Alaric raised a brow but let me take it
The entire hall gasped when I brought it to my lips.
But I didn’t drink.
Instead-
I turned my head slightly, locking eyes with him.
And then-
I took a slow sip
And handed it back.
His fingers brushed against mine as he took it.
His smirk widened.
I felt a sharp shift in the air–like I had just won something
Alaric hummed, watching me with something unreadable in his gaze. Then he lifted the goblet-
And took a sip from the exact same place my lips had just touched.
The entire room exploded in whispers,
I almost choked.
This-
This wasn’t normal
He was deliberately pissing them off.
And judging by the reactions–by the wide eyes, the barely–contained outrage-
was working
Chapter 29
1 exhaled, forcing a smirk as I leaned in slightly.
“Want to take this up a notch?”
Alaric smirked, his fingers tracing slow circles on my waist. “How up?”
1 tilted my head, feigning thoughtfulness. “High enough to make them choke.”
His grin widened. “Now that-” his lips ghosted over my jaw, sending a shiver down my spine–I can do.”
The whispers around us were already out of control.
Council members shifting in their seats, Nobles gaping in absolute horror.
Brielle?
Brielle looked like she wanted to launch herself across the table and rip me apart with her bare hands.
I smiled.
This was too ea
easy.
Alaric moved lazily, like this was nothing to him. He shifted slightly, making me settle deeper against his lap before his lips pressed just below my ear.
Soft Teasing
A gentle hum vibrated against my skin before-
He bit down
Not hard.
Not enough to hurt
But enough
My breath hitched.
ps filled the room.
One woman dropped her goblet.
Alaric chuckled, dark amusement curling around his voice. “Nervous, little wolf?”
I inhaled sharply, forcing my body to relax. “You wish.”
He smirked against my neck. “Then let’s make them watch.”
And then-
He sucked.
Slow. Lingering.
My fingers curled against his shirt, my lips parting slightly as warmth cascaded through my skin.
Brielle looked scandalized.
A nobleman cleared his throat so aggressively I thought he might pass out.
Oh, she was loving this.
Her face was practically glowing with amusement.
I turned my
head slightly, locking eyes with Alaric. “This is chiklish.”
3/5
Chapter 29
He hummed “Is it?”
Larched a brow. “You’re enjoying this too much.”
Alaric smirked, his thumb brushing along my ribs. “You’re not?”
I lifted my chin, my lips inches from his “Try harder.”
Challenge flashed through his icy gaze.
Then, before I could react-
His mouth was on mine.
Heal
Soft but demanding.
A claiming.
His hand tangled in my hair, tilting my head slightly as his lips pressed against mine with slow, intoxicating force.
I should have pushed him away.
But instead-
I kissed him back.
The room was si
was silent.
No whispers.
pups.
No
Just pure, absolute shock.
When Alaric finally pulled away, his smirk was victorious.
I exhaled, my heart hammering, “Asshole.”
He chuckled, pressing one last fleeting kiss to my jaw. “Now, that was a proper show.”
Before I could recover, the music changed.
Soft violin, deep cello.
A waltz,
Alaric leaned close, voice low. “Dance with me.
1 blinked. “What?”
He stood, effortlessly lifting me off his lap before guiding me to the center of the hall
Eyes followed us.
Judging Watching.
Tinhaled, keeping my chin high as he led me onto the dance floor.
I knew this game now
And I wasn’t going to lose.
Alaric pulled me against him, his grip firm as we moved effortlessly to the music.
1/5
9:24 AM et et
Chapter 29
“Good girl,” he murmured, his lips brushing my ear.
I smirked. “Careful. I bite.
He chuckled. “Oh, I count on it.”
Our movements were smooth, almost too natural
Like we had done this a thousand times before.
The nobles whispered in disbelief.
The councilmen scowled.
I leaned closer, my lips barely brushing against his ear. “They hate this.”
Alaric smirked. “Let’s give them something more.”
Then-
He spun me.
He
Fast Effortless.
When he pulled me back, his grip was tighter.
1 inhaled sharply.
His fingers pressed into my waist, his lips inches from mine.
The world blurred.
Everything faded except him–his scent, his heat, his pr
esence.
I swallowed.
This was dangerous.
This was-
A loud crash echoed through the hall.
The music stopped.
Gasps filled the air as a guard burst into the room, his face pale.
Alaric’s grip tensed.
“Your Majesty,” the guard panted. “The border-
He hesitated.
Then-
5
