They were probably together somewhere. He would be comforting her while she celebrated her victory.
But it did not matter. In two days, I would be gone. And he would receive the greatest anniversary gift of all.
The night before our anniversary, I finished packing the last of my important belongings.
Just as I closed my suitcase, I heard voices. They came from the guest room down the hallway.
Luvena’s room.
They must have believed I was already asleep.
I stepped quietly into the hallway. My crystal communicator was already in my hand with the camera open.
The door to her room was slightly open. A thin line of light stretched across the floor. I did not need to see them to understand what was happening.
The sounds were obvious. Two people moving together with desperate hunger.
Then the noises suddenly stopped. Luvena’s voice cut through the air sharply.
“I hate this,” she snapped. “I saw the box, Jareth. The necklace you bought for her. Real diamonds. Vintage design. You told me you were buying her something cheap.”
“Lower your voice, Luvena,” Jareth whispered quickly. “She might wake up.”
He sounded breathless.
“It’s only for show,” he continued. “Tomorrow is the pack alliance ceremony and our anniversary. The press will be there. I need to look like a loving Alpha mate. If I give her something cheap, the reporters will tear us apart.”
“But I want that necklace!” Luvena complained. “You promised me diamonds.”
“I will buy you ten necklaces,” Jareth said. “Better ones. After everything is finished. Once the old Alpha signs the succession documents.”
I held my crystal communicator steady and pointed the camera through the narrow opening of the door.
I could see them clearly. Jareth sat at the edge of the bed with his shirt off. While Luvena knelt close to him, clutching the sheets.
“I am tired of waiting,” Luvena said. Her voice trembled with anger and desire. “I am tired of being hidden. I want something that binds you to me. Something she cannot take.”
She lifted her face to him. Her eyes looked wild.
“Give me a pup,” she demanded. “Right now. Make me pregnant.”
Jareth paused for a moment.
“Luvena, we already talked about this. The timing is not right.”
“Prove it,” she hissed. “Show me you love me more than her. Give me your pup, Jareth. Make me the mother of your heir.”
Jareth groaned softly. His resistance collapsed under her touch.