The Alpha's Ever After - (Werewolf Romance) (Ilie and Soleil Book 2) (6 page)

As well as the most advanced defenses,
she couldn’t help thinking,
one would expect from Fort Knox.

With dawn just about to approach, the school grounds were completely quiet, with only a few people milling around, going about their business. There was a man trimming the bushes, a woman sweeping the pathway leading to one of the dormitories, and there was even someone dangling an incense burner in the air, murmuring incoherently under his breath.

Following her student’s gaze, Soleil explained, “It’s to strengthen the warding spells.”

“But we’re already in Chalys,” Zari ventured. “Isn’t this supposed to be the safest place for otherworlders?”

“From humans, yes,” Soleil agreed, “but from otherworldly attacks? We never rule out the possibility that the demons of Sulphur would one day break the truce and invade this place.”

“What for?”

Soleil didn’t answer, but the silence was enough.

For people like her,
Zari realized.

When the tour around the campus ended, Soleil faced the quiet girl beside her. “Do you have any questions?”

“No, milady.”

“Please don’t worry about your safety, Lady Zari.”

Realizing that Soleil had misunderstood her disquiet, Zari said hastily, “I’m not worried about that. I know my Master---”

Soleil cleared her throat. “About that…”

Zari stilled.

“I truly apologize for always being the bearer of bad news, but…while you are a student of ANEX, you do remember that all pre-existing non-filial relationships are temporarily suspended?”

She said warily, “Yes.”

“It also means you are discouraged from referring to Lord Alexandru as your Master.”

Oh.
Zari’s fists clenched even as she tried to quell the resentment surging inside of her.
Did she really want this?
she asked herself numbly. Not only had she agreed to two years of not seeing the man she loved, but now she had to also agree to
not
think of him as her Master?

Swallowing, she told Soleil haltingly, “I understand. I hadn’t been aware of that, but…I’ll get used to it.” It wasn’t like she had a choice.

A twinge of pain pinched Soleil’s heart at the pain underlining the girl’s voice. “I’m sorry.” She hated that she was forced to keep saying the words. Curse it, but this was not the way a student’s life should start. She took her job seriously, and she considered it her personal failure that she had not foreseen the possibility her student would be in this much pain over her parting from her Master.

“The relationship between pets and their Masters is something unknown to me,” Soleil admitted carefully, “but it may not be as bad as you think. In fact, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that you would see Lord Alexandru from time to time, during school trips and field assignments---”

“I’m afraid Lord Alexandru wouldn’t permit that.” Zari’s smile didn’t reach her eyes as she continued, “He may not seem like it, but he takes his duties very seriously, and he expects the same from---” She caught herself in time, having almost referred to herself as her pet. But that was no longer allowed either.

Zari’s fingers dug into her palms.

“Lady Zari, if you wish it, I can arrange for one last meeting.” This time, Soleil knew she was consciously violating one of the school’s rules. But the look of devastation on her student’s face was unbearable.

Slowly, Zari shook her head. “Thank you for the offer, milady, but this is how it should be.

“I see.” But she didn’t really quite see at all. It behooved Soleil to admit it, but maybe she really was the secret romantic that Fleur often teased her of being.

For Soleil, if two people were truly in love, was it not important that they did everything to make sure they were always together?

As they ascended the stairs, Soleil tried to lighten the mood, saying, “If it is of any help, you may talk about him with me whenever you want. You may freely gush of the gentleman’s looks---”

Zari couldn’t help snorting. “That’s guy no gentleman.”

“Perhaps,” Soleil allowed with a grin, “but in Chalys, we always refer to men as gentlemen – no matter how boorish they may act.”

“Oh. My bad.”

She shook her head. “Sorry.”

Zari was bemused. “Why are you apologizing?”

Soleil’s dimples flashed. “I’m not. I meant, you should say ‘sorry’ when apologizing. You should refrain using ‘my bad’ as well, or at least until you are used to switching between our way of speaking to your way of speaking, depending on who you’re speaking with.”

“I. Am. So. Confused.”

They looked at each other, and their laughter spilled out at the same time.

“I’m gonna flunk my first term here, aren’t I?”

“Yes, you are
going
to flunk your first term here if you do not improve in time, but there are always supplementary classes to take during breaks---”

Zari interrupted with a groan, “You’re almost as bad as my professors in LSL.”

“I will take that as a compliment, milady.”

Zari giggled. “Thank you, milady.”

“You may call me Soleil, you know.”

“I’d like that.” Zari nodded in relief. “And please call me Zari.” She bit her lip then blurted out, “Thank you for being so nice. There’s just something about you that makes me feel more…at ease.”

“That is my job, you know,” Soleil teased. “To make you feel right at home.”

Zari was looking at her in admiration. “You know, almost the whole time I was in LSL, I didn’t feel I was a proper fit. But you really are good at making people feel comfy – I mean, comfortable.” Unable to help it, asked curiously, “Do you
never
worry at all?” She could hear an imaginary Alexandru sighing in exasperation in her head. He had always told her off for being too curious for her own good, and even though she knew this was true, she just couldn’t help it.

“I suppose,” Soleil said slowly, “I worry like any other, but I also do my best not to worry about things I can’t control.”
Like the curse that had been hanging over her head her entire life.
“I’ve learned early on that the key to a happier life is to keep trying what you can do
and
what you think you can’t do. Because even if you fail, you would still be better off compared to where you would have been if you had not tried at all.”

Zari was grinning when she finished. “Do you know, I have a feeling we’ll be like Po and Master Shifu.”

Soleil paused, thinking the names were familiar, but she couldn’t quite recall who those were. “Are you speaking of Sir Edgar Allan Poe and…” Oh, but who was the other one? Perhaps a contemporary of Confucius?

Zari tried to keep her laughter from bubbling out. “Umm, never mind.” But then she thought about how her life would also be similarly restricted, without any access to technology, and she wasn’t that amused anymore.

When they reached Zari’s assigned quarters, Soleil took out a skeleton key and unlocked the door. “This is your room, and one of the staff will come shortly bearing your luggage, and of course the keys to your room, too.” At Zari’s nod, Soleil drew the girl’s hand, saying, “Anything you need, just let me---”

The girl’s fingers tightened.

“Zari?” Soleil started to shake the girl’s hold off but it only tightened even more, and when she looked at the girl’s eyes, she went absolutely still.

Zari was no longer…Zari.

She was a soul seer now, and she was seeing.

CHAPTER SIX

The following evening, everyone was in a flurry of movement, with the Orpheline sisters in a hurry to hide unspeakable items from view. “Papa, go out and delay the marquis,” Fleur pleaded while she grabbed her pistol and quickly kicked it under the cushions. Oh, but why did the marquis have to pay an unplanned call now, just when it was Cleaning Day? All of their weapons were out, and with most of the staff given the day off, it was up to the three of them to straighten the living room.

For heaven’s sake,
Soleil signed exasperatedly to her sisters. It was the only way to communicate without the marquis overhearing them.
It’s like we’re living a scene straight from a Jane Austen novel, and it’s terribly silly---

You say that,
Aurora signed back in retort,
and yet you’re also doing it, too.
She glanced pointedly at the way her sister was quickly putting all their bullets in their father’s snuffbox.

Only because I can’t help panicking with the rest of you---

Papa will kill you for what you’re doing to his snuff, by the way.

Oh, blast it, I had no choice---

The door behind them opened.

“Daughters, le Marquis di Lunare is here.”

The Orpheline sisters turned to face the two gentlemen with overly bright eyes, flushed cheeks, and becoming smiles. They curtsied prettily and murmured their greetings in unison.

Soleil watched Ilie bow and wondered if it was just her heart that was beating madly. But if it were, how could her younger sisters not be similarly affected? He was so breathtakingly handsome it almost made her overlook the fact that he was no ordinary nobleman.

Almost, but not quite.

Ilie exchanged small talk with her sisters before going to her last. When he stood in front of her, she knew she should raise her gaze up to him, which was the polite thing to do. But she couldn’t. She was suddenly, unbearably shy, her gaze stuck at his perfectly knotted cravat.

“Lady Soleil?” Ilie was quietly amused at the way his heartkeeper was acting. She was said to to be a calm-headed, methodical strategist in the battlefield and yet with him, she was more often than not adorably awkward.

“Y-yes?” Soleil inwardly cringed, with the way her voice had come out a croak.

Thankfully, the marquis didn’t seem to notice, with his voice remaining charmingly courteous as he murmured, “I have taken the liberty of asking permission from your father to escort you to a ball I’ve been invited to. It would be my pleasure if you were to honor me with your company for tonight’s ball.”

Carefully avoiding his gaze, she turned to the baron. “Papa?” She stared at him meaningfully, telling him without words to refuse.

But instead, Charles said jovially, “Go on, my dear. You should change into one of your pretty gowns. You wouldn’t want to keep the marquis waiting too long, would you?”

What?

But before she could protest, her sisters had already clasped her arm on each side and were hurriedly urging her towards the door. “Papa’s right,” Aurora was saying. “We should get moving, there’s still your gown to choose and your shoes.”

“I’ll do her hair,” Fleur volunteered. “I know just the perfect style for it.”

As she was rushed out to the hallway, the marquis asked lazily,
I look forward to being dazzled.

Shut up.

Fleur gazed at her sister with interest. “Why are you suddenly blushing, Soleil?”

“N-nothing.” But it was hard not to blush even more, with the seductive sound of Ilie’s laughter trailing after Soleil.

As they started to ascend the stairs, he told her,
Don’t forget to keep your hair up.

She remembered that time in the carriage, when he had told her why he had wanted her hair styled in such a way---

So I’d have the pleasure of taking it down.

---and Soleil missed a step. She heard Ilie laugh again, knew he had read her mind, and her teeth gnashed.
Cad!

As Aurora helped Soleil up, she noticed the way her sister was gritting her teeth and shook her head in bemusement. “You are acting so oddly, Soleil. Is this really how women in love act?”

Soleil gasped.

Is it, milady,
Ilie said wickedly.

“Shut up.”

Her two sisters turned to her, and realizing she had blurted the words out loud, she shook her head, stammering, “Not you two.”

“Then who?” Aurora asked, even more confused now.

Even by the time Soleil and Ilie were safely ensconced in the luxurious accommodation of his gleaming black barouche, the marquis’ shoulders were still rocking with silent mirth while she stared at him, fuming.

“I am serious, milord. You should never communicate with me
that way
again. It’s terribly confusing!”

“I understand,” Ilie said repentantly, but the gleam in his silver eyes told her he was likely to keep doing it, if only to see her flustered.

Solei rolled her eyes. “You, sir, are not convincing anyone with---ah!” In a blink of an eye, she found herself dragged into the marquis’ lap, her legs dangling on one side. The marquis started nuzzling her neck, and she froze.

“You smell wonderful,” he murmured against the tender skin of her neck. “So good, it makes me want to take a bite of you.”

When his fangs scraped against the skin, Soleil was embarrassed to realize she was more excited than terrified, enough for her to press her legs together, hoping she wouldn’t get wet.

But of course she did.

And the marquis knew it, too.

“Do you know,” he murmured lazily, “that my hearing is good enough to sense when you’re just about to get wet? The creamy liquid coming out of you, drenching your drawers---”

“Milord!” Oh my God, it was impossible to stop her body from responding, and she squeezed her eyes shut. “Please! I don’t want to attend a ball feeling…”

“What?”

“You know!”

Consternation sparked in his heartkeeper’s blue eyes, and Ilie wondered if she knew how seeing her mad only made him want her more.
Probably not,
he thought wryly, knowing that for someone as pragmatic as his lily, it would make no sense.

You say you like me and yet you also like seeing me angry? That doesn’t make any sense, milord!

His lips twitched at the thought, and lowering his head, he stole a kiss from her. He intended it to last for a moment, but when their lips touched, he realized it had been stupid to think he could stop there.

He stroked her tongue with his, and when she whimpered, he couldn’t help kissing her more deeply.