Page 10 of Mane Attraction
The doors soon swung open to reveal a man who immediately captured Janice’s attention in ways that made Xelene’s professional instincts flare with concern. Tall and bronze-skinned with dark golden hair and warm green eyes, he possessed the kind of easy charm that Xelene recognized as both genuine and potentially distracting.
“Ladies, welcome to the Marcan stronghold,” he said, his voice filled with warmth. “I’m Benjamin, Prince Lev’s... advisor and friend.”
The pause before “advisor” suggested their relationship ran deeper than professional courtesy, but Xelene filed that observation away as Benjamin’s gaze locked onto Janice with unmistakable interest. Her friend’s cheeks flushed pink as she offered her hand, and Benjamin held it just a moment longer than strictly necessary.
Oh, perfect. A workplace romance. Just what this complicated situation needs.
“Prince Lev is waiting in the king’s office,” Benjamin continued, though his eyes remained on Janice. “Unfortunately, King Rorick isn’t feeling well enough to join today’s meeting.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Gerri replied with genuine concern. “Please give him our best wishes.”
Benjamin nodded, finally releasing Janice’s hand to gesture them forward. “I’ll take your luggage to the guest suites and Lev can show you to your rooms after the meeting.”
At least he’s organized,Xelene thought, appreciating the clear logistics even as she noted the way Janice kept glancing at their escort.And competent enough to think ahead.
The castle’s interior matched its exterior grandeur—soaring ceilings, tapestries that depicted lion hunts and royal ceremonies, and stone archways that framed views of thepurple forests beyond. Everything spoke of power, tradition, and the kind of deep-rooted authority that Xelene would need to understand if she hoped to position Lev as a worthy successor.
Benjamin led them down a corridor lined with portraits of stern-faced kings, their painted eyes seeming to track their movement. When they reached an imposing oak door, Gerri stepped forward and knocked with her characteristic confidence.
“Come in,” came a voice from within—deep, rich, and carrying an edge of barely controlled power that made Xelene’s pulse quicken despite her professional composure.
She followed Gerri and Janice into the office and promptly forgot how to breathe.
The man rising from behind the massive desk wasn’t just handsome in the manufactured way of her usual clients. Prince Lev Marcan radiated raw magnetism that seemed to fill the room and bend gravity itself. His golden-blonde hair caught the light streaming through the tall windows, framing a face that belonged in classical sculptures—strong jaw, high cheekbones, and eyes the color of deep ocean water that seemed to burn with inner fire. His broad shoulders and powerful frame suggested a warrior rather than a politician, and when he moved, it was with the fluid grace of a predator who knew exactly how dangerous he was.
Holy hell,her mind supplied unhelpfully as her professional distance crumbled like a house of cards.
“Oh my,” Gerri murmured beside her, sounding far too pleased. “Looks like there’s some natural chemistry going on here.”
Lev had gone completely still, his blue eyes locked onto Xelene with a piercing intensity that made her feel simultaneously exposed and desired. The air between them seemed to thicken, charged with an electricity that had nothingto do with Nova Aurora’s unique atmosphere and everything to do with whatever was happening in the space where their gazes met.
Get it together,she ordered herself.He’s a client. A particularly attractive client with obvious shifter magnetism, but still just a job.
“Prince Lev,” Gerri said, her tone carrying a note of barely suppressed amusement, “meet Xelene Warren and Janice Thompson. They’re here to help you prepare for the Trial of the Sun and address some reputation concerns.”
“Yes,” Lev replied, his voice rougher than it had been moments before. “That’s what my father told me this morning.”
The Trial of the Sun.Xelene filed the term away as crucial information, even as she struggled to process the mounting complexity of her task. Royal trials, succession politics, and alien customs she didn’t understand—all with a timeline that was apparently...
“Six days,” Lev continued, stepping around the desk. “The trial is in six days.”
Panic fluttered in her chest like a caged bird. Six days to completely rehabilitate a royal playboy’s reputation, navigate alien politics, and prepare him for tests she knew nothing about? Even her legendary skills had limits, and this was pushing far beyond them.
I’ve never failed a client,she reminded herself desperately.I can’t start now.
Lev approached with his hand extended, and despite every instinct screaming warnings, Xelene reached out to accept his formal greeting. The moment their skin touched, fire raced up her arm and exploded through her nervous system like a live wire. Heat pooled low in her belly, her pulse hammered against her throat, and for one terrifying moment she understoodwhy people wrote poetry about lightning strikes and cosmic collisions.
Lev’s eyes widened, the blue depths flickering with gold as his pupils dilated. His grip tightened on her hand, his breathing becoming shallow and rapid as if he was fighting some internal battle.
Then he dropped her hand like it had burned him, stumbled backward, and practically fled from the room without a word of explanation.
The heavy door slammed behind him, leaving three women staring at the empty space where the crown prince had just experienced what appeared to be a complete emotional meltdown.
“What the hell was that about?” Xelene demanded, her hand still tingling from where he’d touched her. The sensation refused to fade, as if his skin had left some kind of permanent mark on hers.
“Oh, the prince is probably just nervous about having his whole life analyzed and restructured,” Gerri said with a dismissive wave. “Anyone would have a panic attack when confronted with the people about to overhaul everything they know.”
“Yeah,” Janice added, though her voice carried a note of uncertainty. “Poor guy probably just found out today that his reputation needs fixing and freaked out about meeting his... consultants.”
