Chapter 115

I narrow my eyes even further at Orion, crossing my arms and shaking my head. Because even despite his valid points and my new worries…I’m aware that he’s got stakes in making me believe that Anton and I can’t last.

“You’re just jealous,” I say, studying him, trying to figure out where, really, he’s going with this.

“I am jealous,” Orion says, leaning back against the booth, surveying me in turn. “I want you for myself, June. You joke about it, but the offer of marriage – real marriage – is very much on the table for me. Is it on the table for him?”

My eyebrows go up as Orion nods his head over towards our friends, Anton at the center of them.

“Seriously, June,” Orion pushes. “Has he offered to mark you? Marry you? Has he made any life plans?”

“He can’t make life plans. He’s dead.”

Orion smirks. “You’re the future Queen of the Underworld, Juniper Sinclair – a position that comes with some serious perks. You’re offering him eternity by your side and what – he can’t even tell you he loves you?”

A pretty smile takes my lips then and I lean more casually against the booth, holding Orion’s gaze, letting him see that this time, at least, he’s guessed wrong.

“Damn,” Orion says, laughing through his scowl and glancing over at Anton with a glare. “When?”

“Last night.”

“Boy moves fast.”

“We’re serious, Orion,” I say, quietly, leaning forward towards him, a bit of the desire to play and banter with him gone. Because honestly, if he honestly wants to marry me, I don’t want to drag him through the mud. “I’m serious about him. I’m going to do everything I can to get him his body back and then…” I shrug. “We’re going to live our lives together. Even if we haven’t laid out all the plans yet – I’m sure.”

Orion’s eyes drop to the table for a moment and I watch him process this information. My eyes flick over him – his thick, silky hair, his square jaw clenched in frustration, stubbled lightly with the start of a fresh beard.

God, crap but he’s pretty.

I stifle a sigh and shut my eyes for a moment, forcing myself not to moon over him. Because as much as Anton has my heart, Orion is…a temptation. Especially sitting there, all moody, telling me he’s jealous and offering to marry me.

“All right,” Orion says, low and steady.

My eyes slowly open and I lift my chin to meet his gaze, curious and a little confused. There’s a note of victory in his voice that I truly wasn’t expecting.

“All right, Juniper,” Orion says, low and slow, sliding closer to me in the little booth, slipping an arm around my back and pulling me tight to him so that our thighs press together. My breath hitches in my chest and I look up at him, eyes wide. “What if I told you that I don’t care?”

“What?” I whisper, my confusion deepening.

“I’m serious,” Orion murmurs, his eyes drifting over my features, his strong fingers curling around my waist, warm and possessive. “Keep your boy, your pet ghost lover. Marry me anyway.”

I just…stare at him. Mind blank. Lips parting in confusion.

Because…

WHAT!?

Orion laughs, low and throaty, and dips his head a little, his gorgeous dark hair falling in his face as he brings his nose close enough to nudge mine. “I’m serious, June. Royal pairings like ours are always complicated. Have your cake, eat it too. I don’t mind.”

I put my hands solidly on Orion’s chest, pushing back a little – not to push him away, honestly, but just to get some air and to be able to study his face.

“You would…share me?” I whisper, still completely stunned. I mean, traditionally wolves are so possessive – I’ve never ever heard of an Alpha willing to share a woman he believes to be his mate.

Orion hums low in his throat, a confirmation even as he keeps his arm around my back, not letting me move away. “Not completely. You’d still be my wife. But I’ve never done monogamy before – why start now?”

I blink at him, honestly unable to do anything else, my hands still pressed against his chest. My heart pounds as I stare at his lovely face, my mind whirring at this…possibility I’ve never considered.

Both? Both Orion and Anton? How would that even…

I flinch as my wolf nips me, hard, in my soul.

You brat, she snarls, prowling back and forth, angry. Anton is ours – do not betray him by even considering this!

But is Orion not ours? I ask her, my inner voice breathy and wondering.

She pauses a little in her steps, considering it, but then snarls and keeps going. Anton is ours and he’s right over there. You’re going to break his heart if he sees you all cuddled up with this prince, and I won’t have it!

Slowly I turn my head to the side, my eyes seeking my ghost boy, all blue and lovely.

He’s still laughing with our friends, giving me space and privacy, utterly trusting. Guilt sweeps through me at that because –

Oh my god, have I betrayed him? Has Anton given me his complete and utter trust and in the span of about five seconds have I completely shattered it!?

“June,” Orion murmurs, stern, clearly not liking where this is going.

But I don’t turn back to him, because my eyes fall next on…Laila.

Laila, our selkie Princess, who is…looking right at me. Her mouth turns into the barest of frowns as her eyes move momentarily over Orion, and his arm around my back, the way he’s looking at me, so intent – so obvious –

And my wolf howls anew in our soul because I realize that I am committing a betrayal here.

But honestly, it’s not of Anton. He’ll forgive me, I know that in my heart.

But, instead, of my friend.

“Orion,” I say, turning my head back to him, shaking it slowly.

Seeing the turn in my mood Orion sighs, dropping his hand from my back and giving me a bit more space, even if he keeps his eyes on my face. “What is it?”

“You’re not being fair, Prince,” I say quietly. “And neither am I.”

He frowns at me, not getting it, so I tilt my head towards where Laila has turned back to the conversation, pretending she didn’t see. But there’s less light in her eyes now, a bit more of a flush to her cheeks.

“I’m not going to let you be cruel to her, Orion,” I say quietly.

“I’m not being cruel,” he growls, not liking the accusation. “I’m being practical –“

“She likes you, ‘Ry,” I say, interrupting him in what I hope is a gentle way. “And…I mean, I don’t know what’s happened between you, but I know you like her too. And here you are, making me one hell of an offer – when you haven’t offered her anything.”

Orion sighs, glancing over at our friends before returning his gaze to me. He cocks his head to the side. “I mean, I do like Laila. A lot. But…what’s to stop me from bringing her along too?”

I sit up straight, my eyes going wide with surprise for what feels like the thousandth time today.

“What,” Orion says on a low chuckle. “You get to have your side piece in this marriage? And I can’t have mine?”

“Anton and Laila are not side pieces, Orion,” I say, smiling and slowly getting to my feet, looking down at him. I can’t help it, really, when I reach out and smooth a hand over his hair. “And while I have to admit myself tempted…I’m not going to treat them like they are. So it’s a –“

“Don’t say a no,” Orion says, reaching up and capturing my wrist. “Just…think on it. Nothing wrong with taking your time, right? You’ve got eternity now, after all.”

I take a deep breath, unable to keep from smiling down at him, this sly, gorgeous man who is, I think for the first time, showing himself to be a rather canny Prince of the Underworld. “Good to see you’ve got it in you, ‘Ry Guy,” I say, wrinkling my nose as I take my wrist from his hand and tap a finger on his chin. “But I’m sure our friends are getting lonely without us. So, I’m going to join them.”

With a grin I lift my glass of wine from the table, taking a long – long – drink from it as I head back to the bar where our friends are waiting.

“Oh, hello,” Anton murmurs as I slip myself in front of him and lean back against his chest, turning my face to smile up at him. “Busy negotiating the future of the universe?” He wraps an arm around me, pulling me close.

“Yes,” I say on a contented sigh, grinning up at him, happiness and butterflies swelling in my stomach, my little wolf pouncing around like a maniac. “I’ve sold you off for a vast cellar full of red wine, though. Hope you don’t mind it.”

Anton laughs ducking his head a little to press a kiss to my temple. “Can’t I just live in the cellar?”

“It’d be wasted on you,” I murmur, taking another drink from my glass, nearly finishing it.

“That’s fine,” he says, pressing his cheek fondly to my hair. “You drink it for both of us. As usual.”

I lean back against my ghost boy, joining in on the conversation that rings around our little group. But I have to admit – when Orion comes to join us as well?

My eyes find his and my wolf cocks her head to the side, an anxious whine sounding in her throat as we wonder…what, precisely, our options really are. And what it is that I want.

Sensing my thoughts, Orion smirks at me and raises his drink my way, clearly inviting me to consider at will.