Page 52 of The Night Prince

My jealousy twists into annoyance, then fear. I don’t want to think about my body breaking and changing and my mind not being my own any longer. I want to be distracted.

I bet he’s so gentle with you. So afraid you will break.

I find myself thinking about what Blake would do to get what he wanted. “Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps, even after the full moon, we should not... act on our impulses.”

“What?” The word tickles my inner thigh.

I rest my elbow on the arm on the chair and put my hand over my mouth to suppress my smile. “You know, as a Southlands princess, I’m not supposed to bed anyone before marriage. I should probably honor that, going forward.” I catch the flash of the wolf in his eyes. “Perhaps I should not bed anyone again, until after I’m wed.”

“No sex before marriage? That’s how you do things in the Southlands?” His brow crumples, and I almost laugh.

“Yes. What do you think?”

I bite my cheek, sure he’s about to pounce on me, sure I’ve won my little game with him. His breath is warm against my skin, and his shoulders brush against my inner thighs when he raises himself up.

“Okay,” he says. “Marry me, then.”

Chapter Twenty

My mouth drops open. “Marry you? Callum, I was not... I was... I was just...” I fumble for the words. I was not joking, as such, but—

“I know what you were doing, Princess.” The soft glow from the fire flickers across his strong jaw. “You were trying to manipulate me. You should have known it wouldn’t work. If you wish to talk seriously about this, then let’s.” He brushes a kiss on the inside of my leg. “Marry me.”

“You’re not serious.”

“I am.”

“What game is this?”

He huffs a laugh. “I don’t play games, Princess.”

“You’re. . . you’re proposing marriage?”

He slides a hand along the back of my calf. Mischief dances on his lips. “I’m on my knees, aren’t I?”

“This isn’t a joke, Callum.”

“I know. I want to marry you.”

“For sex?”

He grins. “That’s one reason. Aye.”

Darkness spreads in my veins. “Are you expecting a political alliance? With my father?”

“No.” He nips my thigh with his teeth. “In fact, I think he’d be rather displeased to know what this savage wolf wishes to do to his daughter.”

“Do you wish to send a message to the Southlands, by marrying their princess?”

“No.” He smiles. “I want you to be my wife.”

I cup his face in my hands. His skin is hot, and his stubble prickles my palms. He truly means this. A few months ago, the thought of marrying someone like Callum would have been beyond my wildest dreams. It still is. Yet something feels... off. I feel... hesitant.

“Your wife?” I say.

“Aye.”

“You want me to be yours.”

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