Rustle… rustle-rustle…
Nikolas's eyes opened the moment he felt the movement from the other side of the bed. His bonded mate, Ruby, was sneaking out of his chamber again. Late at night, after she thought he'd fallen asleep. Off to somewhere.
He knew Ruby didn't love him. Perhaps she never would. But Ruby was his bonded mate. A beast was a beast. They were territorial, possessive, and selfish to the core. He was no exception.
So, every time he felt her leave, he'd listen. He'd secretly follow her. And every time, he'd find her back in her work room, doing gods know what.
His only real worry was if she was cheating. But she wasn't sending messages. No carrier pigeons, no secret letters. Nothing like that.
Not long ago, he'd found out she was writing. Obsessively. Scribbling something he couldn't decipher. Her drawers were locked, and he hadn't found a way to pick the lock yet. She gave away no clues, her smiles as impenetrable as a vault.
Ruby truly drove him mad.
