The lace scratched my nose. If I wiggled my nose enough, maybe I would get my wish and teleport out of this place.

“Atlas Regina Belham, do you take the future alpha, Harrison Alphonso Xavier, to be your mate under the bear law?”

“Yes . . .” It sounded like a question.

A whisper in my ear frightened me. “I do is the proper response.”

I cleared my throat. “I do.”

I could’ve sworn I heard a chuckle across from me. He did not just laugh at me in front of what smelled and sounded like thousands of people. While his father, the alpha, was going on and on about something, my breath caught at the warmth of my hands. This male that was holding my hands, the one with whom I was damning myself to spend the next three months on some kind of probationary marriage, squeezed my hands. My brow scrunched in confusion. This was supposed to be cold and insincere. Yet, the gesture felt warm and almost soothing.

Plus, the man smelled like my favorite cake and my favorite waterfall mixed together.

Weird.

“Harrison Alphonso Xavier, do you take Atlas Regina Belham to be your mate under the bear law?”

“I do.”

Of course, he didn’t screw it up.

“By the power as Alpha of this kingdom, in front of our people, I proclaim you mates.”

If this was normal, I would be able to see my mate—look into his eyes, feel the love in his words.

Hell, if this was normal, I would know what he looked like, for Creator’s sake.

Also, there would be kissing.

Instead, we would be shuffled off to a room where we would strip ourselves of these blinders and see each other for the first time.

I didn’t know which I wanted to do more, run or vomit.

“This way, ma’am.” Someone put their hand in the crook of my arm, a female from the size and softness of the touch, and whispered in my ear when there was a step or when I was about to plow right into one of the guests. I felt like a toddler being led to time-out. She led me down what seemed like a hallway with no turns or stairs.

“Thank you?” My voice sounded weak.

“Yes. We all know you’ve come to help us. To help our kind. There are those who yell and shake their fists for war, but we know you are the key. You will free us from the alpha.” As she went on, her tone grew faint. The scent of fear mingled with hope thickened the air around us.

“I will try.”

Why did I say that? Here I was, blindfolded and wrapped in lace and pearls, pretending on one hand to be royalty and on the other, expected to be the rebel that set the captives free.

I had no idea how to be either.

A gentle pull on my elbow made me stop. A door opened, and I was ushered through.

“Here we are. Many blessings to the new couple. The alpha asks that you wait until I close the door before you remove your blindfolds. Thank you.” It was a servant. I could tell from the hushed tones and careful steps. These royals had more servants than they did actual royalty.

I shouldn’t talk.

I was one of them now.

It took what felt like hours for the door to shut. The click made my heartbeat race and my stomach pull taut with nervousness.

My mate’s scent permeated the room. His smell was like the most subtle and pleasing cologne mixed with the richness of the forest trees. I was instantly intoxicated and humbled at once. I was in the room with—and mated to—a man who held my life like the strings on a puppet.

This man had the power to strike me from his sight in an instant.

Take back the payment on my parents’ mortgage and all of my student loans.

More importantly, he had the power to take away this new relationship between the two classes. Never mind that he and his fellow royal asses wedged open the gap between the classes in the first place.

“Oh, thank you,” the stranger muttered from behind me. I tried in vain not to let show the fact that his voice startled me. This man didn’t need to think for a second that I scared easily.

And, of course they removed his first. He was the prince after all.

Two hands began to undo the ties on my blindfold, but halted almost as soon as they started. “No, it’s fine. I will remove my bride’s blindfold.” He didn’t even say thank you.

He just wanted to get his claws on me while we had a moment of privacy.

But mating completely wasn’t in the deal. He could keep his royal paws to himself.

“Here you go.” With fingers more nimble and gentle than I’d imagined, the binds to the blindfold were untied, and it fell to my feet. I took a moment to blink and steady my vision after so long in darkness.

“Thank you,” I whispered. A shiver crawled down my spine as his breath fanned over the back of my neck. My body became frozen. The only thing I could do was stare ahead.

“Don’t be scared. I promise I’m not all that ugly—just a little.” His laughter blanketed my fear and forced me to turn around.

Ugly was the last word I would use for this man. It was strange. He was famous to us in a way that Banksy or someone just as elusive was. We knew all about him—where he went, the things he did. But we didn’t know his face. Our people weren’t allowed social media—the alpha’s decree. Aside from the people in this castle, tucked away beyond a medieval veil, no one knew this man.

Until now.

“Hi,” I said, way more breathless than I’d intended.

“Hello yourself, Atlas. That’s a great name, by the way.”

He smiled, and I had to forcefully stop myself from gasping. It lit up his entire face. For some reason, I thought a prince born in a castle would be softer. His features proved me wrong. A strong jawline and chiseled chin laid the foundation for a full mouth and eyes so dark and brown that I held my breath, thinking if I didn’t, they might steal the air from me.

“Um, thank you. Harrison is pretty great, too.”

He looked to the ground, as though he hadn’t spent his entire life under an umbrella of praise.

“I’m not sure what we are supposed to do here. But I thought I might get some things out of the way.”

“Shoot.” Damn it. I sounded like I was from the block instead of a lady.

“Shoot. Okay. Just know that this wasn’t my doing. I was commanded to take a female as a mate for political reasons. This isn’t my idea of fun, and honestly, I was hoping to take a female for love one day. But, I suppose we should make the best of it. So let’s be friends, okay?”

“Friends. That sounds great.”

It sounded downright fantastic, actually. Except there was something about this man that all of a sudden made my insides melt, and I felt a blush rushing from my neck to my face faster than we’d tied the knot.

He extended his hand in my direction, and I took it, almost thinking about offering him a fist bump. Something very ‘lesser’ of me to do.

I slid my hand into his, determined to make it as businesslike as possible.

Except his hand was soothingly hot, and as my fingers brushed his wrist, his other hand closed over mine, increasing the pressure and the warmth. One of his thumbs rubbed circles over the top of my hand, and subconsciously, I took a step toward him. When I looked up, eyes the color of dark chocolate blazed back at me, and when he smiled again, the force of his happiness tugged at the corners of those eyes, making them smile, too.

If I wasn’t careful, I’d be lost.

“Ahem,” I heard from the direction of the door, though I hadn’t quite been able to take my eyes off of my newly mated male just yet to know who.

“I am Dolrich, Atlas.” Someone was talking to me.

I’m sorry, the person you dialed is a puddle of goo right now. Try again later.

“Atlas, my cousin is trying to introduce himself. They probably also are requesting our presence at the party. Care to join us?”

My mate was now making fun of me.

Turning to face the new person in the room, I replied, “What? Oh, sorry. I was spaced out. It’s very nice to meet you.”

“You as well. Okay, couple of the year, let’s get the party started. If you don’t hurry, I’ll be in trouble, and well, I’m in trouble all the time, so let’s not get me another beating. Shall we?”

Dolrich was more charming than Harrison, but there was something boyish beneath the surface. His smile was so bright, it teetered on insincerity. His voice exuded self-confidence that bordered on vanity.

“Yes, of course. I apologize. It’s been a long day.” I took a moment to straighten my already straight dress and square off my shoulders, ready for the influx of royalty and lessers giving their hearty congratulations.

“No need to be formal around Harry and me, Atlas. But if the alpha is around, prim and proper, okay? You told her about the cursing, right? She looks like a girl who enjoys a good fuck once in a while. Shit, I meant saying fuck once in a while, not . . . Wow. Yeah, this is why I’m in trouble so much. Two minutes or my ass is grass.”

He pointed to his watch and then shut the door behind him.

“What is this about cursing?”

“My dad hates it. Seriously, try like hell not to curse in front of him. He won’t touch you, I can promise that, but let’s not tempt fate. Ready? Or are you gonna zone out on me again?”

“I’m ready. Sorry. I just didn’t expect you to be so . . .”

“Me, either.” He laughed again, and it caused a thousand butterflies to come to life. “Me, either.”