Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Instead, Notalus nodded once with a slight curve tilting his lush lips. “Yes, thank you, Iulien.”
The servants inched away to give them a second of privacy. Notalus took Dustin’s hand and kissed his palm. “I have some business to attend to. I will be but a moment. Iulien is my personal courtier—you cannot be in better hands. He’ll see that your every need is met.”
“But I don’t need anything, Notalus.” Dustin gestured to the four servants waiting for him. “I can dress myself. I just need someone to point me in the direction of some clothes.”
Dustin was positive that he heard a couple of the servants chuckle. Notalus cupped him under his chin and tilted his head toward him. Dustin inhaled a full breath, his heart racing as Notalus captured his mouth in a deep, soul-touching kiss. Blood rushed to Dustin’s face at their very public display of affection, but he was enjoying it too much to end it. Actually, he was enjoying it far too much to have an audience. Dustin’s dick was getting stiffer as Notalus pressed himself harder against his front, groaning his pleasure inside his mouth.
After a lengthy, satisfying moment, Notalus slowed their passion as he gazed deep into Dustin’s eyes. “Enjoy your quarters. I will see you soon. For our talk.”
He watched Notalus walk away, his long cape trailing behind him with an entourage of servants and court a quarter mile long.
Dustin was still staring when Iulien cleared his throat and waved his hand toward a grand staircase that led to the upper floors. “Right this way, my lord.”
Dustin got his feet moving through the courtyard that looked set straight out of a country living poster. He’d never seen so much gold, marble, and nature combined. “This place is unreal,” he said to no one in particular.
Notalus
Truth Be Told
Notalus wasn’t surprised to find his son in his private quarters when he’d finished his brief meeting with his advisors. Thankfully, no one had any pressing issues that needed his concern. Theodor sat comfortably in one of the tan high-back chairs with his large boots atop the armrest of the chair beside him, exuding calmness and authority. He wore straw-colored linen pants with a simple loose fit that reached down to his soft leather boots and a mocha-brown tunic with their family’s crest stitched in the center of the chest, his cape draped over the back of the seat.
“Must you continue to upstage me, Father?” Theodor asked with humor edging his deep voice.
Notalus crossed the polished marble floor of the receiving room just outside of his bedchamber. “Upstage you? I’m not the one with the hundred-foot robe.”
“It’s not that long.”
“The hell it’s not. It’s twenty at least.”
“Well, it does catch nicely on the wind at this length.” Theodor glanced behind him.
“It’s twice as long as any of mine. So who’s upstaging who, son?”
“And the alpha, what of him?” Theodor stood. “You brought him here and titled him your consort all in one day. How are you going to explain this to your kingdom… and, more importantly, to the alpha?”
Notalus told his son the truth. “I stayed away from Earth in the hopes of forgetting him, but I should have known that would be impossible.” Notalus poured himself a goblet of fresh-pressed cider from the dining cart that’d been set up before his arrival. He helped himself to a few olives stuffed with gruyère before he joined his son on the balcony.
“Why was it not possible?” his heir questioned. “Because he’s of the goddess’ sacred tribe?”
“No. Because he doesn’t know he is.” Notalus sighed. “And that made him beautiful to me. He just believes he loves nature and gardening with all of his heart. He explains his abilities as having been born with a green thumb.”
Theodor released a boisterous laugh. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Don’t ask me, son.” Notalus shrugged. “I guess it’s some convoluted reasoning his father gave him to explain his extraordinary talents. Theo, Dustin was growing everything in that White Mountain Forest, from apricots to yams, and no one thought it special—none of them knew of the god-blood right there before them, harvesting and blessing their lands every time he touched it. He never received any praise or true gratitude from that pack for all he’d contributed. Yet, he performed his duties without their appreciation.” Notalus turned sad eyes on his son. “And suppressed his alpha wolf, living a life of isolation.”
“How can a wolf suppress that part of themself? It’s so integral?”
Notalus glared at his son. “It is, and that’s why I could not ignore it a moment longer, knowing Dustin was suffering inside. I believe if not for the harvest, he would have gone mad years ago.”
“Just be sure he wants this… that he wants you. It’s evident that Dustin has no clue who the goddess Consus is or the meaning of a lord consort.” His son turned to him and braced both hands on his shoulders. “You have been alone for far too long. Be honest with him. His admiration and affection for you are there. But leaving his pack may be harder for him than you think. He is still part human, Father.”