The Mystical Attraction of Alpha

“Ella,” Clavin says, his voice thick with emotion. His hand continues its path, reaching for me, his fingers brushing the velvet sleeve of my gown before I can pull away.

“What,” I whisper, taking a few steps back, wanting space between us. “What was that?”

“I don’t – ”

Before he can finish though, we both turn towards the darkened doorway to the balcony. I instantly recognize the silhouette I see there as my mate’s and breathe out a breath of relief.

I mean it’s not that I think that Calvin or I did anything wrong, or that Calvin was going to hurt me, but whatever passed between us? It was strange.

And suddenly as I remember the pulse that happened last night, when Calvin touched my hand – I want my mate here, now, at my side.

“Is everything all right out here?” Sinclair growls, his voice low and full of the threat that his words don’t carry.

He takes a step forward into the darkness as Calvin takes a step away from me and bows to him, both a formality shown to a king and a display of deference to an Alpha who thinks he might sense a threat to his mate.

“Everything is fine, Dominic,” I say, holding out a hand to him, doing my best to keep my voice light though I suspect I’m failing a little bit. “Prince Calvin was just telling me about his children. Did you know that he has a son just older than Rafe? And his daughter is three.”

prowling to my side, his eyes fixed on the Atalaxian prince. “Your family keeps such information close to their chest,

And I very much hope that after this trip that I will be able to tell

hoping my words assure Calvin that I’m on his side, and to persuade Sinclair that

at my side, pressing his hands into his pockets and looking Calvin up and down. “Especially after the stunts your delegation has been pulling with Xander. He upset Ella very much

me, his face genuinely pained. “I was

Calvin sighs deeply as he listens, lifting a hand to rub at his eyes

I beg you you to consider that there was and is dissent within our nation. While I’m sure that some of

look

it up,” the prince says

mouth, clear that that’s

the wheels in motion before stepping towards the door. When he reaches it, he clasps Conner on the shoulder and bids him a good night as well, a move that adds another tick in his favor as far as I’m concerned. I quite like it when

less important at this particular moment, I look up at Sinclair.

you the same,” he

confused. ” What did I

says, shaking his head at me a little.

say, waving a hand towards the door. “He wants to make a

soft hearted! He

his face. “I may be soft-hearted, Dominic, but that’s something you value about me. You can’t have it both

let me take the lead on these

that,” I say gently, stepping close to him now and dropping my hand, looking up at him with wide and loving eyes. “Dominic, if you tell me never to see him again, I won’t. But last night you told me to trust my instincts, and they’re telling me to trust him. Prince Calvin – he speaks to me and if this is an in with the Atalaxians? A way to create an alliance, to avoid war, to perhaps even help some of the women within that nation? Wouldn’t