Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Ella

We’re able to see the true fallout of Xander’s death as the next few days pass, which are…more stressful than I’d like them to be. Cora, luckily, stays at my side through most of it, knowing that I need her support.

“Well,” she says, lounging in bed with me and flicking through her phone ” you’ll be happy to know that incidents of people calling you a hero outweigh those calling you a murderer three to one by this point!”

I sigh and throw a pretzel at my sister, giving her a little glare that she returns with a grin. Both of us are lounging around in pajamas because Sinclair has asked me not to leave our suite until things calm down a bit. Rafe lays peacefully in the blankets between us, gurgling and grabbing at his toes.

“Don’t tease me,” I murmur. “You know I hate this.”

“You need to get over it, Ells,” Cora murmurs, returning her attention to her phone. “You care way too much about what people think about you. You did what you did for everyone’s good. People just love to have someone to dogpile on. And like I said, there are way more people on your side than those who are against you, so I think it’s all turning out nicely.”

“Easy for you to say,” I sigh. “You’re the martyred duchess whose wedding I ruined.”

“I know,” she says, flashing me a wicked grin. “No one’s saying anything bad about me, the poor innocent duchess!”

I growl a little and toss another pretzel at her, satisfied when this one bounces off of her head.

Both of us turn towards the door when it opens though, and twin smiles light our faces when both Sinclair and Roger come in.

“Hey!” Cora calls, sitting up and waving to her mate. “Welcome to the slumber party!”

“I’m jealous,” Roger says as he and Sinclair cross to us. Roger easily slides onto the bed next to Cora, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “You three look so comfortable. And cozy.”

“Yeah well,” I mutter, leaning against Sinclair as he settles on the bed behind me and drops a kiss to my cheek before leaning forward to tickle Rafe’s belly. The baby giggles eagerly, which makes me smile, just a little. “You wouldn’t be so happy about it, Roger, if you were forced to be cozy because you’re on house arrest. Or suite arrest. Or whatever.”

“Well, Ella,” Roger says, looking at me with wide, innocent eyes, a wicked grin starting on his mouth. “I mean, you could always, you know, leap out the window if you’re feeling too contained

as I throw a pretzel at Roger now, hard. But he just snatches it out of the air and pops

wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close against him. He rubs his cheek warmly against my head and passes a great deal of warmth and love down the bond, knowing that I need it. It hasn’t been easy on me, these past few days. Even if Tempest article did a great deal of

rather an understatement that I’ve been living up to

for your update, trouble?” Sinclair asks, planting a kiss on my cheek. “Or do we need

pretzel in my mouth. I have indeed been snacking a lot these past few days. Anxious eating has never really been my thing but…well, I’ve never been the focus of international attention before, have

Since Xander was a war criminal and was actively committing a violent crime that would have resulted in an order to use lethal force to stop

eyebrows going up. “How the hell did

role of Queen has been officially marked as a military and political figure in this nation, which is…

down at the blankets and sighing,

military power in the nation if the King does, and no one who truly understands this situation believes that you did anything wrong.

him, giving another sigh. “You’re not telling me everything,” I

I close my eyes and breathe in Rafe’s sweet baby scent as he reaches out a pudgy little hand and grasps at my cheek, making me smile just a little bit. “Go on,” I say, my eyes

again before he

adds,

so-called offense as a rationale

shocked, and my own eyes fly open. “Does this mean,” my sister asks, hesitating,

of it. It’s…a bullshit move, and everyone knows it – Xander is

into a thin line as I stare at my little baby, my sweet Rafe, wondering what

War.

want for our

I’m at the heart

if there was anything I could have

at him as he shakes his head. ” It’s not your fault Ella. It would

of the wedding. That the

that Prince said?” Cora asks,