MARIGOLD POV
By the time the royal investigator arrived at the villa, I had convinced myself that last night’s kiss had been… a fever dream. An illusion. A by-product of almost dying, because surely, surely, the universe would not curse me with the memory of Alpha Gregor’s mouth and the fact that my traitorous lips had kissed him back.
Unfortunately, the universe was cruel.
Because Gregor kept looking at me.
Not just looking—hovering. His storm-gray eyes flickered to my face every time I shifted in my chair, every time I adjusted the sleeve of my gown. And the worst part? His gaze kept dropping to my lips, like he was replaying that kiss over and over. Like he wanted to steal another one.
Which, for the record, was unacceptable.
Of course, Sugar noticed.
She’d been perched on the se
