#9 The Lonely Rogue

Caspian

“Alice, stop, I need to talk to you.” I grabbed my sister’s arm as she tried to run away from me. She immediately started pouting.

“What, Cassie? I’m going out with my friends.” She whined.

“You deliberately disobeyed me, Allycat.” I said in a tone of disappointment.

“You’re going to have to be more specific.” She teased.

“You met Junie.” I said and she finally stopped struggling against my grasp.

“Oh, yes, that.” She mumbled.

“Yes, that.”

“Well, you were in Louisiana and I was bored!” She said defensively.

“You’re lucky that she likes you, otherwise there would be consequences for your actions.” I sighed, dropping her arm.

“She likes me? Really?” Ally’s face perked up.

“Yes, she said so specifically.” I said.

“As in you two are speaking?” Ally asked.

“She was injured yesterday and I’ve decided that being away from her is no longer an option.” I stated plainly.

“Injured? What happened? Is she okay?” Ally looked worried.

“It’s not your concern, but she’s going to be fine.” I said, not wanting to air out Junie’s dirty laundry to my sister. Ally frowned but didn’t press the issue.

“I’m glad you’ve gotten your head out of your ass.” She smiles.

“Watch yourself,” I said just as she started to escape down the hallway, “and don’t shake off Luke today.” I called after her. She didn’t so much as pause in her retreat as Luke scurried to catch up.

“What is this I hear about you speaking to Junie?” My mother’s head peeked around the corner of the hallway, her hawk-like hearing impeccable. I sighed loudly,

“It’s just as I said.” I mumbled, knowing damn well she heard every word. I started walking away but she hurried after me.

“So, you’ve accepted her?” She asked.

“I suppose so, now, I have to get her to accept me.” I said.

“Oh, that shouldn’t be so hard.” Mother waved her hand dismissively and I started laughing.

“Right.” I snorted.

“What?” Mother looked confused.

“I was a complete neanderthal towards her and have so much to make up for. Not to mention I got into her family business and put her in harm’s way. Then there’s the fact that she was planning on rejecting her mate from the get-go anyway.” I listed off all the reasons this wasn’t going to be so easy. Mother blinked at me, speechless, “Oh, and she could care less about me being king so I don’t have that going for me, either.” I added.

“She sounds like she’s quite the match for you.” Mother finally said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Thank you for the love and support, mother.” I said sarcastically.

“Are you heading off to see her now?” She asked, noting my direction as I walked towards the portal room.

“I am.” I said, purposefully giving her less details than she wanted.

“Just be a gentleman, I’m sure you’ll win her over, eventually.” She said, “And, bring her around, soon.” It was amazing how gracefully she ordered me around even now as king, and with a smile at that.

“Yes, ma’am.” I grumbled before I was finally able to lose her in the hallway.

I pushed open the secured door to the portal room and punched in the coordinates to Junie’s apartment. The magic would automatically link up the closest portal to that location. I slipped through the spinning portal and popped out on the other side, into the streets of Charleston. As usual, there was a car waiting to take whatever royal member left the kingdom’s portal. I instructed him to drive to the Lion’s Den.

Checking my watch, I noticed for the first time that it was only 10:00 o’clock in the morning. In my excitement to see my mate, I hadn’t even checked the time. Hopefully she was a morning person.

I climbed the outside steps to Junie’s apartment and noticed Simon was waiting at the door.

“Good morning, sire.” He bowed his head before knocking on the door for me. Cole answered.

“Oh, yikes.” Cole laughed when he saw me, “Junie doesn’t really participate in life before noon.” He smirks.

Great.

I stared at him, having no response. Cole just shrugged and opened the door wider for me to enter.

“Maybe she’ll make an exception for you.” He says, but his expression did not inspire much hope.

The apartment was still and quiet when I entered. It was obvious that Cole was sleeping on the couch by the skewed sheet and blankets. I could hear a light snore coming from one room and heavy breathing from the other. I was immediately pulled to the second room, Junie’s sweet scent was pouring out of it. I completely ignored Cole as I let Jess guide me towards her door. I lightly tapped on the door with my knuckles.

I heard groans from the other side and the sound of someone stumbling across the room. Junie ripped the door open and was a sight to behold. Her wild curls were sticking out from all angles, her eyes glazed over with sleepiness, and her cheeks flushed from suddenly being woken up. She was wearing a pair of short, silky black shorts and a matching tank top with spaghetti straps.

I silently hoped to the Goddess that she didn’t come out looking like this in front of Cole.

“Remind me to kill him later.” Jess snarls.

“Oh, Caspian?” Junie’s eyes went wide as she realized it was me. She started squinting, trying to make sure that her eyes weren’t betraying her.

“Good morning. I’m sorry to wake you.” I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“Uhm, it’s fine.” She stammered, clearly unsure of the situation. She looked down at herself and then back up at me, a smirk suddenly playing on her lips, “I’m just not such a morning person.” She shrugs.

“Cole said. I’m sorry, I didn’t know that before now.” I said.

“You make breakfast and I’ll get dressed.” She negotiates, “Cole informed me weeks ago that I wasn’t allowed to leave my room looking like this.” Her eyes were teasing me.

“I’m glad to hear that.” I said with a deep growl forming in my chest. Junie starts to giggle and she rolls her hazel eyes at me,

“I thought he was being paranoid. Apparently not.” She says.

“Not at all.” I said.

“And why’s that, Alpha?” Her eyes swirled from a mischievous green to a warm, sinful honey.

I noticed quickly how she only called me Alpha when she was teasing me.

“I like it.” Jess purred, practically rolling around inside my head with giddiness.

“No one should see you like this.” I knew my eyes were black with lust.

“No one?” She leans seductively against the door frame.

“No one but me, that is.” I let her bait me and I didn’t even care. She threw her head back and started to laugh, stripping away the flirtatious facade.

“So possessive and dominating.” She mocks me.

“I can’t help it when my mate is so beautiful.” I decided that it was about time I let her know how mouthwatering I found her.

Clearly I took her by surprise as her confident expression faded and was replaced by flushed cheeks and wide eyes. She blinked, her eyes refusing to look at me.

“Uhm well, I’ll get changed then.” She says in a soft voice before disappearing inside her bedroom. Jess and I were both satisfied with rendering our mate speechless.

I was happy to see that Cole had left the apartment after cleaning up the couch, so I was alone with my mate. Other than Vivian sleeping in the next room, that is. I could still sense Jake and Simon guarding the door, as well. So, alone-ish.

I started rummaging through the kitchen, trying to decide what my mate would like for breakfast and kicking myself for not asking Cole for his morning menu when he offered it all those weeks ago.