"Where's the way to the dining hall? I haven't eaten all day," Melody said as she walked out of the office.
Orionn stared at her for a moment, then sighed. She's going to be a handful, he thought, following after her.
He stepped ahead of her and said, "Follow me. I'll give you a tour."
Seemingly surprised, Melody turned to face him. "King Grumpy wants to give me a tour? Why?" she asked.
He ignored her and continued walking. She hurried to catch up.
The palace was far larger than her father's. So many rooms stood unused, with the royal family's quarters taking up most of the land. Beyond that lay a mesmerizing garden. Melody was genuinely surprised to see something so vast and alive within the castle grounds.
"You don't strike me as the type who likes flowers and greenery," she said to Orionn.
"I don't," he replied. "My mother owns it. Or… used to. It's a memory of her."
"Oh," Melody exclaimed softly.
She hadn't heard anything about his mother since arriving. The grim look that crossed his face told her not to ask further, so she didn't.
The tour ended at the dining hall. At the sight of food, her stomach growled loudly. Needing no invitation, she dug in—only then noticing it was just the two of them in the vast hall.
"Why are we the only ones here?" she asked.
"We're late for dinner," he answered.
"Oh," she replied.
They ate the rest of the meal in silence.
Orionn didn't say much, but he couldn't help glancing at Melody as she ate, relaxed and completely unbothered. Many women behaved strangely around him—especially while eating—but she didn't seem to care if she looked like a glutton.
And at that moment, she did look like one.
Still… a cute glutton.
He wouldn't lie—she was an attractive woman. But that was all. The rest of the dinner passed quietly, Melody fully focused on her food.
By the time they were done, it was already dark. Orionn left to attend to some matters he had left unfinished, while Melody returned to their bedroom.
She went straight into the bathroom, stripped, and slipped into the bathtub. The warm water relaxed her as her thoughts drifted back to the day's events.
The day had been slow, but she had learned a lot. And on top of that, Orionn had agreed to let Nathan and Damon train her.
Apparently, he didn't want a weak queen. That worked in her favor.
Still, she needed time—time to practice her secrets and ensure they remained hidden.
With everything she had learned about vampires and wolves—their histories strangely intertwined—her thoughts wandered endlessly. She couldn't ask Orionn directly. He already seemed more tolerant today than yesterday, and allowing both Damon and Nathan to train her felt like a miracle. She didn't want to push her luck.
Eventually, lost in thought, she drifted off to sleep.
Orionn closed the door behind him and scanned the room for his wife. It was empty.
He distinctly remembered her saying she would be here.
Why isn't she here? he wondered, then shrugged it off. From the little time he had known her, Melody clearly enjoyed getting on his nerves.
He stepped into the bathroom, stripped, and stood under the shower, letting the water cascade over him.
That was when he noticed the bathtub door was slightly open.
The bathroom was designed to separate the shower from the tub, and through the narrow opening, he could see a still figure lying inside.
His movements slowed. Cautious.
Who would dare sneak into my room?
Magic tingled at his fingertips as he gently pushed the door open.
He froze.