My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 252: Unwelcome Company

Rowan

Business for the day had stretched far longer than I had anticipated.

By the time I had finally supervised and surveyed what had been done around the western part of the capital, the moon was already making its appearance and the castle corridors were bathed in the soft glow of lamplight.

Violet was in the guest wing, apparently spending some time with her companions.

A faint disappointment settled in my chest. I hoped I wasn’t later than she expected. I had promised to take her to the archives tonight, and I had been looking forward to spending the evening with her.

But time with her companions would be a good way for her to pass the time. I would leave her to study what she needed in the library.

I pushed open the door to my chambers and stepped inside, already reaching for the clasps of my coat.

The room was dim, the curtains still drawn from that morning. I crossed to the nearest window and pulled the heavy fabric aside, letting the pale moonlight spill across the floor.

"You’re later than usual."

I had already sensed her in the room before I came in.

Her voice was low and amused as usual, a glaring contrast to the loud mouth she presented in public.

I moved to the next window, pulling those curtains aside as well.

"What are you doing here, Nessa?"

I heard the soft rustle of fabric as she shifted on my bed. She was lounging there, probably sprawled across the covers like she owned them.

"I missed you," she said, her tone light and teasing. "Is that so strange?"

I didn’t respond. My fingers moved to the clasps of my coat, the metal cool against my skin as I undid them one by one. I shrugged one shoulder free, then the other, the heavy fabric sliding down my arms as I made my way to the third window.

"You’ve been gone for months," she continued. "Doing what, I wonder?"

I slipped my coat off and draped it over the back of a chair, still not looking at her.

"Nessa. Leave."

She laughed softly, and I could sense the lingering smile in her voice as she spoke, "So cold. And here I thought you’d be happy to see me."

I finally turned to face her.

Nessa was sprawled across my bed, her golden hair fanning out against the sheets even as she leaned on her elbow. Her dress was modest enough, but the way she lay there, along with the knowing curve of her smile, made her intentions clear.

This might have worked on me a little over a year ago.

"I won’t ask again," I said, keeping my voice even.

Nessa’s smile didn’t falter, but something flickered in her eyes. She studied me for a long moment, her head tilting slightly.

"She’s sweet," Nessa said.

I went very still.

"Violet, I mean." Nessa’s smile widened. "We spent the whole day together. I gave her a tour of the castle. She’s quite lovely, really. A bit guarded, but lovely."

My jaw tightened.

"Stay away from her, Nessa."

Nessa laughed, the sound bright and unbothered. "Oh, don’t be like that. I think we might become very good friends, actually. She seemed to enjoy my company."

The thought of Nessa spending an entire day with Violet, filling her head with who knows what, made something dark twist in my chest.

"Nessa," I growled.

"What?" She blinked at me with exaggerated innocence. "I was being friendly. Is that not allowed?"

I crossed my arms over my chest, fighting down the irritation rising in my throat.

"What do you want?"

She sat up slowly, the playfulness fading from her expression. Her feet found the floor, bare against the dark rug, and she smoothed her skirt over her knees.

"I missed our nights together," she said quietly.

I turned away, moving to adjust the curtains I had already opened. "Don’t."

"Don’t what?" She rose from the bed, her footsteps soft against the floor as she drew towards me. "Don’t acknowledge what we have? I do understand it has been a while—"

"We didn’t have anything, Nessa," I said flatly, turning to face her. "We never did. You were bored. I was convenient. That’s all it ever was."

She sighed and planted a hand on her hip. "Oh, Rowan—"

"You should find another toy to play with. Or have you gotten tired of your usual?"

"I haven’t found one that hits as hard as you," she murmured, her voice dropping to something more suggestive.

This woman...

"Then keep searching," I clipped. "You might as well try my soldiers and military wolves. The frustration from one or two of them should give you plenty to feed on." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

She laughed again, softer this time.

"Tell me something." Her voice shifted, taking on a more curious edge. "Are you already laying with the Lycan?"

I quickly fixed her with a glare that would have made most wolves flinch.

She didn’t.

Instead, her eyes widened slightly, and I watched with growing annoyance as her pupils dilated. Her lips parted, and a faint flush crept up her neck, visible even in the pale moonlight.

I grimaced and looked away.

I should have known better. Danger had always excited her and my reaction was only making it worse.

"Stop this. Violet is my mate," I said, keeping my voice cold and controlled. "My fated mate."

The change was immediate.

Nessa’s expression shifted, the playfulness draining away entirely. She stared at me, her lips parting in genuine surprise.

"Your... mate?"

"Yes."

She was quiet for a long moment. Then she lowered her gaze, something almost apologetic entering her features.

"I didn’t know," she said quietly. She lowered her head and pinched her temple. "Rowan, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have... if I had known..."

"I know."

She pressed a hand to her chest, that familiar gesture of hers. "I thought she was just... I don’t know."

"Well, now you do."

Nessa nodded slowly, her expression subdued.

The silence stretched between us, heavy with years of history. We had been involved, off and on, for years after I had taken power. It had never been romantic, never anything more than physical release, but that history was there. Until it came to a frustrated end when I discovered she had two other partners.

"Don’t tell her," I hissed quietly. "About us. About any of it."