Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

“Please,” the shadow says, his voice awkward and apologetic.

I’m still rigid with fear when Conner storms out onto the balcony, his hand smacking the shadow-person in the chest, slamming him against the wall. ” Who the hell are you!?” Conner demands.

“Please!” the shadow says again, “I’m so sorry! I was just standing out here, also getting fresh air! This is a complete accident!”

And suddenly, the voice snaps into place in my memory. “Conner!” I call, Rafe fussing in my arms, not liking the sudden change in my energy and the fear spiking through me, though I’m calmer now. “Please – it’s the Atalaxian Prince. He is – I don’t believe he means us any harm.”

And even though something about that concept doesn’t match up – an Atalaxian? Not meaning us any harm? Especially after the meeting I just had with my uncle?

Still, somehow, I know the truth of it down in my bones. He doesn’t.

Conner glances at me and then backs up a little, removing his hand from the Prince’s chest. “Should I escort him out of here, Luna?”

“No,” I sigh, shaking my head. “Not unless he wants to go, of course. But the night air is for everyone. I can’t have it all to myself just because I’m the Queen.”

The prince looks between Conner and I for a moment, stepping further into the light so I can see his pale features and the details of his chic black suit. “I would…stay, for a moment, if that’s all right? Have a quiet word with you, so that we don’t leave this evening on bad terms?”

“That’s fine,” I say quietly, somehow a little pleased that he will stay. I’m still terribly curious about him, perhaps despite myself.

“Would you mind?” Conner says to the prince, his voice tight. “If I performed a body check? To ensure that you don’t have…”

Calvin to pat down the sides of his

his face quite serious, I nod back to him and give him a smile, grateful for his protection. “I’ll be just inside

Conner nods again and steps to the door, standing with one

and taking a few steps closer to me not too close, but close enough to be conversational.

face carefully. As I do, I wonder a little how did he blend so seamlessly into

is something else going

moving, as was the vote. It is

little. “Do you…not get this kind of

his voice a little chagrined. “My father’s policy is instead to…tell the people how they feel about the royal family. And then

that he’s being so candid with

I murmur, wanting to shout from the rooftop that his father is a tyrant, but working very, very

that if you wish, Queen,” Calvin says, smirking a little as he takes a step closer at me and studies my face for a moment before dropping

he says, smiling at Rafe. “I’m sure he’ll grow to

you,” I say quietly, looking proudly down at Rafe myself. Then I look up at Calvin, curious. He’s young, I think my own age –

you have children of your own,

to mine. “Two,” he says, his smile growing as he thinks of them. “My Luna gave birth to our son just a few months ago – he’s

between parents who love their children. And damn it, even if I was determined to

is perhaps what

something about what he said…I turn my head a little, curious. Something about his words strikes me

child?” I ask,

three,” he replies, his smile increasing. “She is…well, she makes me laugh more than I thought anyone ever could. She’s a