After an exhilarating shower, exploring his handsome mate's delectable body, he flopped on the bed with his mate. With a content sigh, he snuggled deeper into Killian's side, wrapping his legs around his mate's muscular legs. Killian chuckled while kissing Jason on his forehead. Jason couldn't believe his luck (as cliché as it sounded). When he lost his first mate (not that Jason was heart-broken), he gave up on the idea of having another. Luckily for him, the Moon Goddess wasn't a heartless harpy after all.

"What's mauling around in that pretty head of yours?" Killian asked.

Jason couldn't hide the blush that appeared on his face. "Oh, nothing really... Just that I can't believe my luck that I'm mated to you." Jason hid his flustered face in the crook of Killian's neck. Musk and sandalwood: he couldn't get enough of them.

His embarrassing confession earned another chuckle from Killian. "Don't worry, love. Me neither."

Jason's heart flipped over at Killian's words. Even Cyron's tail wagged up a dust storm.

As they laid in each other's arms, the sun slowly bled into the dark bedroom. Jason glared at the streaks of sunlight that danced across the wooden floor, resenting the emergence of a new day. Once the rest of the keep found his mate was wide awake, they wouldn't get an ounce of free time alone for a very long time. It made him sick to the stomach just thinking about it. Jason wanted the world to disappear so he could spend more time with his mate. But he couldn't be selfish. With Alaric traipsing about, creating as much chaos as he could, Jason knew they had to stop him before his destructive behavior roused the suspicions of the humans.

Suddenly, their cozy bubble of comfort burst with the rumble of a stomach, Killian's stomach in particular. After all, Jason's mate hadn't eaten since the Queen and Selene poisoned him. Mostly, he lived on a liquid diet. With a heavy heart, Jason got out of bed and called the kitchen for two full-house breakfasts. He knew the moment he ordered an extra plate of food, the servant would become suspicious and notify the regent.

Jason sat down on the bed and waited for the chamber's door to burst open. His focus was so focused on the doors he didn't hear Killian call out to him. Jason shrieked when his mate wrapped their arms around his waist and yanked him back into bed. Killian climbed on top of him and held Jason's hands over his head, pinning Jason down. Killian then kissed Jason on the nape of his neck, eliciting a moan from Jason's lips.

"Jason," Killian sang out. "What's gotten you down all of a sudden?"

Jason stared into Killian's smoldering green eyes and pouted. "I'm not ready to share you with anyone else. Once those doors burst open, chaos will ensue."

Killian chuckled and said, "I know, my sexy-looking hellfire. But there's no point in delaying the inevitable. I'll make time for us, don't you worry." He captured Jason's lips in a heated kiss.

Before their tongue-tying session could turn into a dirty sex affair, Jason's prediction came true. The bedroom door burst open, with Killian's father leading the charge. Several servants rushed in after their king and began opening the curtains and windows, while Jason's friends took their seats on the leather couches. Killian reluctantly rolled off Jason, not before stealing one last kiss. Jason growled, earning a few chuckles from his friends.

"Oh, come on, Jason," said Astrid. "Why the long face?"

Jason scoffed as he climbed off the bed. Several pairs of eyes focused on the obvious bulge in his cherry-red pair of briefs. He didn't really give a fuck if they stared. They were the intruders. If his arousal made them nervous, they were free to jump off a cliff.

Darren wolf-whistled. "Were we interrupting something?" The beta's eyes were still glued on Jason's standing ovation.

A growl ripped through the room, shaking the paintings on the walls. Killian shouted, "Evert your eyes, or I'll plug them out." Killian rushed over to Jason and flung a bathrobe over him.

A small 'sorry' rang out from Darren while Mallory laughed her silly.

While Jason covered his nether region, he saw Mallory sitting on a man's lap. A muscled caveman with brown, curly hair that reached his shoulders and brown murky eyes, which glared at anyone who dared touch his mate. Was the hulking beast a werewolf? Jason would have mistaken him for a bear shifter. Jason swallowed his laugh. He couldn't forget the irony of the situation Mallory found herself in. She told him repeatedly when they were younger that she didn't want a mate who resembled a Neanderthal, but yet she got one.

A kiss on his forehead drew Jason's attention away from his best friend, which was fortunate. The glare she threw his way told him he needed to keep his opinion to himself. But what fun would that have been if he couldn't make fun of her?

"So Mallory, my dearest friend," his grin widened, "who's the lucky guy you're keeping warm?"

Mallory's glare turned murderous. She crossed her arms and then said, "The Moon Goddess is a bitch."

Jason threw his head back as a laugh tore through his lips. He nearly stumbled over the couch as the fits of laughter wrecked his body. But his enjoyment at the expense of his best friend got interrupted when a couch pillow whacked him in the face, followed by the shriek of a banshee. Mallory chased him around the room, intent on kicking his ass. Jason soon ran for his life, dodging his friend's punches. His salvation came when Mallory's mate picked her up by her waist.

"Let me go!" Mallory shrieked, kicking and screaming. "Let me kick his face in!"

Jason gasped dramatically and said, "Not my beautiful face." He peaked out from behind Killian's muscular, broad shoulder.

"Come on, Mally." His savior cooed in Mallory's ear. "You can't hurt the King's mate."

Mallory stopped squirming in her mate's grip, but still gave Jason the stink-eye. "Oh, please... why not? The little shit has gotten too big for his shoes. Just a slap to the head, please?"

Mallory's mate shook his head. "Not going to happen." He licked Mallory on her mating mark. She shuddered and fell limp in his grip. Her feet dangled several inches from the ground.

"Fine," Mallory huffed out. "But he should watch his back. I'll get him back."

Jason stuck his tongue out. "Ohhh! I'm so scared." He knew he was childish, but Mallory couldn't blame him for making fun of her. She'd do it in a heartbeat if the roles were reversed.

Jason was so absorbed in his thoughts, he failed to notice his own mate snaking his muscled arms around his waist. With a tug, Killian lifted Jason off his feet. Jason, much to his humiliation, squealed like a teenage girl at a Justin Bieber concert. The room erupted in laughter at his antics.

"So much for not being scared," mocked Mallory with a shit-eating grin.

It was Jason's turn to huff out and cross his arms. "Killian didn't scare me... just took me by surprise."

"Yeah, right?" His best friend rolled her eyes.

Killian's chest vibrated as he laughed. "That's enough fooling around for now. Let's get cleaned up and then go down to the dining hall for breakfast." He then slipped his other arm under Jason's ass and carried him to the bathroom bridal-style.

'See you later' rang out as the regent and Jason's friend filtered out of the room. Jason continued grumbling under his breath as his mate carried him into the bathroom.

***

After a hot shower together, Jason and Killian made their way toward the dining hall. They were greeted cheerfully as the servants walked past them. The whole keep's gloomy atmosphere disappeared in a blink of an eye. Jason was glad. His peppy mood had been dragged down by their somber faces since he had arrived at the castle. It was funny how one traitorous bitch could up-heave an entire city.

Killian, with a single arm, opened the dining-room door. Joyous bouts of laughter soon pierced Jason's ears. Most of it came from the regent who sat at the head of the table. He was drinking coffee while listening to Darren, who told them one of his many dirty jokes. Ms. Bell, who sat beside the old king, didn't know where to hide her blush as Darren winked at her constantly. Horn dog.

As Killian and Jason reached the table, the regent stood up from his seat. The guests at the table fell silent. "It's about time you joined us, my son," the old man said in a lighthearted tone of voice. The smile on his face could outshine the sun. "Come and join us." The regent stepped away from the chair he sat on and ushered Killian to take his rightful place at the head of the table.

Without skipping a beat, Killian took his seat. "Thanks, Father. I'm glad to be back."

The regent patted his son on the shoulder before sitting down at the vacant seat next to his son. For the first time, Jason froze in his tracks. He did not know where he needed to sit. Most of the guests' eyes were on Jason, waiting for him to join them. At that moment, he found his shoes very interesting, especially the few drops of blood that still clung to them. Jason never had to deal with etiquette issues. He, being the mate of the King, didn't know what they expected of him.

"Come, my adorable spitfire," said Killian with a smile. "Sit next to me." He pointed to the seat to his right.

Jason scampered over and took in his seat, avoiding his friends' amused stares. His hands began shaking underneath the table, but calmed down seconds later when his mate touched them. Jason breathed out a sigh of relief. A few 'ahh's' rang out from the table, causing Jason's cheeks to flare up. Then a couple of giggles followed, adding to his stress.

"Will you all just shut up?" Jason grumbled out, which caused the people at the table to burst out laughing.