Chapter 190
~ NYSSA
Everything stilled.
Blood rushed in my ears and my heart hammered violently in my chest. My mouth opened and closed, words caught in them. I tried to speak, but no words would come.
"You’re silent," he noted, head cocked to the side. "Did I scare you?"
"You..." I managed out. "You said that..."
His lips curved slowly, deliberately. "Yes, little wolf, I love you, surely you know that, or have I been doing a terrible job at showing it?"
"I—" I swallowed thickly as a knot formed in my throat. "You said it."
"Was I not supposed to?" he asked, voice dripping with amusement. "I thought that’s what you do when you love someone."
Everything inside of me warmed at the softness of his voice, and the warmth that radiated from his eyes.
The knife fell from my hands, clattering against the chopping board, the sound unusually loud as it echoed through the silence.
"I—"
"You don’t need to say it back," he cut me off firmly.
"But—"
"I don’t want you to say it back," he continued. "Not now at least. This is my moment, you can make yours another time."
I laughed loudly.
My eyes widened in surprise at how loud and boisterous the sound was, echoing through the room. "You’re insane."
Pulling me closer, he dropped his lips to mine in a warm open mouthed kiss that had my toes curling and my eyes fluttering shut.
I barely managed to place my hands on his shoulders when he pulled back, the corner of his lips tugging upwards in amusement.
"Breakfast first, it’s important," he said, but I couldn’t tell if he was trying to convince me or himself.
Having a day off was arguably one of the best choices I could have made.
Being able to sit and do nothing with Rowan by my side was utter bliss. We ate, fucked and when we were both spent, we lay on the couch, curled up against each other.
We were so comfortable that when Rowan glanced at the clock and announced that we’d have to leave soon if we still planned to meet up with the guards, I nearly refused, but I remembered how excited they were yesterday and reluctantly pulled myself off him.
"What does one even wear to this kind of thing?" I asked, rummaging through my clothes.
"Something casual, but not too casual."
I rolled my eyes. "That narrows things down."
I settled on a pair of loose black pants and a simple rust colored top. I paired it over with a cute jacket of blue so deep that it almost appeared black. Rowan went simple, in black pants and a matching black shirt with a leather jacket.
By the time we arrived at the stadium where the competition would hold, the place was already packed. Pack members sat in the stands, some with snacks, some peering eagerly into the open space beneath where the guards would be fighting.
"You weren’t joking when you said it was like a gladiator thing," I mumbled as we were led to our seats.
There seemed to be some kind of royal gallery set aside for Rowan and I.
Two thrones sat in the middle of it, clearly positioned higher than the others. A few steps below, on either side were some other seats, carefully positioned so that they could come close if need be, however those seats were occupied by Eric and a few other guards I did not recognize.
As we got closer, I realized that one of the thrones was occupied.
"You came!" Aria said excitedly. "I am so glad you came, you will have so much fun at this."
She held a bowl of popcorn in her hands which she threw into her mouth casually.
I glanced at Rowan out of the corner of my eye, then back to Aria, unsure of what to do. I knew she wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, she was the acting royal for years. Surely those habits were hard to break.
"Aria," Rowan said, voice cold. "You’re in Nyssa’s seat."
Her eyes widened, cheeks flushing pink. "My bad. I just thought that because she hadn’t been coroneted yet that I was still the only other royal."
Her words stung but she was right.
I was Luna... not queen.
I tried to take one of the other seats but Rowan’s arm wrapped tightly around my elbow, keeping me in place.
"She is my mate," he said firmly. "Coronation or not, she is Queen."
"Of course," Aria murmured.
She rose, ears bright red as she lowered herself into one of the seats next to Eric.
A part of me felt bad for her, my insides twisting uncomfortably as everyone watched her. If it were up to me, there’d be a third chair, set just for her.
Rowan tugged on my arm, leading me towards the seat. "Don’t."
"Don’t what?" I asked.
"Beat yourself up. You are Queen in every way that matters."
"It is just a chair."
"It is not. It is a symbol of power and respect and you hold the position, you are expected to sit here."
I sighed, not wanting to argue any further.
I sank into the seat, eyes widening as I took in the view in front of me.
From here, I could see everything: the guards acting as referees, the pack, even the recruits practicing in the tunnels.
"This is amazing," I whispered softly.
Rowan hummed. "It hasn’t even begun."
My skin prickled, the hair on my arms suddenly rising as a feeling of unease went through me.
I knew the feeling... I’d felt it numerous times.
I glanced around, scanning through the crowd but no one seemed fixated on me. they all watched the space in front of them excitedly, waiting for the test to begin.
"Good seats, right?"
I turned to the right, eyes locking on Aria.
I nodded in agreement. "Very good."
She opened her mouth to speak but whatever she ha to say was quickly cut off by the sound of a loud horn.
"Welcome!" a voice exclaimed. "To the final test for our recruits!"