Chapter 91: Inseparable

Louis

As soon as I stepped off the plane, they descended on me like a swarm of mosquitoes. My personal guard, the aides, the advisors, the cameras, a few citizens who managed to get in to film me on their cellphones, and the biggest bloodsucker of them all, my personal assistant, Leanne.

“Welcome home, your highness,” she said, without so much as a trace of a welcoming smile. Her ash-blond hair was pulled back into its usual bun, which did not flatter her long face, with a nose that was a bit too big, and a jaw that was too small. But what she lacked in physical beauty, she made up for in brains, and despite her sour face, she was a kind and compassionate human. She fell into step beside me on the way to the limousine that was waiting on the tarmac.

“I’ve put off the meeting with Alpha Larken until Monday, as you requested, but he arrived this morning, with his daughter. I put them in the green wing, as we discussed. Will you dine with them tonight?” She paused long enough to look up at me, expecting an answer.

“Yes.”

She checked that item off her clipboard. “And I need to remind you there is a hearing regarding the murder of that Luna scheduled for tomorrow morning. You’ll be expected to make a public statement. June has prepared a press conference for after the meeting and—”

“Leanne,” I stopped abruptly, almost making her trip as her gaze was glued to her clipboard. “I’d like you to meet someone. This is Daphne Redhawk,” I turned to Daphne, who was following several paces behind me. We had gotten separated as we disembarked from the jet. She was still adorably flushed from our kiss, her lips a little pink and swollen, her eyes a little bright, but I knew that Leanne would never guess why.

Leanne smiled politely, “Nice to meet you, Ms. Redhawk, welcome to the palace.”

I gestured for Daphne to come forward, and put my hand on her back. “Have you prepared the suite for her as I asked?”

“Yes, I sent housekeeping in this morning–” Leanne’s smile slipped back into her usual tight-lipped expression. “But, Sir, I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to put her in the Daisy suite. Certainly an apartment on the staff wing would–”

I held up a hand and halted her flow of words. “Daphne is not merely staff, Leanne. She is also my honored guest. The Daisy Suite, for now. Let’s go, the rest of this can wait,” I dismissed whatever other bullet items she had on her clipboard and started again toward the limo, keeping Daphne beside me, with my hand against the small of her back.

I felt her through the fabric of her blouse. I’d never felt anything like the sensations I got from Daphne. I didn’t have a name to put to the warm, almost liquid sensation I got, but it was calming and peaceful, and I craved it. The more I got it, the more I wanted it.

Daphne climbed into the limousine, and I made sure that she sat next to me. Leanne took the rear-facing seat, along with Horace, one of the two guards who had accompanied me to my daughter’s pack. I knew that Leanne was watching me like a hawk, and she probably noticed the fact that I was still touching Daphne, no matter how casually. I could practically feel the questions burning within her.

But I had no answers. I was just as confused as she was.

I haven’t kissed a woman since my wife died.

Beautiful women were paraded in front of me all the time. Sometimes under their own initiative, sometimes by ambitious parents or other players. It was no coincidence, I was sure, that Alpha Larken had brought his daughter along for a business meeting that likely had nothing at all to do with her.

Now that I was back, everyone seemed to think it was only natural that I would find another wife, take a chosen mate and name her queen. Not only was it expected that I would provide the Royal pack with a new luna, I knew there was some concern that I might relapse, and they wanted to make sure that the crown was secure. If Mad King Louis couldn’t hold the throne, who was going to take his place? Not my brother. And not my daughter. Bella was alive and well, but she had already found her place with her mates at Valiant Mountain. I wouldn’t disrupt her family just to compel her to take over as Princess. It wouldn’t be fair.

Daphne gasped as we entered the gated fortification of the château. She craned her neck and looked out the window, as we rolled through the outer courtyard, which functioned as a community area, with a park and an outdoor market that was open to the public under the watchful eye of the East Tower. And then we entered the second gate, the inner courtyard. We didn’t bother with the grand entrance, which was generally reserved for special events, guests, and photo ops. Instead, we drove behind the building to the common entrance, which was much more convenient.

We passed under the watchful eyes of the guard as we exited the limo and entered the building. “Don’t worry about your things,” I said, as Daphne glanced back at her luggage being unloaded from one of the service vehicles. “Someone will bring them to your room shortly. Welcome to the Royal Pack, Daphne, I hope you will feel at home here.”

Her eyes were wide with wonder as she looked all around, from the parquet floors to the authentic tapestries and antiques that lined the halls. I’d always regarded the stuff as so much junk, but she seemed fascinated by it, the real suit of armor that stood empty, guarding the entry to the throne room, the massive oil portrait of a wolf standing on the ridge which was supposed to be my great-great-grandfather.

“Come, my dear. I’ll arrange a tour for you later. First, I want to show you your rooms and get you settled in before I get whisked away by a thousand responsibilities.”

Once inside the palace walls, the guards faded away. I knew they were still there, but they knew how to make themselves practically invisible. I promised Leanne I would meet her before dinner to go over my schedule, and then dismissed her too, so that I could escort Daphne to the Daisy Suite myself.

The Daisy Suite, otherwise known as the Luna Suite. Not that my Luna had ever slept there, not even a single night. It was a throw back to my great-great-grand, to a time when men and women kept separate beds in separate bedrooms, for propriety’s sake. Which was just stupid, because if they were really fated mates, I’m sure they never slept separately. So I didn’t feel particularly sentimental about putting Daphne in the rooms, which were conveniently right across the hall from my own.

“Here we are,” I stopped and opened the intricately carved door, pushing it open and standing aside so that she could enter.

Sometime during my long illness, the suite had been updated and modernized, probably by my brother and his wife, since they had been eying the throne for themselves. It still had the hand-painted daisy wallpaper, but the sitting area now boasted an entertainment center, one corner had been converted into a kitchenette and the small room which had previously been outfitted as a nursery was now a sleek and efficient office. The antique bed remained, but the mattress had been replaced, and the massive claw bathtub in the en suite had been switched to a modern jet tub and a multi-head shower.

“This is beautiful,” Daphne said with a bright smile, perhaps a bit too bright. “Definitely an upgrade from my dorm room at the university.”

“Good. I’ve had the kitchenette stocked with some snacks and beverages, and a few staples, but I hope you will take your meals with me, down in the dining room. Breakfast at 8:00, lunch at 1:00, dinner at 7:00 pm. No pressure, of course, but,” I took her hand again, just to feel her skin against mine again, “It would please me very much.”

“Y-yes, okay,” She stammered a reply. And I knew that Daphne was not a woman who stuttered.

“If there is anything you need, anything that doesn’t meet your expectations, do not hesitate to ask. You will find a list of phone numbers on the desk, including my personal number and–” I paused. “My rooms are just across the hall.”

I knew, as soon as I spoke the words, that it sounded like an open invitation. I saw her eyes widen slightly. “Thank you, your Majesty,” she said, pulling her hand from mine. “You’ve been so accommodating. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything. Thank you.”

“It’s just Louis,” I told her again, firmly. I was used to titles and formalities, but I didn't want them from Daphne.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, reminding me that there were dozens of things demanding my attention after my four-day absence. I stepped away reluctantly, and felt a nagging unease about leaving her side, just as keenly as I had felt it over the last few days. My wolf whined and a dull sense of rising anxiety wrapped around my chest.

I forced a smile. “Thank you for coming, Daphne. I’ll see you at dinner.”