“You seem to be in a really good mood.” Tahlia glanced over at me.

Steering the sleek little sports car into the bend, I grinned, both from having her eyes on me and the sense of relief that my earlier outburst had given me. Finally, I could see a way forward, one that wasn’t filled with bleakness. I had found my fated mate and had taken the first step toward making amends with my pack. That Tahlia had agreed to go out with me tonight just made life perfect. “I am,” I eventually replied, but only after she’d wrinkled her nose and given me that little look of hers, the one that told me she suspected I was up to nefarious things.

Which I kind of was. I planned on winning her over, once and for all. I wanted her by my side, in my bed, and in a million other scintillating positions. And I was going to use every weapon in my arsenal to ensure she gave me a chance. I could love this woman, if she’d only let me. I knew I could, and that wasn’t the mystical fated mate bond bullshit talking. With Tahlia, I felt complete. She made me laugh and think, she also made me scowl and snarl. With her, I was both alive again and wanted to live.

“You’re doing it again,” she pointed out. Literally, her finger was wagging at me across the small space between the two front seats. “You’re being devious. I can see it in your eyes. Machiavelli plotting of the worst kind.”

Without thinking, I grabbed her hand and nipped at the irritating finger, sucking it into my mouth and swirling my tongue around the end. Her gasp had my lips twitching and when she tugged her hand back, I let her retreat without a murmur.

“What—? Why—? Ugh!” she spluttered, turning a beautiful shade of pink.

“Machiavelli, huh?” I winked at her and she burst out laughing.

“Whatever it is that’s gotten into you, I both like it and fear it,” she muttered, tucking her hair behind her ears and avoiding my eyes.

Cresting the final hill, we made our descent, the sun burning orange and pink hues as it slipped beneath the horizon. The moon was already out, sitting plump and full in a sky filled with deep, purple clouds. Directly beneath us, a lake stretched out, shimmering with multicolored light as both day and night shared their final embrace.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, her nose almost pressed to the glass.

We had driven south for a couple of hours and the lake in front of us was the one that stretched all the way out to Geneva, but we weren’t going that far. Tonight, I didn’t want to share Tahlia with the masses, and Geneva was full of people who I’d be forced to spend face time with, so I was taking her somewhere a little more … private. “Just a little further.” Downshifting into the bend, I whipped us around the corner, the wheels clinging to the twisting road as the car hugged the side of the mountain. Within minutes, we were pulling into a parking lot. Jumping out, I ran around and opened her door, extending a hand. “This is the best restaurant in all of Switzerland.”

She laughed, letting me help her up out of the bucket seat. Smoothing down her dress, she followed my gaze across the lot, to the little building nestled right up against the lakeside. “It looks amazing.”

“Let’s keep it our secret, otherwise we won’t be able to get a table,” I whispered back, as we made our way inside, then straight back out to be seated at the best table in the restaurant.

She looked around her in appreciation and I imagined how she would see this place. Twinkling lights nestled in the surrounding trees that circled the patio area and the wooden latticed awning that stretched above us held a rustic charm. Then there was the enticing smell of food from nearby tables and the quiet water lapping at the edge of the lake. Eventually she looked back at me. “Yet we seem to have the best seats. A perk of being the king?”

“I’m not a king around here.” According to human traditions and laws, I was merely a prince by connection, without a throne to ever claim. “Switzerland isn’t a monarchy anymore.”

“How does that work? I’ve been wondering how you can be a king when—” She broke off to smile at the waiter, who came brandishing a bottle of wine.

“Nick!”

“Shane.” I rose from my chair to greet him, returning his slap on the back with a vigorous enthusiasm that had him drawing back and searching my face. He looked exactly the same as the last time I’d seen him, well over a year ago, if I recalled correctly. Still built like the former linebacker he claimed he’d once been, his eyes warmed with both amusement and relief at whatever he found in mine. Cutting off any questions, I directed his attention to my date, who was watching us with a confused expression. “I’d like you to meet Tahlia.” Shane quickly moved around the table and took her hand, bringing it up to his mouth and, with a wink thrown my way, deposited a kiss. “Shane and I go way back,” I added, leaving out the part about serving in the military together. And the fact that he was also a shifter. And that the man had saved my life on more than one occasion.

“Funny,” Shane quipped, grabbing a chair and dragging it over. Spinning it around, he straddled it, then plonked the wine bottle down on the table. “I seem to recall having a friend that looked just like you, but he hasn’t been down to see me in a long time.” His words sounded light and teasing, but underneath I could hear the concern.

After dealing with the bottle of wine and filling everyone’s glasses, I shrugged. “Been dealing with some shit, bro.”

Shane shook his head, eyes wide. “Still the worst American accent I’ve ever heard,” he teased, but the dark look in his eyes told me he understood.

Tahlia finally seemed to find her voice. “You’re American!”

Shane nodded, looking inordinately pleased with himself. For some reason. “Sure am. This is my joint, too.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the restaurant. “Best burger and fries in Switzerland.”

She groaned, closing her eyes and pressed her hands together. “Thank you, thank you!”

Shane and I froze, both riveted by the woman in front of us. Tahlia’s eyes opened again and Shane cleared his throat. “You’re one lucky male,” he muttered, his voice low enough that only a shifter would catch it.

“I know. She’s the one for me,” I replied, hiding my mouth behind my wine glass as I took a sip, my eyes never leaving her.

“Good.” This time Shane spoke loud enough for everyone to hear, scooting back off his chair and setting it back in place. “Two of my best burgers and fries coming right up. Enjoy your evening, kids, and don’t leave it so long next time.” He paused, his hand on my shoulder. Whatever he saw must have satisfied him, because he sauntered off, whistling a jaunty tune.

“He seems like a nice guy.” Tahlia leaned forward, her eyes still darting around, taking everything in.

“One of the best,” I admitted, though Shane would laugh his furry ass off if he heard me admit it. The lion shifter might come across as a big old softie, but only with the ladies. When it came down to it, he was as mean and tough as the rest of us. He was also an honorary member of my pack, if only so he could claim a side in the turf wars that happened more often than not. In truth, he ran his restaurant and kept himself from growing bored by taking the occasional job out of the country. He said it was to keep his skills honed and fresh. I said it was because he was a bloodthirsty bastard, to which he’d replied ‘takes one to know one, motherfucker.’

The next couple of hours passed in a whirlwind of good food and even better conversation, the topics ranging from favorite colors all the way to best movie quotes. Slowly, she relaxed, her expressions coming easy and unguarded as she revealed more and more about her life back home, and prodded gently at mine.

“You were in the military?” Her fingers traced the edge of her wine glass, the last crumb of gooey chocolate cake long gone. Shane might serve American food here, his take on a traditional diner with a twist, but he knew better than to mess with chocolate and the Swiss. His deserts were brought in from somewhere local, and even at threat of torture, he wouldn’t reveal his source.

I chuckled. “I think I should be offended that you’re so shocked.”

She waved away my comment, and with it, my ego. “Get over it. Yes, you’re strong and fit and, of course, a barbarian, but that doesn’t automatically make you soldier material.” She bit her lip and it took every ounce of control I had not to lean over the table and bite it for her. “I can’t imagine you taking orders, that’s all.”

My mouth twisted in a grimace. “I didn’t really. Elite stuff, usually.” Turns out, now the dam was open, I couldn’t stop talking.

“Ooooh, like Navy SEALs?” Her eyes lit up, a lascivious smirk lifting her lips.

I grunted, narrowing my eyes. I’d assisted them on occasion, some human, some shifter. “Kind of,” I admitted.

“Damn,” she breathed. “I don’t suppose you’ve got any of your old uniforms hidden back at the palace, do you?”

I let out a choked laugh. “So, being a king doesn’t do it for you, but a soldier does?”

“An elite soldier,” she corrected. “And, wow, is there anything else you haven’t told me? Maybe that you’re also a cage fighter or a fireman in your downtime.” She bounced in her seat, eye widening. “I’ve got it, you’re also a lion tamer, am I right?”

Behind me, Shane made a strangled noise, and I couldn’t decide if he was pissed or laughing his ass off.

Leaning back in my chair, I smirked. “Lions are just big pussycats, nothing to be scared of.”

She snapped her fingers. “I knew it. You’re a badass.”

“And you’re only just realizing this?”

After she’d stopped laughing, and Shane had made us promise to come back soon—refusing to take any payment for the meal—we piled back into my car and set off back to the palace. Lazing back in her seat, Tahlia tilted her head to me. As a wolf, even in the dark I could see her expression as she stared at me, the confusion warring with enjoyment, the doubt as it tried to creep back in. Eventually, she sighed, but it was one of contentment, not regret. “I had a lovely time, Nick. Thank you,” she murmured, turning her head away.

Something was still holding her back, wresting her attention away from me and what we could have together, if she’d only let go and follow her instincts. I knew she was attracted to me, and that wasn’t my ego talking. I could smell it on her, see it in the way her pupils dilated and her pulse quickened. But I wanted to win her mind, not her body. So, I would wait, bide my time, and find out what it was that was stealing her away from me.

We arrived back at the palace and she was fast asleep, curled into the seat. Gently scooping her out of the car, her head came to rest on my shoulder as I crept through the corridors to her room, and laid her in bed. Divesting her of her shoes, I tucked her in. When she murmured, reaching for me, I pushed back the urge to slide in beside her, instead pressing a kiss to her lips, and then pulled away. “Sleep well, min älskling,” I whispered as I left the room.