NovelEnglishAlexander & Sophia
Alexander
| couldn't sleep that night. The banquet had ended hours ago, but | was still in my office, nursing my third glass
of bourbon. Maybe my fourth. I'd lost count by the tmy head had grown fuzzy and the room had begun to
spin.
Even still, | kept drinking long after | probably should have stopped. Dawn wasn’t far off, and yet my night was
far from over.
Because Ella was dead. She was fucking dead, and | was hosting a Luna Trial to replace her like she'd never
mattered at all.
The tug I'd felt on the mate bond earlier had nearly killed me. For one stupid moment, I'd thought... I'd thought
that maybe she was alive somehow. Maybe there had been smistake. Maybe she was coming back to me,
spy
or not.
But it was just the nanny. Just srogue who looked like my dead wife.
And then | had to go and fucking announce the Luna Trial that | never wanted.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“You're thinking about her again,” Sophia suddenly said from the other side of the room. When she’d invited
herself to drink with me, I'd been too lonely and exhausted to say no even though I really didn’t want to look at
her tonight.
“I'm not thinking about anyone,” | replied, taking another swig.
“Liar.” Sophia stood and walked toward me, extending her hand. “Con. Dance with me, Alex. Like we used
to when we were younger.”
| didn’t want to, but before I could protest, she grabbed my hand and pulledcloser. | was too drunk to resist
at first, so she managed to pullinto a stumbling waltz for a few long moments before | finally managed to
push myself away from her grip and stagger over to the window.
Sophia sighed from behind me. “She’s not coming back, you know. And she was a spy. You saw the evidence.”
My jaw clenched. “I know.” | knew both of those things, but it didn’t make the grief | was feeling any less potent.
“She was still my fated mate.”
“You can find another. A chosen mate bond will subdue the pain of the broken one that fate gave you. Besides,
you never really wanted her, did you? It'll be easy to find someone new. Someone better.”
But | did want Ella. | wanted Ella more than | should have. Even when | found out she’d signed that contract with
her father, | still wanted her. Because | had begun to love her.
“It's been a week, Sophia,” | finally said, not bothering to hide the bitterness in my voice.
“I know. But you can’t grieve forever.” Sophia’s hand moved to touch my arm. | hadn't realized how close she
was standing now. “You need someone who understands you. Someone who's always been there for you.”
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Chapter 252
+25 BONUS
Suddenly, Sophia gripped my arm and turnedto face her. Before | could react, she leaned up on her tiptoes
as if to kiss me, but | shoved her back hard enough that she stumbled and nearly slammed into the wall.
“What the fuck do you think you're doing?” | hissed. “If you want to be withso badly, enter the Luna Trial like
everyone else.”
The words were out before | could stop them. | immediately regretting being so harsh, but Sophia’s eyes went
wide, and it wasn’t with hurt or anger. It was hope.
“You mean that?” she whispered.
| rolled my eyes and turned back to the window. “Take it however you will. Regardless, you should stop throwing
yourself at a grieving widower and show sfucking respect for the dead.”
Sophia set her wine glass down on the desk. “So you wantto enter the Luna Trial. You're serious.” Of course
she wouldn't comment on the other thing.
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