Chapter 519

There was a knock on the door, and I groaned, muttering, "No… go away."

"Amy?" Ronnie's voice rang out, and I groaned again. "Ladybug, we have to talk."

Rowan cracked an eye open. "Why is someone pounding on the door?"

I sat up with a wince. My body was tender. I rolled over and looked at the time. "It's nine in the morning," I said, rubbing my eyes. The sheet fell down my body, and I gasped. The feeling of the fabric sent my body into overdrive. My skin pebbled, and Rowan reached out a hand.

"Give me a few minutes to wake up, and I'm yours," he murmured, his finger trailing the curve of my breast, causing me to groan. "Goddess, I am a lucky man."

"Ladybug?" Another knock. "Are you okay?"

I puffed out a breath and pushed away from Rowan's hand. "Tease," he called after me as he settled into a sitting position, blankets draped across his lap.

I snorted with laughter as I grabbed my robe. "I'm pretty sure you're still drained."

He chuckled. "Won't stop me from trying." I waited for the heat, the rush of warmth preceding the burn that would send me back to bed. I turned, and he raised an eyebrow, waiting. There was a pause. "All gone?"

I tilted my head and waited another minute before nodding. "Heat's gone." I smiled.

"Regrets?" His fists clenched in the sheets, but he did his best to remain nonchalant.

"Amy?" Another knock echoed through the room.

My focus was on my mate. I headed back to the bed and slid into his lap. "Not one. You?"

He slid a hand behind my head and pulled my lips to his. I felt a shiver build at the base of my spine, and my skin pebbled again. He pulled back enough to look into my eyes. "Not at all." He kissed me once more. "Now go see what he wants." Another insistent knock pounded on the door.

"Amy!" Ronnie sounded anxious. "What is going on?"

I sighed, standing and turning. Rowan leaned over and smacked my ass with a huge smile. I laughed and shook my head as I walked to the door. I opened it. "Hey? What's wrong?"

Ronnie looked me up and down, frowning. "What happened to you?"

I looked down, causing the door to swing open wider, and Ronnie gasped. I looked up and saw Ronnie's eyes narrow. "Nothing," I trailed off, following his gaze to Rowan, who was smiling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Good morning, Ronnie," Rowan said, giving him a tiny wave.

Ronnie turned to me. "Amy," he said, confused. "I thought you were waiting for your mate…" He looked a little hurt, and definitely mad.

I shifted my robe, revealing our mating mark. "I did."

Ronnie leaned in, his eyes dancing across the moon and stars that dusted my shoulder. "You are mated to the king?" He took a step back, then dropped to one knee. "My queen."

I rushed to grab his hands. "Uncle Ronnie, please get up." I looked back at Rowan, who was stifling a laugh. "You never have to bow for me." I pulled him up. "Why are you here?"

He swallowed. "Your father sent me. The rogues are making moves. He's requesting you both in his office. I was just about to look for you." He looked pointedly at Rowan. "How did this happen?"

I started to laugh. "We actually talked. And decided to be honest with each other. Plus, my heat hit last night."

Ronnie's eyes snapped to Rowan. "You used her heat to mate her?" His snarl was loud and savage. He took a step toward the bed.

I snapped out a hand. "No. Goddess, no."

"Are you threatening me, Beta Ronald?" Rowan growled low, his eyes flashing.

I turned to Rowan and pointed at him. "You better fuck right off." Rowan glared at Ronnie for a second before his anger dissolved.

"Yes, my love," he said, settling back against the headboard, looking content.

I shook my head. "He isn't a chosen mate. Ronnie, look at the mark closer. This is a goddess-given mark."

Ronnie looked back at my mark, and I watched him settle. "He's your actual mate?"

I nodded. "I released my scent, and then so did Rowan. He is my goddess-given mate."