Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 431- Plans in Motion

Ella

“So you two,” Cora says, flicking her gaze between Roger and Sinclair, ” you’re all right now? After fifteen minutes, it’s all cleared up?”

Sinclair shrugs. “We kept it pretty cut and dry. He’s on probation.”

“No, I’m not,” Roger murmurs, dismissive, shaking his head to Cora.

“He is,” Sinclair growls. Roger just leans down, pretending to whisper in Cora’s ear but speaking loud enough for all of us to hear, “probation doesn’t mean anything. But it made him happy to slap a word on the lack of consequences.”

Cora laughs, her face turned up to her mate, and I bite my lip to stifle my own giggle, wanting to be loyal to Sinclair, who just sighs behind me.

“Either way,” Sinclair says, moving on. “Congratulations, Cora,” he says, his focus on her now and his voice sincere. “I’m very happy for you – for both of you. It’s a big event.”

“Thank you, Dominic,” Cora says, smiling at him softly and turning her head to the side, clearly touched. I beam at my sister as well. It’s not that I’ve let her off the hook for keeping the baby name a secret when I want to know so terribly badly – but? Well. I’ll bug her about it later.

“We are sorry though,” Cora says, reaching up to take Roger’s hand. “I know that…the wedding meant a lot to you, and that it was going to do good things for the nation. But…” she bites her lip, hesitating, and I can tell that she feels selfish. I open my mouth to protest against this but she continues before I can start. “But – I needed it to be like this, to be personal. I hope that you’ll forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Cora,” Sinclair murmurs, smiling at her warmly. “I completely understand you’ve done nothing wrong.”

And quite suddenly, something comes to me. “Cora,” I say, turning my head to the side and leaning forward. “Does.. anyone else know? About your mark, or your little personal ceremony, besides us four?”

She frowns at me, confused. “Well, no,” she says quietly. “I mean, neither of us really have social media or anything -”

“Or any friends,” Roger murmurs, a little chagrined, which makes me laugh. They don’t need friends, they have us!

“Well then,” I say, a big smile breaking out on my face. “Would you consider…doing it anyway?”

“What?” Cora asks, confused.

if no one knows,” I say, my smile growing – because this could work! “Why not just

she starts to laugh, I think a little inspired by the idea. But then she realizes

shrug. ”

shrug, clearly communicating that it’s her choice. And then she grins, turning back to

want to send to both our people and some of our honored guests: that humans are equals in our eyes, that they’re part of our family. But, if you’d rather not – if you’d rather just keep the memory of it to the beach, because it’s

with a huge smile on her face. “No, I want to do it

mark this side this time,” Roger murmurs, drawing a finger down the opposite side of her throat and shoulder. “See if

Cora hasn’t had nearly enough of Roger, and I doubt she ever will.

throw them a

take care of the baby and begin to make my plans. He scolds me for it every morning, telling me

the same way about him and I’m happy he gets to sleep an extra hour while I take

the beginning of all of this. In some

)? I see flashes of him come back. And it’s not that he’s lost the sides of him that he’s shown to me over the past months but…well, he’s just more complex now, isn’t

I love

fealty at the coronation. It’s all gone smoothly, as Sinclair predicted it would, and so we’ve moved forward with the plans. Delegations from all the neighboring countries

including King Gabriel –

the thing I’m most worried about predictably is that the Atalaxians have indeed signaled their intent to attend, and they’re bringing a

day with Sarah and Jessica, usually in the evenings, bringing Rafe with me to chat

that Xander is in Atalaxia, and that they’re sending a delegation. It’s not that I’m keeping it from them – if they asked, I’d tell them in a minute, of course. But they’re safe

putting it off, and she keeps not asking so…we’re at a happy little stalemate, I

Atalaxians be like?” I ask Sinclair one night, laying naked with my belly pressed to his, a little sweaty and still catching my breath after

hand down my back. “I do my best work,

“If you wanted to keep me from asking complicated questions, Dominic, you shouldn’t have gone and become King, making me a Queen. Should have just stayed a businessman and lived in our old house, kept me locked

my ass. “Don’t tempt me, trouble,” he murmurs, and I bite my lip as I feel warmth pool at my core, again. “But you’re right,” he sighs, using his grip on me