---- He winked shamelessly, making me chuckle. I watched him grab my te to serve me roast beef before handing it over. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach-no point denying it. I''d never seen this side of Aidan before. The sweet and sexy version. The one whoughs and seems to glow with happiness. Our beginning had been nothing but a mess of guilt and pain. I wanted to match his boldness, but the truth is... I''m not ---- that seductive. I''ve got a lot to learn-need to stop being so stiff.


    And speaking of learning, dinner ended prettyte. The women dragged me off to a library for some girl talk. The men headed to another room for drinks. Servants came and went with trays full of snacks. They chatted about opening another magical gateway to the castle. My mom, grandma, and... well, my mother-inw-I need to get used to saying that-were talking like lifelong friends. Honestly, that was a huge relief for me.


    I drifted over to the firece when someone suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the balcony. A sh of red hair hit my face-Amber... my sister-inw. "Amber, are you okay?" I asked, noticing how serious she looked. "No, no, the pregnancy''s going fine," she whispered quickly. ---- That made me happy, especially since I''d been feeling a little guilty. So much had happened, I forgot to check on her, and I figured she already knew, so I didn''t want to pry.


    "Here, keep this safe." She pulled a small book from her skirt pocket and ced it in my hands. "What is this?" "Something that might help you... I heard you were a virgin." "What?!" My voice came out sharper than I meant. I nced back inside, but no one seemed to notice us. My first instinct was to kill my mate. "It wasn''t Aidan who told me," she rified. "I... our moms and your grandma talking." Damn those gossiping old women.


    It''s not like I''m ashamed of being a virgin, but I don''t need it ---- stamped on my forehead either. "And this book?" I looked at it without opening it. It looked well-used. "It belonged to our Priestess. I... I stole it to learn, but that was a long time ago!" she confessed, anxious. This had to be one of the most awkward conversations of my life... and I''ve worked in Madam''s brothel. "I know Aidan''s going to treat you right, but there''s some really useful stuff in there for us girls...


    you know, to help with the nerves." She squeezed my hand like she was sending her daughter off to war and left. I stood there a bit stunned, the night breeze ruffling my hair. I opened the first pages and the super explicit illustrations and exnations made me m it shut immediately. What the hell, Amber? She always seemed so sweet. Is there anyone normal in this giant family?