16. Henri

I lay in bed, doing everything I could not to move. I wanted to savor this moment, the first one waking up in my mate's arms after we had fully mated, Cole having now marked me both on the outside and the in.

Having never dated, I'd spent a lot of time thinking about what it would be like to be with someone like this. Would my first time be an awkward mess? Would I even come? Would it feel better than my hand or my toys? And then when I was told consummation was mandatory, my questions wandered to if my mystery arranged husband would be kind and gentle? Would he want to or would he be under the same edict I was?

What I hadn't considered was the feeling of waking up in his arms afterward. Yesterday, I'd been on top of the world after a little rest, his arms wrapped around me. But it was nothing compared to what I felt now. I was so happy I could burst.

"How long have you been up?" Cole said, his breath tickling the back of my neck.

"You don't want to know." I chuckled and rolled over to face him. I'd been up since three fifty-three in the morning, enjoying my quiet time in his embrace, our scents mingled together along with those of our joining. It was officially my new happy place.

"That early?"

"I can neither confirm nor deny that."

"Were you uncomfortable?" Poor sweet alpha was worried.

"No. I was just so ridiculously happy that I couldn't sleep any longer. I can't even explain it, but it's like I'm whole for the first time."

He rubbed his nose against mine playfully. "That's what it's like for me too. Last night was… I'm glad we waited."

"I am too." And extra glad that we stopped waiting.

"Let's take a shower and head down to breakfast. I'd love for you to meet Molly."

He'd told me about Molly numerous times. She was an important person in his life, a constant when nothing else, including his father's attention, had been. She was like family to him, but not because she had to be—because she cared about him. She protected him like he was a sort of treasure for the family, one that needed to be both guarded and spoiled—with chocolate. And from everything he'd said about her, she filled that role because she genuinely cared about him. It was what I had so often wished Liam had been to me. But unlike with Molly, with Liam it was all about the paycheck.

We took a shower together, getting ourselves dirty again before we got ourselves clean. Then we walked down to the kitchen hand in hand. This time I didn't feel completely lost. Maybe the day would come when I could navigate these halls without needing a homing beacon.

Molly was in the kitchen, just as Cole knew she would be. She greeted us with warm smiles and hugs, sincerity pouring off of her. I instantly liked her and was grateful to the role she played in his life. He deserved someone like her.

"Want me to get you both some breakfast?"

"We actually thought maybe you'd like to eat with us? I'd love for you to get to know my husband."

Cole's words had her beaming. "I'd love that. But let me make it because… the?—"

"The egg incident of 2017." My mate rolled his eyes, and they both laughed. I added it to the growing list of stories I wanted to hear.

If I were honest with myself, I didn't love the way he called me his husband. True, we were married. But above that, and far more important, we were mates. I wanted to shout it from the rafters.

Doing so in a palace would probably get me thrown in the dungeon. Not that he'd mentioned there being one. Heck, I didn't understand the difference between a palace and a castle. Probably just the floor plan was my guess. But in any case, being in the palace, there was mixed company. I understood the reasons why he called me husband. Didn't mean I had to like it.

We sat down and ate together. Molly was an amazing cook. It wasn't her role here, and I appreciated her taking the time. Conversation flowed easily. I learned about Molly's family, she learned about mine, and we both learned that my mate thought chocolate for breakfast could be considered healthy if you argued it properly. It was a beautiful breakfast and one I hoped to repeat.

I really liked Molly. My mate's father might've been a complete dud, but she made up for it. I was glad because he deserved all the goodness life had to offer, and if his family wasn't going to give it to him, I was glad there was somebody who would.

After breakfast we went back to our room.

"What did you want to do today? I told my father that we had plans."

"I was thinking… what if we FaceTimed with my sister." I missed her and wanted her to see that I was happy… at last.

"Or she could come and visit. You said she loves vampires?"

I nodded.

"What if we watch that new show that's streaming, the one just released and everyone can't stop talking about?"

I knew exactly which one he meant, the one my sister had mentioned more than once. "I love the idea. I'll call her."

When Lavender arrived, she raced right over, hugging me tightly and telling me how happy she was for me the second we shared the news with her that we were fated.

The three of us spent the day binging the show, eating more popcorn and chips than should be legal, and jumping at the scary bits. Fine, it was only me who jumped, but that was okay. Finally, for the first time in my life, I had someone to hug me tight and reassure me that I was safe.

It was a good day. A very good day.