“You don’t want them to think you are birthing a bastard.”
Hannah did not like that term applied to the baby growing in her womb. She pressed her hands to her stomach, a surge of anger rising. Struggled to keep pointed words behind her teeth.
“The media is calling me a Princess, but that’s not really true is it?” Hannah stared at Izobelle. “Why don’t you tell them to stop telling lies?”
“Don’t get irritable with me, girl,” Izobelle said. “There's a proper way to do this sort of thing when you’re in Andrei's position. He skipped several steps he shouldn’t have. But yes, for all intents and purposes, the matebond is legal and binding in my country.” She draped herself on the bed amidst a pile of papers, irritation paling her eyes. “It is not marriage, and you are correct- you are not technically Princess until the Assembly agrees to allow you the title. But, at this point, it is a courtesy and one that will put pressure on them not to make us all look like humanphobic fools. However, you and your child will have certain rights of property and inheritance on Andrei’s personal assets, the same as in a traditional marriage. Does that help?”
Hannah relaxed. “Yes. Yes, it does. Thank you.” She turned and waked towards the door, paused before leaving. “You said Andrei was detained. I can only think of one person who could detain him.”
Izobelle's eyes glittered, a satisfied smile curving her mouth. “Yes, dear. I placed him under house arrest. He really does need to learn to be more respectful to his mother.”
***
The ceiling of the palace halls glittered, as if a giant had ground jewels in his palms and stuck the dust into the paint. The Queen escorted her through wide halls, striding with an unself-conscious command that would have told Hannah, even if she hadn’t already known, that the woman owned this place.
“This was not always Casakraine's Seat,” Izobelle said. “This place belong to my family, not the State. When the Sahakian's won the crown back in- oh, dear, I'm getting old.”
“I believe it was five hundred years ago, Mother,” the young woman at Izobelle's other side murmured.
Hannah eyed her sideways. That had been a surprise. Andrei's younger sister. Nearly an exact image of their mother, except her eyes were a deep, true brown, her hair rich loam where the Queen’s shimmered with blue highlights. Hannah couldn’t imagine the color was actually real- but if it wasn't, Izobelle certainly pulled it off.
The real Princess had greeted them on their arrival, cool and reserved, elegant in an understated pantsuit in pale blue.
“My brother's mate,” she said, leaning in to kiss Hannah's cheek. “Welcome. I’m afraid he's in a bit of a mood, but hopefully you can help with that.”
Hannah supposed being locked up would put anyone in a temper. And if he felt the strain of separation the way she did…
Hannah turned to the Queen. “Did you tell him?”
Izobelle's brow rose. “Of course not. That isn’t my place.”
Princess Miahela frowned, glancing at them. “Tell him what?”
Izobelle patted her daughter’s cheek as they ascended the steps of the palace. “Your nose needs work, daughter.”
They passed through the common area. Though Izobelle insisted her 'family home' wasn’t a government building, it yet seemed to house various officials and dignitaries. Plenty of discreetly uniformed staff. It wasn’t noisy, but there was a general hum of activity that tended to fade as the trio passed, then picked up once they'd moved on.
Hannah's shoulders hunched. She wanted Andrei. And was glad for Izobelle's input on her selection of clothing on the plane. They'd had a chance to change, freshen up. Hannah had chosen a comfortable skinny jean in a dark wash and a lemon yellow boat necked blouse in the softest knit. Izobelle paired it with a neutral wedge pump and a rope of semi-precious stones. She wasn’t quite used to wearing fitted clothing outside of her leotards- and was a little concerned that the lines weren’t quite... smooth... but Izobelle was satisfied. Soon they passed from the common area to the part of the 'house' reserved for family.
“Not much longer,” Izobelle said. “Let me know if you need to rest.” The Queen glanced at her, dubious. “No one expects you to have the hardiness of a Bear, dear.”
“Thank you, I’m fine,” Hannah said, suppressing an eye roll. Really? She was a trained dancer and the Queen thought she was delicate because she was human? Those thoughts evaporated as her escort slowed, stopping in front of a set of wide doors. Two uniformed- and not modern uniforms, but some traditional garb- guards stood outside the door.
“Has he behaved?” Izobelle addressed one of the blank faced males.
“Majesty.”
The Queen sighed. “I see. Well, shall we?”
The guard opened the door. Hannah followed Izobelle and Miahela inside- and stopped.
“Really, Andrei?” Izobelle said, words icy.
Hannah almost took a step back. The violence permeating the air disturbed her. Broken furniture, papers, bits of shredded cloth- it looked like a Bear had gone on a rampage.
A Bear had gone on a rampage.
He rushed from the corner of the room, a rumble deep in his chest, fangs exposed. His steps reverberated under her feet. Hannah inhaled sharply.
“Andrei, manners,” Miahela snapped. “You are frightening Hannah.”
He halted, rising on hind legs, and roared. The anger in the sound... she swallowed.
“Andrei, do you want me to leave?” she asked, quiet. Hannah understood his anger at being confined, and she agreed. Daddy had always been sent outside on some chore to do until he calmed down.
Andrei's body began to twist.
“Mia, I believe we should allow these two to give greetings. We can gather for the evening meal.”
The two women didn’t quite rush out of the room, but they walked as fast as dignity allowed. Hannah understood why when her mate stood before her, naked and furious. And fully erect.
Hannah licked dry lips, opening her mouth to speak. And squeaked when he leaped forward, grabbing her by the upper arms.
“Are you alright?” he demanded, voice hoarse.
Probably from all the darn roaring.
“I’m fine. Andrei-”
“Did my mother-” he stopped, inhaled. “You smell different.” His brows drew together. “What have you been doing?”
Hannah blushed. “I don’t know what that means, and it better not mean anything not nice.” She looked away, attempting to draw away just a bit. He clutched her, pulling her even closer.
“Stop that,” he snapped, “I’m not going to hurt you. Just tell me why you smell different.”
Men. His mother had known right away. “Andrei... I'm pregnant.”
He said nothing. Didn’t move. After a long moment she dared meet his eyes. And was shocked by the hardness there. A chilly steel she hadn’t seen him display before.
“We have to move quickly then,” he said. “The Assembly- never mind. I won’t burden you with politics now.” His expression softened. “Don’t look like that, sweet. You haven’t done anything wrong, and I’m ecstatic we've managed to produce an Heir so quickly.” He quirked a brow. “As is the duty of your gender.”
Her eyes narrowed. The rest of the ire fled his face and he grinned, shoulders relaxing. More like the man she'd come to know for all those days in her apartment. And the grin shifted to something darker, the color of his eyes brightening.
“I’ve been without my mate for too long,” he said. “I won’t easily forgive my mother.”
His hands roved up and down her bare arms, drawing goosebumps from her flesh. He drew her fully against him, his hard length pressed to her stomach. With heels on, they were eye to eye. Hannah pressed her hands to his chest, leaning into him.
Andrei’s lips brushed hers. “Did you miss me?”
“Yes. I was mad you didn’t return my texts.”
“The Queen forbade it. And took my cell.” His li
ps thinned. “I don’t want to talk about her anymore- I’m too angry. I’m just glad you’re here and safe.”
Her arms rose, wrapping around his neck. “Then kiss me like you're glad I’m here and safe.”
“I’ll do better than just kiss you, sweet.”
He backed her against the closest wall, peeling and pushing cloth away from her body until she was as naked as he. He left the necklace alone, draping it between the valley of her breasts, eyes glinting.
“You need more jewels,” he said. “Rubies and emeralds and golden topaz. I want you in my bed, naked except for ropes of jewels.”
Grabbing her by the waist, he lifted. His effortless strength always took her breath- he handled her like she weighed nothing and Hannah knew underneath her curves and padding she had plenty of dense muscle. Years of farm work and dance training. She kicked off her heels, wrapping legs around his waist. Textured wallpaper scraped her bare back but her focus was on the feel of his erection nudging between her folds.
His teeth nipped along her neck, suckling the flesh where his first bite had left a small scar. Fingers plunged inside of her, impatient and nearly cruel with desperation. She cried out, hips bucking against him. Her body clamored for more. It had been far too long.
“Stop playing with me,” she snapped, tugging his hair.
Andrei laughed, rough and sensual. His cock entered her in one thrust, forgoing further pleasantries. Hannah moaned as the spongy head rubbed against her spot. He withdrew, slammed into her again, her back rubbing against the wall as he stroked in and out.
She was lost in the maelstrom of his possession. Their nascent bond flare to life, fed by their mutual desire. Need flooded her, his possessiveness and rage at separation. Fierce pride and satisfaction and underneath the Bear’s primal urge to take and devour, a ball of warmth for her, for their baby.
Hannah didn’t have to ask if he loved her. She probably never would ask- it wasn’t her nature. But in that moment as she reached her peak, body shattering as her mate mercilessly wring a climax from her, she knew that not only was she loved, but that he would never, ever, let her go.
***
They emerged from the suite eventually.
“These aren’t your rooms?” Hannah asked.
He snorted. “Indeed not. The decor is deplorable. That is a jail cell of my mother’s making. She knows I hate pastels. And wallpaper.” He shuddered.
“It was kind of scratchy.” Hannah paused, blushed. “Well... did you make her so angry then?”
Andrei laughed. “She was pissed I didn’t answer my phone for so long.”
He took her arm and slid it in the crook of his elbow. The guard had brought him clothing according to his specifications- jeans and a button down shirt. They strolled down the hall, Andrei mantled in the air of a man well satisfied. Or maybe it seemed so to her because of their bond. But if Bears could smell a pregnancy... could they smell other things?
Hannah sighed.
“My mother will be expecting us. She'll have things she wants to discuss.”
“Don’t you want to shower first...”
He laughed. “Cute. No, sweet. We're fine.”
Izobelle's irritated expression greeted them as they entered her study. Miahela stooped over her mother's shoulder, fingers busy on the keyboard of a thin laptop.
“I see you're in a much better mood,” his sister said without looking up.
Izobelle snorted. “Just sit.”
Andrei's amusement evaporated. He stared at his mother. “What's wrong, Izobelle?”
She glared at him. “You would be wise not to court my temper. The Assembly wishes to meet your mate.”
“They're upset,” Miahela murmured. She straightened from the desk, dark eyes evaluating Hannah.
Hannah felt stripped to her marrow, dissected for her worth and spare parts discarded. Mia would be as scary as Izobelle one day.
“Mother, if you can stall them for a few hours, I'll take the Princess in hand and go over what she needs to know to present herself properly.”
“She's already presentable,” Andrei growled.
“Don’t be emotional.” Miahela's serene expression didn’t waver. Hannah glanced between the three of them, realizing that between Izobelle and Andrei, Miahela had to cultivate calm just to survive. The other two wore their heated emotions on their sleeves. “She is lovely, true. And certainly seems to be of sound mind and good character- from our investigations. But you know as well as I that she needs a bit of coaching. They would know if I didn’t instruct her and take it as an insult.”
Hannah touched Andrei arm. His flesh was hard under her touch, stiff with ire. “It's okay, Andrei. Every new situation requires some form of learning. I don’t mind.”
“Well spoken,” Miahela said “Why don’t we allow the Queen and Prince to speak and we’ll get started, hmm?”
***
He allowed his mate to leave his presence reluctantly, then turned back to his mother.
“What's going on?”
“Don’t you growl at me, boy,” she snapped, bringing her fist down on the desk for emphasis. It was no show- she was a Sahakian Bear, and the strength in her throws was nearly equal to Andrei’s, only differentiated by the vagaries of gender. “If you'd done this the proper way, we wouldn’t now be in a defensive position.”
“What. Is going. On. Mother?”
“The Assembly has reservations over recognizing Hannah as Princess, and your cub as Heir. You know the laws on human and common brides.”
He exploded. In his mind, Bear rampaged through the room, taking apart every item of furniture, shattering glass, punching through walls. He closed his eyes, allowed his mind to burst through the study doors, Bear running with the full speed of his form toward the chambers, taking every last major and minor Lord into between his paws and-
“Snap out of it, Andrei,” the Queen said. “We don’t have time for your daydreams. There is a legal precedent to deny an Heir with a human mate- the throne must be secure with a Bear who can shift. There is always a possibility a half human-”
“Not a large possibility.”
“There is always a possibility that a half human cub will be born single-natured.”
He sighed, aggravated. “As if the strength of the Sahakian line lies solely in our Bear. Our child will be fit to rule, regardless.”
“Of course,” she agreed, unruffled. “But they are using a legal precedent and if I overturn the vote it will weaken us for some time- I can’t afford that when there may be a war brewing on our borders.”
He knew that. “Fine. Then I'll fight law with law.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“You have beauty, and natural grace,” Miahela said, indicating she should sit. “And Mother has already seen to your clothing, so we’re several steps ahead. I'll tutor you in the etiquette you'll need, and we'll discuss some of the questions the Assembly may ask you.”
Hannah felt certain there was something at stake the Princess wasn't disclosing. “What's happening? Please tell me.”
Miahela sighed. “The Assembly does not want a half human cub on the throne. They refuse to recognize you as Princess.”
Hannah stilled. “But... I don't need to be a Princess. And if the baby can't be a royal, it doesn't matter.”
The look in Miahela's eyes stopped her. “Hannah, if you are not Princess and the cub is not Heir, then Andrei still has a duty to find a female and produce the next King or Queen after him.”
For a moment her vision went dark. It was lucky she was already sitting because breath whooshed from her lungs.
“You mean we aren’t really married?”
The Princess frowned. “I understand humans place importance in marriage and it makes sense- you need the legal bindings because you can’t mate. But you and Andrei are mated. Nothing is more sacred among our people. The legitimacy of your mating isn’t in question- it is your legal status as a Sahak
ian Princess.”
Her parents wouldn’t give a fine fiddle for a Bear's idea of sacred. They would only recognize a judge, a minister, the words “I do” and a signed legal document.
“Then what is the point of me meeting the Assembly?” Hannah asked. “I can’t learn how to be less human.”
“No.” Miahela smiled. “But we believe their reaction is knee jerk- perhaps if they see you are fit to be Princess, they will relent- at least enough to agree to a workaround of sorts. If the cub can't shift, the crown can pass to one who can. Or to my heir when I have one.”
“You're mated?”
The Princess smiled, sadly. “It's complicated.” She rose. “Come, let's begin with walking.”
She practiced walking, sitting, where to place her hands. How to tilt her chin to convey emotion. Maintaining a serene facial expression. Modulating the voice and proper forms of address. They discoed questions the Assembly might ask her regarding her parentage and background. Her education.
“It feels like a deposition,” Hannah quipped.
Miahela didn't smile. “It is.” When her response sunk in, she continued. “What do you know about Casakraine?”
Hannah bit her lip. “Not very much. My education was... focused. Few women left the community. There's no need of knowledge of history and geography beyond what's required to understand our community.”
“Unfortunate, but... perhaps not. Your upbringing isn’t so very different from one of our own rural folk.” The Princess pursed her lips. “That's how we'll play it. Emphasize your similarities to our own farmers as much as possible. Let me tell you about Casakraine.”
It was the fastest history lesson Hannah had ever received. The Sahakian's themselves were a youthful dynasty- Hannah snorted- only five hundred years old. The current capital city lay about thirty minutes’ drive from the castle, a deliberate act on the part of Miahela's family. They owned the vast tracks of forestland that backed into the not quite distant mountainside Hannah had observed on the drive in. They preferred the quiet and solitude. There were government offices and a townhouse in the city, but during the summer the Queen and Assembly gathered at this country estate for several months to address governmental issues as was tradition. The rest of the year they stayed in town and on their various estates, commuting as needed.
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