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As I head out of the office to search for Finn and Cedric, I think back to the conversation I had with my mate a few nights ago. Neither of us understands how I managed to conceive a child on a night other than that of the full moon. A part of me believes that the poison Vivian had been feeding me constantly over the course of my youth probably had something to do with it. It messed up my insides profoundly.

Finn is with Erik and Cedric, and when I enter the dining room, all three of them look up.

“Mom!” Finn is out of his seat like a bullet, throwing his arms around my waist as if he didn’t just see me this morning when I arrived at the palace. “Are you free now? Can you play?”

I kiss him on top of his head. “Play? Haven’t you been playing a lot these days? I heard you’re running everybody ragged here.”

“No, I’m not!” He clings to my arm as I walk over to the table. “When can I come home?”

Erik immediately intervenes. “Why? You’re not having fun with me here?”

“Well, I am,” Finn says thoughtfully. “But what if Mom misses me? I don’t want her to be sad.”

Erik smirks, looking between me and Cedric. “Don’t worry. I think your mother is too busy with other activities to miss you too much.”

My face instantly heats up. “Erik!”

Cedric just looks proud, as if his prowess has been praised.

“Sit down, Finn.” I pull out a chair for myself next to his as the staff begins to serve the meal. “Cedric, I wanted to ask you about the ball that’s coming up.”

“What about it?”

“Is Vivian going to be attending?”

His eyes tighten on the corners. “Yes.”

That word is like a punch to my gut, and my blood goes cold. “Oh.”

He rises half out of his chair. “That’s not what I meant.”

“What Cedric means to say is that it is necessary for Princess Vivian to attend this time,” Erik cuts in smoothly. “Cedric has not attended a single ball in the last eight years. However, this year, you two will be announced together, and Finn will be introduced as the heir. To force the noble families of the Northern Kingdom into a difficult position, it is necessary that at least one of the other kingdoms recognizes your legitimacy as the queen, Leanna. The Human Wolf Kingdom will do that. The Eastern Kingdom is going to cause problems, anyway.”

“And what if Vivian and the elders go after Finn?” I demand, furious that their little plan was not communicated to me before now.

“Finn will be protected,” Erik says calmly. “Since he has spent eight years in this kingdom, and it is well known that you and he visit the palace often, a lot of rumors have surfaced. Not only will they be put to rest, but it will be implied that the king of the Human Wolf Kingdom is fond of the young heir of the Northern Kingdom. That means your son will be under the protection of two kingdoms.”

They’ve clearly thought this through. Crossing my arms over my chest, I glare at them. “And when were the two of you going to clue me in? On the day of the ball?”

My mate has a wonderful heart, but he is dense as a rock sometimes. Instead of sensing my anger, he says, “I was going to tell you once Harriet had the dresses ready.”

“Dresses?” I stare at him. “What dresses?”

“The ones you will wear to the ball.”

“Don’t you think you should have let me know so that I could mentally prepare myself in advance?” I growl.

“Prepare for what?” Cedric asks, confused.

I let out a sigh. Dense as a rock when it comes to some things.

Erik is trying his best not to smile.

“Okay, so, who will be at the ball aside from Vivian?”

“The heads of the noble houses, the elders,” Cedric tells me. His expression grows serious. “You will be announced as queen, and there will be backlash.”

“But I will be there to deal with it,” Erik interjects.

“And so will I,” Cedric adds.

I look between the two men, raising my eyebrows. “I’m not some fragile little bird that has to be protected. If Vivian says anything to me, I will reply in kind.”

From the look on Cedric’s face, it’s obvious that he’s worried.

I smile at him. “Trust me, I’ll be fine. You’re my mate, and I’m your queen. I can take care of myself.”

“But your history with Vivian—”

My heart warms as I realize what he’s worried about. “It’ll be fine. I’m not the same little girl Vivian picked up on the street. I have a mate who loves me, a son I have to protect, and friends who care for me. I’ll be fine.” Cedric looks tense, but I reach out and touch his hand. “Trust me, Cedric. I’ve got this.”

I’m not going to let that woman get her way.

Cedric is mine.

Chapter 26

Leanna Avery

Everyone around me keeps forgetting that I received the same royal education as Vivian. After all, I had to pose as her at times, so I couldn’t exactly be a bumbling commoner. That would have humiliated her. As a result, I know how to study royal trends when it comes to dresses and etiquette. I may have been out of the game for a long time, but that doesn’t mean my skills have grown rusty.

The dresses that Harriet has prepared for me are not in touch with the trending royal fashion that all the noble families in the East and in the human world are following. Since the Northern Kingdom is the most isolated of them all, I have a feeling that Vivian does not have the kind of access to the latest styles that I do. And I fully intend to take advantage of that. After all, in high society, for a female, her clothes are her biggest weapon.

Harriet isn’t insulted when I reject her dress choices. I do some research and call upon a few designers. Since I have to assert my position as Cedric’s mate, it would be best to start the rumor mill now. So, instead of visiting the designers, I summon them to the palace. I force Cedric to accompany me, and while he doesn’t complain, I can sense he’s not interested. At least not until I actually start trying on the dresses.

As soon as I start modeling them for him, he can’t take his eyes off me. He truly has changed. There was a time when he could hide his feelings so carefully, and now here he is, unable to do so. Adoration is written all over his face, and the designers keep glancing between the two of us, amused by his reactions.

“I’ll take this one.” I point at a midnight blue dress that is off the shoulder but covers my back. The dress has crushed diamonds sewn into it, and it shimmers with every movement. Inspecting my roots in the full-length mirror, I add, “I’ll also have to dye my hair.”