+Chapter 37+

Mari sat in her room, unaware of the developments that happened because of her. She watched forlornly as the sky started to clear up, the rainfall gradually easing.

Her teacup of chocolate had gone cold and she had barely taken a bite out of the dessert that King Lucien had requested for. Her appetite disappeared at the knowledge that she would soon have to be in the presence of both Kings again while practicing to harness her witch fire.

It was an awful way to spend the rest of the day that had seemed so wonderful only half an hour ago. She pushed herself out of the lounge chair, unable to even request a book, much more read it. Next time, she would ask a maid to take her directly to the library and not tell anyone she was there.

Sunlight had already broken through the previously dark clouds; it would be better if she was ready by the time either King showed up in her room. She got dressed for another day of training, putting her hair in a tight little bun so that it completely stayed out of the way, and waited for the inevitable.

Kade considered giving the witch a free day but he was too wary of Lucien to keep her out of his sight. So as soon as the sun warmed the chill that the thunderstorm had caused, he found himself strolling to her room.

He reached out to knock and was surprised when the door swung open almost immediately. His dark gaze took her in, drinking in her bare slender legs and the exposed expanse of her neck.

Kade wanted to hold her jaw, hold her possessively and claim her lips, and then take her on her bed while the sunlight streamed in but he turned around and started off. It wasn’t a question of if he wanted it because he most definitely did, it was a case of not wanting to play right into Lucien’s hands.

Mari walked out of her room after King Kade, trying not to get distracted by the width of his shoulder and the view of him from behind. It was easy to be unaffected by how attractive both werewolf Kings actually were, she just had to remind herself that she was a death row criminal and every string of attraction instantly snapped. So she dropped her gaze to the ground, focusing on her upcoming ordeal instead of King Kade’s visible sculpted arms.

When they got to the top of the stairs, King Lucien was waiting in the foyer. Mari’s heartbeat slowed down until she took in that he was dressed formally, *that meant that he wouldn’t be coming with them, right?*

Kade’s expression darkened at the sight of Lucien, unconsciously slowing down. He had been hoping to leave his palace without bumping into the other werewolf King and he had been quite hopeful too but he should have known that Lucien wouldn’t make it so easy. He went down the rest of the steps, the air between them tense as he closed the distance.

Lucien looked incredibly relaxed, glancing past Kade to the witch coming up behind him. She was a vision no matter what she wore, her eyes which looked like amber gems avoided his searching gaze, and Lucien couldn’t wait to see what she would become when she broke out of her shell.

He waited a few beats after Kade slowed to a stop in front of him, questions in his black stare. “Unfortunately, as much as I’d love to accompany you, I can’t,” He said the very last words he was sure that Kade expected to hear, addressing Mari.

Kade couldn’t hide his surprise quick enough, he hadn’t been expecting Lucien to back out of practice. It made him question the deal that they had struck just a few hours ago in his study, *had Lucien been messing with him, after all?*

Because if he were serious, he wouldn’t let the witch spend hours alone with him in the woods. Kade narrowed his eyes at this but he said nothing, striding outside the doors of the palace.

Unaware of the tension running between both Kings, Mari darted out the open doors after King Kade. There was something about King Lucien’s icy hot gaze on her that unsettled her and burnt her in a way not unlike her with fire, she didn’t want to fall down that rabbit hole.

Kade’s already dark mood worsened when he saw Mason standing beside the pickup truck, it felt like an annoying movie playing on repeat with the way he tossed the car keys without warning and then went around to open the door for Marion.

Mari was surprised to see the nice werewolf again, he had interacted so casually with King Kade the day before, it made her wonder what kind of relationship they had. “Thank you,” She smiled as she got in, “And I’m sorry, I never got your name, I’m Mari.” She introduced, taking the initiative.

She was still scared of how he would react if he found out what she truly was but as long as he didn’t, everything should be fine, right?

Kade glared a hole through Mason’s head as he leaned down so that he could make eye contact with Mari, “Mason, nice to meet you.”

Mari took his offered hand with a giddy smile, happy to see someone who showed interest in her and treated her normally. Her excitement was dashed to the paved ground when Mason opened the back door and got in.

“Y-You’re coming along?” She asked worriedly, her voice cracking.

Mason didn’t pick up on this, sending a wink and a smile her way as he closed his door. “Yeah, I want to watch you practice.”

Those words made the dream friendship (or possibly more) that Mari had been dreaming up shatter into pieces, “You know about that?” She asked in a fragile voice.

“Of course! You don’t have to worry about it though, I know how to keep my lips sealed.” Mason teased, leaning forward conspiratorially.

This made Mari relax a bit, a small smile on her face. Maybe there were actually people out there who wouldn’t judge her right away just because she was a witch. Mason had been nothing but nice to her even when he already knew that she was one.