The Alpha King’s Virgin by Charmeleon (Raine & Amari)

Chapter 27

The moment the music changed I felt Amaris’ body go rigid. He stopped moving in the middle of the waltz.

“What kind of music is this?”

“A funeral dirge. Someone is going out of their way to try my patience.” He sucked in his bottom lip; trying to control his temper.

The room fell silent as we stood there while the music played on and then came to a sudden stop. Amaris took my hand, and we walked back to our seats. No one made a sound. The music changed to another waltz. But everyone stayed where they were, whispering amongst themselves.

Beta Ross walked over to us, a girl by his side. Probably his mate, I thought. Both of them bowed before approaching.

“I’m so sorry, your Majesty. I will investigate and see that the one responsible gets punished for that.” Beat Ross stood with his head bowed waiting for Amaris to respond.

“You do that!” Sorin was the one to speak up. “That was the music played at our parents’ funeral. Such disrespect cannot be left unpunished.”

Amaris looked at his brother, his face cold and expressionless. “And they will be punished. Regardless of who they are.”

“Why are us

looking at me? Are you accusing me, Brother?” Sorin’s blue eyes blazed with fury as he leaned forward with his hands resting on the table.

Helen tried to calm him, touching his arm. “Sorin, keep your voice down.”

Amaris’ hand closed on my knee. “Are you speaking from a guilty conscience?” He smirked at his twin, baring his teeth.

“Amaris, you are out of line.” Sorin snarled low, “Your paranoia is getting the best of you. And like always your selfish nature is putting all of us at risk.” He sat back, folding his arms across his chest, glaring at Amaris. “Not even a single ruler from the other realms came to your wedding, Amaris. What does that tell you?”

Beta Ross and his mate were still standing in front of our table, waiting for Amaris to dismiss them. I touched

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Chapter 27

Amaris’ hand to draw his attention.

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“Amaris, shouldn’t Beta Ross be excused?” I dared to speak, not knowing if I should.

“Thank you, your Majesty.” Beta Ross inclined his head towards me, smiling slightly. “I would like to get on with

it.”

Amaris waved a hand in his direction without taking his attention off his brother. “You may go.”

“Can we just for once be civil towards each other, Amaris?” Helen spoke up. “Sorin and I are trying to support you, but you are so hostile towards us. We are your family.”

I needed to find out why Amaris and Sorin were always at each other’s throats. Having no siblings of my own, I had no idea if this was normal.

“Spare me the dramatics, Helen.” Amaris sneered at her. “You know as well as I do my brother will jump at the opportunity to stab me in the back.”

Sorin jumped up and Helen did the same. “I will not listen to your insults any longer. Come, Helen.”

“I feel sorry for you, Raine, being mated to… him!” she jutted her chin out in contempt, scowling at Amaris.

Amaris lifted his goblet in a mocking salute to her. She turned on her heel and walked off, stiff-backed.

“That was awful.” I turned to Amaris. I felt bad for both of them. “Don’t you think you were unnecessarily hard?”.

“You feel I have been unfair?” he uttered a guttural, bitter laugh. “You don’t know Sorin like I do, Raine. I wouldn’t put anything past that conniving, slimy bas ta rd.”

“Amaris, he’s your brother.”

“Unfortunately.” He drank the wine and poured some more. My stomach clenched, seeing him drink so much.

‘He won’t hurt us, Raine! Tasha spoke up, she knew my fears. But a small part of me couldn’t help being concerned.

I put my hand over the goblet, and he frowned at me. “What?”

“Dance with me.” I smiled at him, hoping that would stop him from drinking more.

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Chapter 27

He grinned back at me. “I seem to have lost my desire to dance but I would love to dance with you in private. In our bedroom. Alone.” His tone dropped low, seductive and it made my heart sk ip a beat. The way he looked at me, his eyes drifting from my mouth to my breasts and back up to my mouth, making me lose my mind, forgetting all else.

“But everyone is expecting us to dance.” My words came out breathy and rushed. “They’re watching us.”

“Do I care?” He leaned in to kiss me, deeply, passionately, reaching for my nape and pulled me closer.

“Amaris…” I breathed against his lips. “We can’t let what happened spoil our celebration. You’re stronger than that.”

He frowned at my words, thinking, “You’re right.” He lifted me out of my chair. “Tonight is ours. We’ll show the that nothing will stop us from enjoying it.”

We danced and laughed with the guests until the early hours of the morning. It was good to see Amaris relaxed and having a great time. Seemingly. At times when he thought I wasn’t noticing, I saw a guarded look in his eyes and once or twice he linked someone. He was still worried. But I guessed that came with the price of being the king. He would never be truly relaxed.

I was speaking to some of the Lunas who seemed friendly, Luna Rachael was amongst them when suddenly a pair of strong arms caught me from behind.

Us,

“Excuse Ladies. I promised my queen a private dance in our chambers.” Amaris lifted me off my feet and carried me away. I heard the women giggle behind me, but I was happy to be in his arms where I belonged.

We crashed into the bedroom, kissing each other passionately, tearing at each other’s clothes. When he turned me around to unlace my dress I gasped. Candles, lots of candles, bathed the room in a golden light. Red rose petals were s at tered onto the bed perfuming the room with their sweet scent. A delicate black lace negligee lay across the bed. On the table by the window there was an ice-bucket with a bottle of champagne in it and two crystal flutes next to it.

“Did you do all this?” I asked him.

He held me from behind, rubbing his stubbled chin on my bare shoulders. “I had help.” He chuckled, “I should

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Chapter 27

have done it when I first took you to my bed. I guess I was just impatient to have you,”

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I was touched that he went to so much trouble. As if he read my mind, he said, “You are worth so much more, Raine. So much more.