Page 43 of The Night Prince

It doesn’t ease when Lochlan leans back in his seat. “I heard you tried to bed her at one point, too, Callum.”

Chapter Seventeen

“That’s enough, Lochlan,” Callum growls under his breath as he stands to greet Claire.

His sharp rebuttal is confirmation that the claim is true, as well as the smirk that passes between Lochlan and Blake, and the soft laugh that escapes Jack. I try to be reasonable, to fight the dark shadow of jealousy that spreads unbidden through my body.

I assumed Callum would have been with other women before me. He’s strong, and kind, and attractive. What’s more, he’s an alpha, and a wolf. I know the rules that apply to nobility in the Southlands—about waiting until marriage before physically expressing intimacy—don’t apply here. From the way my brother would often sneak out to taverns at the docks, I’m skeptical about whether those rules apply to noble males in the south, too.

The idea that Callum wanted to bed the woman who walks confidently toward us still cools my blood.

She’s flawless, and there is something about her that screams dominance—the steel of her spine, perhaps. Callum told me once he wanted to be with a female who was his equal, and I can see her allure.

I push my negative thoughts aside. There are more pressing things to worry about. Such as why she’s here when her allegiance probably stands with James. I feel a slight twinge of irritation, too. I can’t help but wonderwhenCallum tried to bed her.

Was it while she was with James? If so, it could explain why James was easily persuaded to ask for my hand in marriage. I think Callum has more honor than that, yet I wonder whether some of the contempt the two brothers hold for one another could originate from the female who halts before the table. Am I the second woman the two have fought over?

“Claire.” Callum’s tone is gentle yet wary. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I hear you made alpha. Congratulations.”

My eyebrows raise. I didn’t think there were any female alphas.

Claire inclines her head. “And I hear you’re trying to become king.”

Callum eyes her warily, like he hasn’t figured out whether she’s a threat. “Did James send you?”

“James has no authority to send me anywhere. He’s not my king.” She smiles, though it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I was on my way to Madadh-allaidh to see if I could negotiate an alliance with him.”

Callum’s brow creases. “An alliance? Your clan has always stood alone. Why now?”

“There are... things happening up north.” A shadow passes over her features. “I want to move my people south.”

Callum frowns. “Yet you came here first?”

She shrugs, her smile coy. “I thought I’d listen to what you had to say.”

“How do I know you’re not here to report back to James?”

“I don’t play games, Callum.”

“No?” Callum releases a dark laugh. “I’m not sure that’s true.”

Her brown eyes glint in the candlelight. “That was a long time ago.”

Claire looks guarded when her attention turns to the dark-haired alpha of Lowfell.

Dimples puncture Blake’s cheeks, but his eyes are cold. “Welcome to Lowfell. Please, come and join us.”

Her gaze falls on me. She looks like she’s assessing me, measuring me up, and I do the same. Finally, a smile ghosts her lips.

“It’s nice to see another woman up here. Even if youarea southerner.” She turns to Callum. “We need to speak. Alone.”

He inclines his head. “Aye. Later.”

She sits down beside Jack, who grins and starts a conversation with her. Callum drops into his chair and the music resumes. He squeezes my thigh underneath the table, as if he can see the questions in my eyes.

“Later,” he repeats softly.

When the food has been cleared, the bagpipe music becomes louder and more unruly, and Wolves dance raucously in the center of the hall. Their violent movements as they spin one another around mirrors the storm brewing in my chest when Callum and Claire leave the Great Hall to speak in private.

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