Chapter 10

• Iris followed Jayden into the apartment. "Is everything alright? You know you can talk to me!” Iris closed the door and watched Jayden flop to the couch.
• Resting his arm on the side of the couch, he said, “Pack business has me on edge!”
• Iris exhaled. When Jayden did not want to speak, that was his go to line. Motioning her feet toward him. “You know it has been a long day. How about we both go to bed,” she suggested.
• Jayden exhaled, “that sounds like a good idea.” He glanced at her briefly. “I will take the sofa while you take the bed.”
• Iris frowned, “I had figured that we both would share the bed!” she tried once again. “There is plenty of room.” she sang.
• “Nah!” Jayden dismissed the idea. “You have court tomorrow and will need to be well rested,” he explained. “Besides, there will be plenty of time to share a bed once we are married.” he got up and kissed Iris on the head. “I will just take the top blanket off the bed. Then we should call it a night.”
• Forcing a smile on her face. A way to hide her disappointment, “I will get the blanket for you. You get yourself ready for bed.” she motioned her feet to the bedroom. Only then did she drop the facade.
• For a while, she had noticed the subtlety in Jayden’s behaviour. Not putting much emphasis on it, Iris had fixated on her schooling. Now, she could not ignore his distant behaviour. She had also noticed the difference in how their social group acts with their better half versus how Jayden is around her.
• In a group setting, he has her sit on his lap, holding her tightly. He laughs and is the center of attention. He has always enjoyed entertaining everyone. When they are alone, there is space between them. He kisses only the top of her head. When she is able to sneak a kiss on the lips, Jayden will only allow the kiss to last seconds at best.
• Iris gathered the blanket off the bed. Steadying herself, she put a smile on her face and strolled back to the lounge. “Here you go!” she said, pointing at the decorative pillows. “Will that be enough?”
• Dropping the blanket to the sofa, placing both hands on the side of her face, “That is what I love about you so much. Always caring for others before yourself.” he kissed her lightly on the lips. “I will be fine with what is here. Go! You will need your sleep.” Jayden beamed at Iris.
• ***
• “That went better then I had thought.” Jezebel commented as she finished placing her hair in a single braid. “I have to admit I was taken a back meeting Miss Iris.”
• Alpha King James pulled the blankets back, “what are your first impressions of the girl?”
• Jezebel turned her body away from the vanity table as she studied her lover. “The energy that comes off of her body is very powerful. Intimidating actually! I am surprised your wolf isn’t losing his mind.” she got to her feet. “For the longest time, shifters and sorcerers have been at odds. More so when two powerful beings cross paths.” She thought about things for a moment as she slid into the bed. “Your wolf will never find me as a threat. When it comes to class, I would be at the bottom of the magical world. But Iris … that is a different matter altogether. And she is very young … attractive … and educated. I can see your wolf viewing her as a threat to you and the family.”
• 'You have no idea!' The Alpha King crawled into bed. Wrapping his arms around his lover, “Is she a threat to me?” his tone was low as he kissed the side of her neck.
• “No!” Jezebel’s eyes clouded over, “while the court hearing is in session … nothing will happen.” she inhaled deeply. Causing the Alpha King to tighten his hold. Her eyes were still glazed over as she continued to see what could be. “Iris is a fighter … no assassin! She is not a threat to the crown but she is a threat to her grandfather.” Jezebel placed her hand on the side of her head as she had to disconnect the link that had been formed.
• Alpha King James held Jezebel, cradling as she shivered. “What did you see that has you frightened?”
• “Her back was turned to me. Before the girl, I saw many graves. She was screaming and not out of fear but pain. Unimaginable pain! When the girl turned, I saw Iris’s face. I saw blood coming from her eyes,” Jezebel began to whimper. “Her pain … I could feel it!” she buried her face into her lover's chest. “Then I saw her holding the crown as she screamed a type of scream that only a female would scream when someone she loves dies. The blood poured out of her eyes as she killed Black O’Donnoly!” hyperventilating, “I saw your death!” Jezebel wailed.
• ***
• Maximum passed the room. " How could you tell your father? I thought we were going to keep this to ourselves.”
• Prince Mael knew Maximum was angry. The information he had given his father had slipped out, and he did not understand why he had broken his and Maximum’s vow. Something inside of him snapped when he saw Iris and Jayden holding hands. “It was not intended! We both had agreed on letting Iris marry … that bloody fool.” He growled as his mood soured.
• “You want her!?” Maximum could not believe what was happening. “I get it she is hot. Very HOT, but we can’t think with our dicks.” he readjusted himself.
• “She doesn’t belong to him! Iris is ours, and you can’t deny that connection.” Prince Mael was not going to let go of the topic. “My wolf will not stop howling. Desiring her … no needing her in our arms. You can’t tell me it is not the same for you?”
• Maximum huffed and puffed as he pushed his hands roughly through his dishevelled hair. “Yes!” he admitted with a hiss. “But we have the crown to protect. With so many secrets around her … I can’t … I won’t! I will deny until my very last breath her existence until I know the crown is safe. Not a thought! Not a hunch! I want proof that her father is not after the crown for himself or that son of a bitch, Black O’Donnoly!”
• Prince Mael brought his teacup to his lips, “and if the proof is given?”
• Maximum snorted, “Jayden doesn’t hold a candle to us. We are from the strongest bloodline of shifters. No one is stronger than a Dirus Canis!”
• “Except a Bloodmoon!” Prince Mael grumbled. “Do you ever wonder why the fates would set a Bloodmoon and Armstrong together? Placing Iris with the top two fighters of the Capital of all things?”
• Flopping in the armchair, “I have always appreciated a good challenge. Though I always win!” Maximum displayed his ego.
• “As many times as you have won, you have also lost to me!” Prince Mael reminded his cousin that he was not on top of the pyramid.
• “And still in old age, your father can drop kick the both of us!” Maximum had dampened their swollen egos. “You are going to get the evidence to prove Iris …”
• Clearing his throat, he said, “I already have it!” Prince Mael shifted his body in the chair. “I just need father to see it. I could hand him the information. You know, and I know he will toss it in the garbage and wait for Iris to slip up. So, I will keep this information to myself. Dad has always been critical when it comes to sorcerers and the O’Donnoly. He will struggle with the demons until he comes to a final decision.”
• Maximum glued his sight on his cousin, “And!?”