Chapter 200: Duty Call

Leo’s POV

I need to go again.

I leaned in closer, my hard length pressing against her thighs, earning a small, shaky breath from her lips…until a sharp sound sliced through the air. My frown deepened. A low growl rumbled in my chest.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound was sharp and unwelcome. My blood turned cold. I immediately grabbed the thick duvet from the bed and threw it over her, covering her completely…even her head. Pure instinct took over.

What if it’s Daniel? What if he came to drag my mate away under some useless excuses?

The thought of that unmated bastard catching even a glimpse of her…her bare skin, flushed and soft from what we’d been doing…made my wolf snarl violently.

I stalked toward the door, still naked, still hard, still burning from the moment that had just been interrupted.

My hand closed around the handle…but I stopped and listened. I didn’t need to open it to know. I used my senses.

Not Daniel. Two maids. Just maids.

Thank the goddess!

Wait, maids? Why are they fucking distracting us? Do they have a death wish?

I was about to yank the door open when..

“LEO!”

Her muffled voice came from under the duvet. Ivy threw the cover back just enough to glare at me, her hair messy and her eyes fierce. “You’re naked! Why are you going to expose my property to everyone?”

That pulled a rough smirk from me. Even flustered, even blushing, she was claiming me. I liked that more than I should’ve. Grabbing a towel, I wrapped it low around my hips before walking back to the door.

When I opened it, the three maids froze. They were flushed, their eyes instantly dropping to the floor. The scent of their discomfort filled the room as they moved like startled birds, placing the queen’s ceremonial gowns on the nearby chaise lounge.

The oldest, a nervous woman named Fina, finally found her voice. “Your Majesty, we need to help the Queen dress. There’s very little time.”

I stood there, broad-chested and unimpressed. The towel felt ridiculous, but I didn’t care. “You can leave,” I said flatly. “I’ll handle it.”

They hesitated. “But, Your Majesty, the dress is very complicated…the stays, the straps…”

I growled. Not softly. It was low, deep, and final. “Leave. Now.”

They didn’t wait for another word. They scattered, practically running down the hall.

I turned back to my mate. She was sitting up in bed…beautiful, furious, and still a little breathless.

“You’re impossible,” she muttered, though I caught the small curve at the corner of her lips.

“No one touches you,” I said simply, tossing the towel aside again. Her eyes widened, but I didn’t stop. I went to the gown.

The damn thing was absurd. Layers of cream silk and complicated embroidery. Heavy. Impractical. The kind of thing made by people who had never actually worn clothes. I lifted it…it felt like lifting a corpse.

“Alright, Queen,” I muttered darkly. “Let’s put this prison on you.”

The next ten minutes were pure torture.

I got the main body of the dress over her head easily enough, but the moment the straps came into play, all hell broke loose. Dozens of thin ribbons, crisscrossing in some complicated pattern only a genius or a sadist could understand.

I tried to tie them, but my fingers kept fumbling. I pulled one side too tight, the other too loose. The dress looked like it was trying to strangle her and fall off at the same time.

“Leo, you’re choking me,” she groaned, tugging the neckline. “No, that one goes under. Wait…pull that one. Harder. No, not that one!”

I growled under my breath. “This is ridiculous. Who designs this crap? A zipper would solve all your problems.”

Ivy laughed, the sound warm and bright in the tension. “You should’ve let the maids do it! They know what they’re doing.”

“Not a chance,” I snapped, yanking one of the ribbons harder. “No one else is allowed to touch you.”

Her laughter faltered, eyes flicking to mine. She saw it…the possessive edge, the dark hunger in my gaze. I didn’t hide it. Couldn’t. The idea of someone else’s hands, even female hands, on her bare skin, adjusting fabric near the mark that burned on her neck, made my blood boil.

I tried again, but the more I worked, the more frustrated I got. The ribbons twisted. The silk slipped. I almost tore a lace overlay in half.

“Stop,” she said softly, placing her hand over mine. “You’re going to destroy it.”

Her touch calmed me…barely. I exhaled and dropped my head for a second before reaching out with my mind.

“Ezra,” I ordered through the link. “Send two of the most competent, fastest maids you can find. Now. And tell them to bring extra pins.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” came the immediate reply.

While I waited, I dressed quickly…black trousers, emerald tunic trimmed in gold, and the heavy Alpha King cloak. I was ready in minutes. When I turned, she was still half-dressed, the dress hanging awkwardly on her shoulders. She looked so beautiful I almost lost it again.

I grumbled, “Why do women have to make everything so damn complicated? All this fabric…what’s the point?”

She giggled, collapsing onto the bed. “That’s the beauty of it.”

The two maids arrived minutes later, looking terrified. I opened the door just enough for them to slip in. They kept their eyes down, trembling slightly as they bowed.

“Get to work,” I commanded, pointing at the gown. My voice dropped low, dangerous. “If any of your hands touch her bare skin, I’ll take your fingers off. Do you understand me?”

The girls froze. Wide eyes. Quick nods.

“Leo!” Ivy hissed, pushing me away slightly. “Stop it! You’re scaring them.” She turned to the maids with a small smile. “I’m sorry. He’s being a big baby. Just ignore him.”

Then she looked back at me, her voice softer but firm. “Seriously, leave. I need privacy.”

The word hit harder than I expected. Privacy. From me. My chest tightened. I frowned. “Privacy?” I asked quietly.

“You don’t want me here? You don’t want me anymore?”

She sighed, clearly trying not to laugh. “You’re impossible.”

Before I could push the issue, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

“YOUR MAJESTY! YOU’RE NEEDED…IT’S URGENT!” The guard’s voice came from the other side, sharp and tense.

I growled low, the sound vibrating in my chest. “What now?” I muttered, already striding to the door. My heart was pounding, the shift from heat to duty hitting hard.

I knew the second I opened it, the peace we had might be gone…replaced by chaos, orders, and whatever mess waited outside.

I grabbed the handle, my eyes flicking once more toward Ivy. She was still watching me, still wrapped in the heavy dress and frustration, and for one fleeting moment, I wanted to lock the door, throw the world away, and finish what we were doing before the interruption.

But duty called. Again.