Page 102 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
Shayan nods his approval at my question, and I can see a glint in his eyes, like he is hoping someone is listening to us. “I doubt it’s all show,” he says, plopping onto the chair to take off his boots. “That Madame Penelope… I’ve never met a woman like her.” His tone gets almost a bit lustful now, although he grimaces. I have to suppress my chuckle at his expression. “She is beguiling.”
“You want to stay?”
He nods. “I think I want to see what this here is about. Is it going to be a problem for you and Grace?”
“No, sis will hopefully understand.” I shrug. “And, I can explore my mate better that way.”
Shayan rolls his eyes at me, probably well aware that the last part wasn’t meant as a joke. Being able to spend some time with Rona and get to know her is the only good part about being here.
“Alright,” Shayan nods. “Let’s see if they have a job for us.”
We linger around a while in his room until we hear a knock. Shayan’s fox slips beneath the blanket and disappears, while Shayan opens the door, then bows his head slightly. “Madame Penelope.”
Penelope is dressed in a tight black dress, making her skin look even paler. It’s incredibly hard to tell her age, as with Aylin. But, there is a freshness about Aylin that Penelope misses. “Oh, I hope I am not interrupting anything.”
“Not at all,” I say, bowing, too.
She smirks, making me wonder if she indeed listened to us. “I’ve been wondering,” she muses. “I have need of some capable… hands.”
Shayan’s expression doesn’t even change in the slightest at her suggestive words. “Roy and I are not opposed to helping in any way,” he bluffs.
Her lips tug slightly. She seems to be pleased with his answer. “I wonder which fine gentleman is going to take me out for dinner, now.”
Shayan offers his arms, and she takes it.
“I take that as an invitation,” she says, tossing Shayan a glance. Her eyes glint slightly. She turns to look at me. “I expect you to tend to Rona.”
“I will,” I promise easily.
I watch her and Shayan leave, feeling mixed feelings about this. Goddess, I hope Shayan is going to be careful.
thirty-four
Love
*AZADEH*
Iblink my eyes open, my gaze falling on the handsome man next to me. I’ve never been intimate with a man before, not even let one sleep next to me, but with Ende I feel no pressure, no fear. We hadn’t done much yesterday, just kissed, and he carried me to bed.
I asked him to stay, reluctant to let him go.
“I can get used to this,” he smiles as he opens his eyes, his beautiful silver gaze captivating me.
“Me too,” I admit.
“This is a dream, Azadeh,” he says. “Ever since I saw you, you have struck something in me. And when I got to know you, I knew there would never be another woman for me, but you.”
“And, if you find your mate?” I ask.
“My wolf and I chose you,” he says. “We have a choice, Aza, and it’s you.”
“Caspian, too?”
I can see something in his eyes flash as his wolf comes to the surface. “You remember my name,” Caspian says in his husky voice. It’s fascinating how different they sound, how their expression changes, although they share the same body.
“Of course, I remember your name.” I reach out my hand to touch his cheek. “Is it true?” I ask. “That you are willing to miss out on your mate for me?”
“You are our mate,” he says firmly before wrapping me in his arms and pressing me against his chest. “This is real. I’m not giving you up. I want your everything, forever. And once your beautiful neck carries our mark, there won’t be any going back. If our mate exists, she’d be set free, and the goddess will choose someone else for her.”
