Page 53 of Mane Attraction
Lev waved off the formal title with a laugh. “Save the ‘Your Majesty’ for public events. I’m still the same man who used to sneak out of the castle to go drinking with you.”
“The same man who now has a mate and the weight of an entire pride on his shoulders,” Janice added with a knowing smirk. “Speaking of which, where’s Xelene? I half expected to find you two attached at the hip by now.”
Heat crawled up Lev’s neck at the implication, though he couldn’t deny the accuracy. The mate bond made being apart from Xelene feel like missing a limb—uncomfortable and unnatural.
“She’s getting dressed,” he said, then cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you both about tonight. I want to throw a party—a big one. Open the castle to any pride member who wants to attend, show them the kind of celebration their new king can provide.”
Benjamin’s eyebrows shot up. “A party? Lev, we just finished dealing with assassination attempts and political coups. Don’t you think?—”
“I think,” Lev interrupted, his voice taking on the commanding edge that marked him as Alpha, “that our pride has been through hell these past several days. They buried their king, saw their prince nearly murdered, and discovered that one of their most trusted councilors was a treacherous snake. They need something to celebrate.”
He began pacing, his hands gesturing as enthusiasm built in his voice. “I want music loud enough to shake the walls, the finest Sidaii wine, food that’ll make them remember why they’re proud to be part of this pride. I want them to see their king and future queen not as distant rulers, but as leaders who know how to bring joy back after darkness.”
Janice exchanged a look with Benjamin, then smiled slowly. “You know what? That actually sounds perfect. After everything that’s happened, people need a reason to feel hopeful again.”
“Exactly,” Lev said, his blue eyes lighting up with the kind of infectious energy that had always made him a natural leader. “I spent years throwing parties for my own entertainment. Now I want to throw one that means something—that shows my pride I’m not just their king, I’m someone who understands what they need.”
Benjamin nodded, his expression shifting from concern to genuine enthusiasm. “It’s a good idea. Smart, actually. And after the way you handled yourself during the Trial, people are ready to trust you. A celebration would cement that trust.”
“Plus,” Janice added with a mischievous grin, “it’ll give me and Benjamin a chance to spend more time together. Consider it our gift to the new king.”
THIRTY-THREE
LEV
Lev felt a surge of gratitude toward his friends—these two people who’d stood by him through the past few difficult days.
“You’d do that?” he asked. “Handle all the arrangements?”
“Of course,” Benjamin said, already pulling out his communicator. “You and Xelene have earned a day to just... be together. Let us handle the logistics.”
Perfect,Lev thought, his mind already spinning with possibilities for how he’d spend the day with his mate. His favorite private beach came to mind—the warm sand and the twin suns overhead.
“I owe you both,” he said, clasping Benjamin’s shoulder.
“Just promise me you’ll let me have a dance with Janice and not make me work the whole night away,” Benjamin said, his cheeks flushing slightly as he glanced at the human woman who’d clearly stolen his heart.
“Yes, I promise,” Lev said as he turned and headed to go find Xelene.
The afternoon passed in a haze of contentment and discovery. Lev showed Xelene more of the pride territory, taking her to places he’d never shared with anyone—hidden groveswhere he’d gone as a child to escape the weight of expectations and overlooks that provided stunning views of the purple forests and pink ocean that made Nova Aurora so unique.
But it was the secluded beach that became their sanctuary. Away from the castle, from responsibilities and the watchful eyes of the pride, they made love on the warm sand with an intensity that left them both breathless. The mate bond sang so powerfully between them, stronger with each passing hour, until Lev couldn’t tell where he ended and Xelene began.
She’s changing me,he realized as they lay entwined afterward, her head pillowed on his chest while the twin suns painted the sky in shades of amber and crimson.Making me better, stronger. Making me the king I was always meant to be.
Now, as evening approached and the time for their celebration drew near, Lev stood before his wardrobe selecting his formal attire. His backup ceremonial jacket hung waiting—deep blue with gold thread that caught the light, paired with perfectly tailored black trousers that emphasized his powerful frame.
He dressed with care, each piece of clothing a reminder of what tonight represented. Not just a party, but a statement. A declaration that the Marcan Pride had a king worthy of their loyalty, and that king had found his queen.
Time to show them what we’re made of,he thought, adjusting his collar one final time before heading toward the door to find Xelene.Time to collect my queen.
The thought sent a surge of possessive satisfaction through his chest as he strode down the corridor toward Xelene’s guest suite. Through their mate bond, he could sense her presence like a warm beacon, drawing him forward with an intensity that still amazed him.
He raised his hand to knock, but the door swung open before his knuckles could connect with the polished wood.
Lev’s breath caught in his throat.
Xelene stood framed in the doorway wearing a black cocktail dress that should have been declared illegal in all known galaxies. The fabric hugged every curve of her body like liquid silk, the neckline plunging just enough to make his mouth go dry while leaving enough to his imagination to drive him wild. Her dark hair cascaded over one shoulder in glossy waves, and her green eyes sparkled with amusement at his obvious reaction.
