Page 42 of Mane Attraction
Xelene fell silent, her green eyes distant as she processed the full scope of what they were facing. Lev braced himself for the inevitable—for her to pack her suitcase and walk away from the impossible situation he’d dragged her into. He simply waited for the crushing weight of her rejection.
But instead of the desire to flee, what he felt from her was something entirely unexpected. Her fury at Christoph burned even brighter, joined by a sharp skepticism that cut through everything else like a knife.
“It’s not too late.”
The quiet conviction in her voice made Lev’s head snap up in surprise. Xelene’s green eyes had sharpened to laser focus, that brilliant mind already working through angles and possibilities he couldn’t see.
“Sure, you’ll have to pass the Trial on your own, but we’ve prepared relentlessly for the past four days. You’re more than ready for this.”
Her words rang with such certainty that Lev felt some of his despair begin to lift. She was right—they had worked harder than any prince in the pride’s history, covering every possible scenario and skill the elders might demand. If anyone could pass the Trial without assistance, it was him.
But that wasn’t what mattered most right now.
“You still haven’t said if you’re staying.” Lev’s voice came out rougher than he intended, betraying the fear that clawed at his chest. “I would understand if you want to leave and go back to Earth now that your job here is over.”
Xelene’s lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile but held all the dangerous promise of a predator.
“My assignment might be over, but my job here isn’t quite finished.”
Lev blinked, confusion replacing some of his anxiety. “What do you mean?”
“My job proving that something shady is going on here. That someone wants to sabotage you. That job has just begun.” Her green eyes glittered with determination. “I’m not leaving yet. I know Christoph is up to no good, and if I can’t help you directly, I’ll spend my time figuring out what’s really going on and exposing him if it’s the last thing I do here.”
Relief flooded through Lev with so much force that his knees nearly buckled. Not only was she staying, but she was also determined to protect him in the only way she could. Her actions spoke louder than any declaration of love—she’d already chosen him and the bond, even if she wasn’t ready to admit it out loud.
“Something isn’t adding up about this whole situation.” Xelene began pacing, her mind clearly racing through possibilities and connections. “I would never forgive myself if I didn’t investigate and uncover the truth behind what Christoph and Crispin are really planning.”
Lev felt fierce pride surge through him as he watched his mate transform into the formidable woman who’d built an empire on exposing lies and crafting truth. She wasn’t just protecting him—she was protecting the entire pride from whatever schemes Christoph was orchestrating.
This is what a true queen looks like.
“Thank you.” The words felt inadequate for everything she was offering—her skills, her time, her loyalty when she had every reason to walk away. “For wanting to help me figure this out and expose that snake once and for all.”
Xelene paused in her pacing, fixing him with that penetrating stare that seemed to see straight through to his soul.
“I need to let Christoph know by tomorrow morning that I agree to his terms. That you’ll stay away from the Trial and stop all reputation management activities.”
“Well, you can go ahead and call him right now and say you agree to those terms.” Xelene’s smile turned sharp andpredatory, sending a thrill of anticipation through their bond. “That little maneuver Christoph pulled, thinking it would hurt us both, will actually give me the perfect opportunity tomorrow during the Trial to investigate him.”
Lev couldn’t help the fierce admiration that swelled in his chest as he looked at his brilliant, cunning mate. Even stripped of her official role, she’d found a way to turn Christoph’s attack into an opportunity.
The elder had no idea what he’d just unleashed. The mate bond was no longer his weapon to twist—it was theirs to wield.
TWENTY-NINE
XELENE
Xelene gathered the scattered papers from the coffee table with purpose. Each sheet represented hours of research, strategy, and analysis—the intellectual armor she’d built for Lev. She stacked them neatly, the edges aligned with military precision, before sliding them into her leather portfolio. The weight of it felt significant in her hands now.
She turned and extended the folder to Lev. “Everything we’ve covered. Every historical precedent. Every possible scenario the council might throw at you. Study it. All of it.”
Lev took the portfolio, his large hands dwarfing the leather case. His blue eyes, usually sparkling with mischief or heat, were dark with a focused intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. This was the Alpha beneath the playboy—the warrior king waiting to be unleashed.
“I’ll study until my eyes bleed,” he promised, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through the mate bond humming between them. He stepped closer, the heat of his body a tangible force. “I’ll make you proud tomorrow. I’ll pass that test with flying colors.”
“I know you will,” she said, her voice soft. She gave his arm a brief, solid squeeze—a gesture of support, not intimacy, she toldherself—before turning on her heel. She couldn’t afford to get lost in his gravity now. Christoph had just declared war, and she was damned well going to win it.
She soon found them in the castle’s main living area, a vast room with soaring ceilings and walls of ancient stone draped in rich tapestries. Janice and Benjamin were curled together on a deep sapphire sofa, a picture of new-relationship contentment. Janice was laughing at something Benjamin had whispered, her auburn hair spilling over his shoulder. Benjamin’s green eyes were warm, his arm draped around her with a protective ease that hadn’t been there days ago.
