Unmarked: My Mate Refused, The Alpha King Didn't novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Under My Roof

Elsie's POV

Jasper was waiting for me in the east gallery with his wrist in a sling.

Four Stanmore warriors stood behind him, and behind them half a dozen lords of the lesser packs were pretending to admire a tapestry.

It was the morning after the banquet, and the whole hall knew the Keeper had vanished.

"Elsie," Jasper said pleasantly. "A word."

"You're not allowed to speak to me."

"I'm allowed to speak at you in a public hall."

He stepped closer and lowered his voice just enough for the lords to strain.

"Seven days end in four," he said. "Then you come home to Stanmore as my wife, and every night you spent in his bed becomes a quiet scandal that no one speaks of."

"You refused me in front of two hundred people."

"And you slept with a king in front of two hundred more. We're even."

I felt my temper heat, the clean kind, with no fever in it.

"Lavinia's tea nearly killed me."

"Lavinia is carrying my heir," he said. "She would never."

"Then why is the Keeper gone?"

His face did something quick and ugly before he smoothed it.

"I wouldn't know."

"I think you would."

"Lady Stanmore," he said, loud now for the lords, "your fever has made you suspicious. Come with me and let our healer-"

"She's not going anywhere with you."

Thane had come up the gallery without a sound.

He stopped at my shoulder, close enough that I felt the warmth of him through my sleeve.

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