"You seem quiet, my lady," Kaia says as she takes down my hair.

"What do you do when your world is falling apart?" I ask her reflection in the mirror.

Kaia blinks big brown eyes, hands stilling in my hair. "Is ... something amiss between you and the Queen, my lady?"

I hesitate. On one hand, she's the only one left to whom I can bare my heart; on the other, I don't want Kaia to be punished for what I'm about to do. "I'm just feeling melancholy, that's all."

Kaia nods understandingly. "Her Majesty's other ladies haven't been the best companions," she remarks, combing through my heavy locks.

"Indeed," I mutter, letting her run with that thought.

There is a knock at the door and Kaia locks eyes with me in the mirror. "Are you expecting anyone tonight?"

"No." I rise from the padded stool, drawing the folds of my dressing gown around my body. I cross the room and open the door. Russell Crimsonshadow stands framed in the doorway wearing only a loose cotton shirt open at the neck and brown trousers. "Lord Crimsonshadow," I greet in surprise, barely remembering to curtsey. "To what do I owe this late-night visit?"

His lips twitch and he glances over my shoulder. I follow his gaze to see Kaia standing by the dressing table, comb clutched between her hands. He bends low and says, just loud enough for my omega maid to hear, "Don't tell me you forgot?"

Forgot? Forgot what?

Lord Crimsonshadow lifts an eyebrow and I finally catch on. "Oh—yes," I reply, fingers flicking the folds of my dressing gown. "Kaia? I think that will be all tonight."

The look on her face is one of perplexion, but she obeys and curtseys. "Of course, my lady." She bends to pack her things into a small bag and promptly leaves the room, nodding to the alpha's son on her way out.

Lord Crimsonshadow slips inside and closes the door behind him. "Is she trustworthy?" he asks, glancing back at the door.

I tie the folds of my dressing robe tightly and move deeper into the room, sitting down on the padded stool. Unease fills my belly as I realize that there's no turning back. "Kaia?" I ask. "Yes, she is loyal to me."

"There is loyalty and there is trustworthiness," the alpha's son notes, choosing a chair a few feet away. "I asked if she is trustworthy."

I see no difference. "Yes, she is trustworthy."

"Good." He runs his hands along his knees and licks his lips. "This is the plan as Father laid it out to me: I will accompany you back to Daroonga—"

"Under what pretense?" I ask, interrupting. "Morgana has already chosen your cousin."

"That you and I are courting."

My hands curl over my belly, thoughts racing. "How do I explain that to her? We've barely spoken."

Lord Crimsonshadow grunts softly and leans forward, running both hands through his short brown beard. "Are you forbidden from having lovers?"

"No." Then again, it's never come down to that.

"Then she shouldn't object."

"If you asked me two days ago, I would answer with an unequivocal 'no', but ..." I pause, wondering how much of my thoughts I should lay bare to the alpha's son. This is my friend, my queen. What I am doing is a clear betrayal of Morgana's trust—treason, even.

But even I have to admit that Alpha Thorne is right. Morgana needs to take ruling seriously.

"But?" Lord Crimsonshadow prompts.

"There has been some tension between us as of late," I admit.

He nods. "Alaric mentioned as much. No matter. What causes the Queen to bore of her lovers?"

No sympathy from this man, I see. Nobles are so cold-hearted when it comes to emotions.

"They simply don't keep her attention." I pause, then say, "Except for Lord Valen." I look down and squeeze my fingers together as the words come tumbling from my lips.

"General Valen Snowstalker?"

"Yes."

Lord Crimsonshadow shifts. "And what did he do to keep the Queen's attention?"

I swallow, feeling faintly nauseous. I shouldn't be doing this; I shouldn't be divulging this information.

But why can I not stop?

I lick my lips nervously. "He dominated her," I whisper. Odd, considering Morgana made it a point to be the dominant figure in her relationships. But Lord Valen made it more than a year until he was sent to the border. Until then, all signs pointed to Morgana choosing him as prince consort.

"Indeed?" Lord Crimsonshadow replies, raising an eyebrow. "What sort of things would he do?"

Nausea transforms into embarrassment. I can feel my cheeks burning. "Ropes, mostly." I lift my head and push hair away from my face. "And that is as far I as shall go, my lord." A lady has to retain some level of decorum, even the Whore of Daroonga.

"Quite understandable, my lady. You've given me enough to go on."

Good. I rise, knees slightly weak. I grip the edge of the dressing table to keep my balance. "If that is all, I shall bid you a good night, my lord."

Lord Crimsonshadow does not stand. "We are not done, Lady Wintergale."

I freeze. "No?" Whatever else could he wish to discuss?

"There is still the matter of you and me."

He and I? Slowly, I sit back down. "You'll have to elaborate, my lord."

"We still need a plausible story to throw Her Majesty off the scent."

"Did your father give you one?" I ask archly.

Lord Crimsonshadow smirks. "You are impertinent for a gamma."

"And how is a gamma supposed to act, my lord? Simple? Subservient? Just because we are born to a lower rank does not mean we lack emotions or the ability to hold witty conversation."

He chuckles. "No wonder Alaric was smitten with you. You really should have been a beta, my lady."

Hmph. I don't want to think of his cousin. But the alpha's nephew will be on the train with us for the three-hour return trip, not to mention staying at Daroonga. If I could ignore all of Morgana's past lovers in the hall after what we did, I can surely ignore Alaric.

My fingers flutter against the fabric of my dressing gown and I grunt noncommittally.

"In any case," Lord Crimsonshadow continues, "that is exactly how my father suggested we play this courtship."

I cock my head to the side and he clarifies, "Our conversation during dinner was so stimulating that we agreed to continue it elsewhere."

"I see," I reply slowly. "And do you expect to continue this 'conversation', my lord?"

His brown eyes sweep over my body, noting the curves emphasized by the diaphanous dressing gown. I can't help but feel my cheeks warm at his assessment.

Goddess.

I'd be no better than Morgana if I took him to bed so soon after my little rendezvous with Lord Bluefire.

"Only if you wish ... Isabel."

The use of my given name sends a shiver of delight down my spine. "Are we ... are we being informal now, my lord?" I pinch myself on the thigh to knock some sense into my head. I cannot afford to let the alpha's son seduce me.

"I don't see why not."

I swallow, then take a deep breath. "Very well ... Russell. I would prefer to keep things, hm, chaste, between us."

Judging by the slight tent in his trousers, Lord Crimsonshadow was not expecting this to be a chaste affair.

"If that is your wish, I shall abide by it," he replies, sounding slightly disappointed. He adjusts his seat on the chair. "But I shall have to stay the night. For appearances," he adds as I look at him dubiously.

I sigh. Of course. "Very well. You may have the bed and I shall sleep in the bathtub."

"The bathtub?" he replies, surprise clear in his voice.

"Oh? Do you wish to switch?" There are only so many pillows in the suite, after all.

Russell's eyes shift. "I, uh ..."

"Since you agreed to keep this arrangement strictly platonic, why would we share a bed?"

He sighs. "No, you are correct. But you keep the bed. I will take the floor if you allow it?"

I study the alpha's son. He needs me for this ruse to work. If he attempts to violate me in my sleep, I could bring the whole plan crashing to the ground. "Agreed. But, on the floor you shall remain," I add, holding up a finger.

"Yes, my lady," he replies, resigned.

Males, I mutter to myself. What have I gotten myself into?

I hope it's worth it.