Chapter 911

When Jackson and I come out of my room a little while later, in fresh soft clothes and all cleaned up, the party is in full swing. I laugh to see my family so heartily celebrating my homecoming, and my newly mated status, and Jackson's addition to the family, and the end of the war.

But still, my wolf howls a little when it becomes immediately apparent that one little thunder cloud isn't here, lurking in the corner and glaring around at everyone, pretending not to have any fun at all.

I sigh, leaning against Jacks and taking a long sip of my wine. He tightens his arm around my shoulder, looking down at me. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I say on a soft sigh, my eyes still moving over my wonderful, happy family. "Just...missing Junie. Wishing she was here."

He hums his understanding and tightens his arm, sending a great deal of warmth and love and support down the bond. I smile up at him, truly appreciating that he doesn't try to convince me not to be sad or worried for her. He just hears me, and understands, and wants to comfort in whatever way he can.

"Hey, I love you," I say softly, my face breaking into a smile as I gaze up at him.

His own face breaks instantly from serious repose to happiness, such a drastic change that shifts his whole face from...well, frankly from terrifying to lovely. He grins at me, stroking a hand long over my still-damp hair.

"I love you too, tiny," he says on a happy sigh. "Very much. Now come on, let's go tell everyone the King of Atalaxia is dead."

"You don't think they know?" I ask, my eyes wide.noveldrama

"It wasn't on any of those tabloids," he murmurs, ushering me into the room. "Who knows what the hell is going on. Let's go find out."

We join the warm, well-lubricated party and, to my great joy, four newcomers soon join us two of whom I was expecting and two who are very much a surprise to me. I give Elias and Benny warm hugs and kisses, asking after Pippa - who truly is feeling her pregnancy at this point - before moving very quickly to the other two, curious about their presence. Jackson stays with Elias and Ben, wanting more details.

“Hi, Dr. Hank!” I say, laughing a little as I stand on my toes to hug the doctor, who is indeed quite tall for a human. “It's so nice to see you! I didn't know you were here!"

"Lucky coincidence, highness," Hank says, returning my hug and giving me a warm smile. "I'm so, so glad you were able to return safe." He steps back from me and turns a little, gesturing towards the young woman behind him who...

Well. Who certainly brings Juniper's thunder-cloud energy, if perhaps with a slightly spicier vibe.

"You remember my daughter, Yes? Mary-"

"Maryam, of course!" I say, laughing and rushing forward to wrap Maryam in a hug.

"Whoa," she says, laughing and stumbling back a step, hesitating before giving me a very slight hug in return and patting me on my back. "Enthusiastic as ever, Ariel. It's nice to see you, I guess."

I laugh a little, pulling away, a bit confused about this taciturn greeting from my childhood friend but...well, we haven't seen each other in a long time, have we?

"How've you been?" I ask, beaming at her, a bit wide-eyed. God, Maryam sure did grow up well, didn't she? She was always a bit of a plain kid,- but now? With that tall, willowy figure that somehow also manages to have curves, and those dark, heavy-lashed eyes, and all that gorgeous hair flowing halfway down her back? Damn, is she a model now? I feel like I should be seeing her on the cover of every magazine.

"I'm fine," she says, dry, giving a shrug. "Here under duress and protest."

"Our beloved Maryam got

suspended from her college for the rest of the semester," Hank says, wrapping an arm around his

daughter's shoulders, mock proud. “She's taking the time to think about batancing her priorities alongside her temper."

"It wasn't temper that got me kicked out," Maryam says, leaning a little against her dad but keeping her eyes on me, her mouth quirking. "It was the institution's inability to admit their complicity with genocide and pro-wolf politics at the expense of their human students."

She gives a casual shrug as my eyebrows go up in surprise. But then my face breaks into a huge smile because as cold and critical as Maryam is...I don't know!

I just like her immediately.

After all, one rule breaker tends to quite like another.