Chapter 181
weu Luna
“Yes, I am.” The answer came without hesitation.
“Her services are quite expensive; perhaps I could…”
“Don’t worry, I can pay.” I thought of the check from Kaius, untouched in my drawer.
“You need the blood of a ‘turned one.”
“Your blood?” I clarified, though I’d already guessed.
“Yes, my blood–but my blood comes with a price.”
Something in his tone made my skin prickle with apprehension. And what is this price I would have to pay?”
Kieran held my gaze steadily. “You would have to marry me, Elowen,
“What?” I nearly lost my balance, gripping the branch tighter.
“That didn’t quite come out how I planned, I’m sorry.” He had the grace to look embarrassed. “It is not a demand; you are free to refuse
“I can’t marry you; I don’t even like you.” The words came out harsher than I’d intended.
If my bluntness offended him, he didn’t show it. “Love is never a big part of many marriages.”
“So then why would you want me as a wife?”
“Your influence; you don’t seem to notice it, but you are the werewolf queen.”
“Not anymore,” I countered.
“Many would always see you as that.”
Understanding dawned, cold and clarifying. “And so you plan to do what? Use me to increase your pack status?”
“If you want the truth, then yes.” His honesty was almost refreshing after months of deception and manipulation at Ravenhollow.
I leaned back against the trunk of the tree, letting his offer settle. Marriage. To a man I barely knew, for power and position. It wasn’t so different from the contract I’d signed with Kaius, was it? Except that Kieran was being transparent about his motives from
the start.
“You can take as long as you need to think about this,” he said when I remained silent.
“There won’t be any need for that; my answer is no.” I spoke firmly, though even as I refused, part of me continued to calculate, to weigh the possibilities.
“I respect your decision. But I wonder why you seem so shocked by my offer.”
I shrugged, uncomfortable under his scrutiny. “We don’t know each other very much, and I… don’t think I am ready for that step.”
“Oh, I thought there was something more.”
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Chapter 181
“You thought it was the age difference?”
He smiled slightly. “You are smart, and yes.”
“How old are you, if I might ask?”
“Almost forty.”
I blinked in surprise. “That’s almost twice my age, but you don’t look it. It was true–I’d assumed he was in his early thirties at
most.
We lapsed into silence again, the proposition hanging between us like a physical presence. I thought of Kaius, of the power he’d wielded so effortlessly, of how easily he’d discarded me when I no longer served his purposes. I thought of the humiliation I’d endured, standing before the assembled pack as he announced I wasn’t his true mate.
I thought of being strong enough that no one could ever hurt me like that again.
“If we get married,” I began, my voice careful.
“We don’t have to,” Kieran reminded me.
“Sex?” The question was blunt, but necessary.
“If you don’t want it, then you don’t have to.”
“But what if you need an heir?”
“That would be years later, but this pack is… different; the title could be passed to anyone fit; the pack needs a leader, and there are many fit to lead.”
“So we don’t have to…”
“No, you don’t even have to stay in the same room with me, nor do you need to pretend before the pack.”
“So we are just married by words alone.” The idea was beginning to seem less absurd with each limitation he accepted.
I took a deep breath, my decision crystallizing. “I will marry you.”
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