Chapter 51

Esther’s POV

Kevin’s scent reached me before his voice did. Pine and iron, sharp as a storm front. I’d been in the palace infirmary checking inventory when the alarms rippled through the halls. There were raised voices, hurried boots, then a Beta’s barked orders. By the time I reached the main hall, the guards were already lined like black dominoes, shields up but eyes uneasy.

And there he was, shoulders squared, rage rolling off him in waves. Kevin. My oldest ally. My closest almost-everything. My problem.

“Where is she?” His voice cracked across the marble floor. “I know she’s here. I’m not leaving without her.”

A tremor went through the guards. None of them wanted to be the one to take the first swipe at an Alpha.

My throat tightened. If Nicholas’s people tried to push Kevin back, it would be blood on polished stone. I slipped between two guards and stepped into the center of the hall.

“Kevin!”

His head whipped toward me. Relief flickered in his gray eyes, but it died instantly, replaced by fury.

“Esther.”

I raised both palms. “Don’t do this here.”

“Don’t do—” His voice pitched up. “You vanished! You cut off contact! And then I hear you’re living in this palace like—” He broke off, jaw trembling.

A dozen sets of eyes watched. The gossipers in their crisp uniforms, Amanda’s sycophants at the balcony rail, even the servants clutching silver trays. They all had their theories about why I was here. None of them knew the truth.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “I came willingly.”

His brows crashed together. “Willingly?”

“Yes.” My heart raced. “I’m doing this for Carl.”

He blinked, caught off guard. “Carl?”

I glanced around. Too many ears. But Kevin was shaking like a man at the edge of a cliff. He wasn’t going to back down without something.

“Kevin, listen.” I pressed my hand to his arm, trying to ground him. “Carl’s condition is worse. Sharon’s still asleep. I’ve tried everything. This—” I motioned vaguely to the palace around us. “—this is my last chance.”

Understanding flickered and then darkened in his eyes. “You’re telling me you’re staying with him, the Alpha King, for Carl?”

“Yes.”

He recoiled. “You can’t be serious.”

“Three months,” I whispered fiercely. “That’s all. Three months and then I’ll come back. Please. Don’t ruin this.”

His Beta shifted uneasily behind him. The hall was so quiet you could hear the banners stir against the walls.

Kevin stared at me like I’d just confessed to treason. “You’re staying with him to wake up Sharon?”

“Yes,” I said, not realizing until too late how it would sound.

“Esther…” His jaw flexed. “Do you even know what people are saying?”

“I don’t care what they’re saying,” I snapped. “This isn’t about them.”

“It’s about him,” Kevin spat. “It’s always been about him.”

“No.” My fingers dug into his sleeve. “It’s about Carl.”

Behind us, a new scent cut through the tension of burnt ozone and cedar. Nicholas.

He emerged from the shadows at the top of the stairs, black coat flowing, eyes like molten coin. He descended step by deliberate step, each one echoing.

Kevin squared himself. “Give her back.”

“She’s not yours to give,” Nicholas said coolly.

“She’s under my protection,” Kevin barked.

I darted between them before claws could slide. “Stop it, both of you!”

Kevin glared at Nicholas over my shoulder. “I don’t know what lies you’ve told her, but—”

“Kevin.” I gripped his wrist hard. “Go. Please.”

“I can’t leave you here.”

“You must,” I said. “For Carl.”

Something flickered behind his eyes at my son’s name. But he shook his head.

“He’s not worth this.”

“This isn’t about him,” I said. “This is my choice.”

Kevin’s Beta murmured something low, pointing at the archers along the balconies.

Kevin’s mouth tightened. “Three months?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

He leaned closer. “If he hurts you—”

“He won’t.” My lie burned my throat.

Finally he let out a harsh breath, stepped back, and gave a sharp nod. “Fine.”

I exhaled shakily.

He turned to go, casting Nicholas one last look of pure loathing. Together he and his Beta stalked out through the palace doors.

The great hall fell silent except for my heartbeat.

Nicholas hadn’t moved from the bottom stair. His gaze pinned me like a hawk. Heat rose to my face under it, but I lifted my chin and turned away, heading for the corridor.

Nicholas’s POV

She’d stood between us. Between two Alphas.

Norman prowled under my skin, claws scoring my ribs. She’s protecting him.

I watched Kevin leave, tasted iron at the back of my throat. Three months, she’d said. Then she’ll come back to him.

My claws itched. My teeth ached. But I kept my expression smooth, glacial.

“Escort our guest to the border,” I said to the guards. My voice didn’t crack but it wanted to.

They nodded and moved off.

Only then did I look at Esther fully. Her eyes were still bright with adrenaline. Her healer’s coat trembled around her like a flag in the wind. Always defiance, always holding herself up even as she frayed.

“You rushed to defend him,” I said softly.

Her shoulders stiffened. “I rushed to stop a war.”

“Is that what you call it?”

She glared at me. “Don’t twist this.”

Norman pressed harder, tail lashing. She chose us to heal the boy. Not him. Not anymore.

But all I could see was her hand on Kevin’s sleeve.

“You told him three months,” I said.

“Yes.”

“And then?”

Her eyes flicked away. “That’s none of your business.”

I tilted my head. “Everything about you is my business.”

She flinched but held her ground.

The urge to grab her, to mark her, to drag her back to my quarters until she admitted the truth roared up so fast my vision blurred. Instead I pivoted sharply and strode from the hall.

“Follow.”

She didn’t.

Back in my office, I poured whiskey but didn’t drink it. My hands wanted to shake but I refused to let them. I stared at the amber liquid and saw Kevin’s face in it, saw Esther’s eyes.

Norman growled. Stake your claim.

“She’s lying,” I muttered. “She’s using me. Playing martyr to save his brat.”

Mate, Norman snarled. And the boy is ours.

I shut my eyes, inhaling her scent still lingering in the room: daisies, pine, and under it the faint wild-honey tang of Sharon stirring awake.

Six years ago she’d been a trembling slave. Now she moved like a shield. She’d walked into my court and thrown herself between me and another Alpha. Something in me both admired and hated it.

Norman prowled. Do something. Mark her. Tell her the truth.

“She doesn’t deserve the truth.” My voice cracked.

Norman’s growl softened. You don’t believe that.

I slammed the glass down, unbroken. “Three months,” I murmured. “Let him think he’s won.”

Norman went still. What are you planning?

“Exactly what she offered.” I smiled, slow and cold. “She’ll stay. She’ll see. And when it’s over, there won’t be any doubt left about who she belongs to.”

Norman rumbled but didn’t argue.

Across the hall I could sense her moving in shutting her chamber door, leaning her forehead to the wood as if she could hold herself together by force alone.

The bond pulsed, tugging at me.

I didn’t go to her. Not yet.

Instead I turned to the window where the last traces of Kevin’s scent faded on the wind, and promised myself that next time, she wouldn’t stand between us.