𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄

He was sitting in front of her. There was a coffee table separating them and to the side was a beautiful stone fireplace. On the table was a deck of cards. The shadow of the flame hit his face in just a way that made her realize, yet again, how handsome he was.

She felt like she'd never find another male as beautiful as him.

"Is this your room?"

He nodded. "Yes, it is."

She leaned forward, shaking her head. "But why? There's a beautiful grand suite upstairs. There's an entire wing just for you."

"I prefer living here." His tone was final. He didn't want to speak on it further, so she simply nodded. "Your brother, what is he studying?"

"Medicine. After I got sick, he wanted to work in the field. He's not sure what he wants to practice yet." Her face brightened as she spoke about Malik. She was so proud of him. After their parents died, he was the only positive thing in her life. He was the reason she worked today. If he wasn't around, she wouldn't have continued on.

She grabbed the deck of cards, took them out of the cardboard box, and then shuffled them. She laid them back into a pile in front of her. "Do you play rummy?"

"Grace, I was alive when the game was invented."

She smiled with a short laugh. "I forget Primus are...ancient."

"We're the oldest lycanthropes."

"How old are you?"

He leaned forward, taking the deck in his hands. "Old."

"Well, how old?"

He didn't answer as he began dealing them each seven cards. He laid the deck back down, flipping the top card.

She sighed. He wasn't going to answer her. She had a good hand and she was a good player. She smiled, picking up the face-up card. She took a card from her hand and laid it back down.

"How did your parents die?"

Her heart immediately plummeted. She kept her eyes on her cards, forcing herself not to cry.

"I'm sorry," he continued. "I didn't realize–"

"No, it' alright. It's been years. Uh," she wiped a rogue tear off her cheek. "I was born in the Kingdom of Xerxes. We lived in a village watched over by the Delta. My life was great, is great still. I am very... privileged still. Anyway, one day my father broke the rules. All the women of the village were required to donate blood if they were over 21. We didn't know why, the Delta never told us. My mother had gone to donate as she had every month, but they took too much by accident. She was very weak, they almost killed her. My father went crazy. I firmly believe they were destined mates even though they had chosen each other. My dad was always incredibly protective over my mother, so seeing her that way, what the Delta had done... My father killed our village's Alpha. The Epsilon killed my father and mother in retaliation and then became the next Delta."

By the time she was finished tears were pouring down her cheeks. She didn't look at him. She was hyper-focused on her cards, trying to force herself not to cry even more.

"Grace, come here."

She looked up. She wasn't sure what he wanted, but she obeyed, standing up. She went to him, standing in front of his legs. He grabbed her arm and pulled her down to his lap. He didn't say anything.

She rested her head against his chest which was now covered by a grey shirt. He was always so careful not to touch her. She sniffled. His presence made her feel better even if he said nothing.

But he did say something. "Do you believe in true mates? You said you thought your parents were."

True mates were predestined individuals made for the other. No one believed they existed anymore, and instead, many chose whomever they wanted to mate with. These chosen mate-relationships were formidable and strong, filled with love, but nothing could compare with the connection of destined mates.

Many people only believed that the older lycanthropes had them, yet no Primus admitted to finding theirs.

She nodded. "Yes, I do."

"How can you believe in something that is practically nonexistent? There are very few individuals who say their mates are destined, and even those I question. People like to believe their love is predestined, that they didn't make a mistake."

She smiled. "You're one of the lycanthropes that is supposed to have one. You don't think you do?"

"I shouldn't."

She sat up, looking at him with heavy eyes. "You have one, Demise. You're a Primus; you need a mate who is unconditionally yours and was made for you. When you find them, and you will find them, tell me how it feels. I've always been interested in it. I want to know what it feels like."

"I thought you believed in it?"

"I do, but it's still rare. I definitely don't have a destined mate."

"How are you so sure?"

Biting her lip, she looked away. "I just am."

"If anyone deserved a destined mate, it would be you."

"Why do you say that?"

He moved her, sitting her on the coffee table so he could speak directly to her. "You're kind. You're beautiful. And you need a male to take care of you. It would be a crime against lycanthropy if you didn't find true love, but when you find yours, don't tell me."

She blushed and smiled through her lashes. "Why not?"

"I'm not as kind as you."

»»————-————-««

Demise had said that she could stay in the room he had brought her to unless she preferred another room. She decided to stay because honestly, it was the best room she'd ever stayed in.

The bed was large with the finest sheets. She slept great under the plush comforter and silk layers. There were a TV and a bookshelf that she aimed to use as soon as she had time to unpack. There were large windows that had a perfect view of the training grounds.

Demise trained where she could see every day and most nights he beckoned her to play cards or chat. That's all they did since the shower...

Though, she thought about it. She remembered the image of him when she did chores when she slept when she read... she felt like she was drowning in him. The more they spoke, the more she found herself longing more than just sex from him.

During the day, she didn't see him much. No one did except the enforcers. He was training three times a day now. She had a feeling it was because of the death, but she didn't know exactly. She never asked. She was always too mesmerized by whatever they were speaking about.

She was sweeping off the back porch of the palace when the hoard of tertiums started filling the grass in front. It must be time for them to train. They went to their positions, and Grace watched as they sparred. It was like a well-choreographed dance. She thought it was fascinating.

As she finished, she looked up once again and met Demise's eyes. She smiled at him. His face softened at her, but he didn't smile. He went back to training and she finished sweeping. Going back inside, she went to the sink to wash the dishes.

"Grace?"

She jumped from Gentry's voice.

"Yes, ma'am?" Grace dried her hands and turned toward the other woman.

"You've been summoned."

"I-I have? Primus hasn't summoned me formally in a while–"

"Not from Primus Demise, Grace."

She stopped what she was doing and her jaw dropped. "W-what?" She forgot she was a chosen and not simply Demise's chosen. She could be summoned by any King, and now she was. It was her job.

"Yes, Primus Stephan has requested a chosen not from his lands."

"A-alright. When?"

"We will begin with your cleansing now and you will leave at sunset. It's about a three-hour drive, so you will arrive around 11 PM. You will return whenever Primus Stephan wants you to."

"Yes, ma'am."