Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 140412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
“I’m trying. Not getting to the gym as often as I should,” he notes, grabbing another towel for me. “But thank you for noticing the effort.”
“You’re difficult to not notice.” The binding flares to life and I actually feel a little light-headed. “Wow.”
Nathan gently wraps my hair in one towel before taking another to dry me. “Maybe that potion hasn’t quite worn off.”
So, he feels it, too.
And I have to know. I have to, because I need some kind of certainty. Some stability. “Nathan, I’m going to ask you something. I need you to promise you’ll give me an honest answer. Straightforward. No jokes.”
He tucks the towel around me, and I hold it with my truncated forearm across my chest, not meeting his eyes, but he agrees. “All right.”
I take a deep breath. “This binding… if it ends, if it suddenly vanishes or the people who cast it on us take it back… how will you feel about me?”
He seems to struggle with the question. “You’re the mother of my child—”
“I know I am,” I stop him. “That’s not what I asked.”
With a long sigh, he admits. “I don’t know.”
I didn’t realize how much the answer to the question might hurt me, until that was the answer I received. An ache blossoms in my chest, growing larger and larger.
Before that pain can push a sound of anguish from my throat, he continues, “Bailey, I’ve never been in love with anyone before. I’m not sure it’s something I can do. But if I could… I think I would love you.”
If that’s all I can have, I suppose I’ll take it.
CHAPTER 61
By teatime the next day, Xiao is in our private parlor, waiting for me. She’s sitting on one of the sofas, but she stands the moment I enter, and bows deeply. “Your Majesty.”
“I’m so glad to see you!” It takes everything in me not to run at her and hug her; we don’t have that kind of relationship. But seeing her is a balm that soothes homesickness I didn’t realize I felt.
“I’ve done a preliminary sweep of this wing, and some of the public areas I’ve been briefed on,” she begins. “The garden is a concern to me, considering its proximity to the park—”
“I’m sure you’re doing a great job,” I interrupt her. “And I’ll listen to whatever suggestions you give me with regards to security. You don’t need to explain.”
That seems to take her aback. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I’m not scolding you,” I hurry to assure her. “Please, sit down. Would you like tea?”
“I…” she hesitates.
I ring the bell, anyway. “I’ve got stuff I need to ask you about.”
“All right.” She sounds cautious, but she takes a seat. “The last time you asked me about anything, you ended up in England.”
“That’s true. But it was for the best.” I pause as Harriet enters. “Tea for my guest and me?”
Harriet bows her head. “At once, Your Majesty.”
Xiao watches Harriet closely, waits until the door latch clicks, and we hear the thump of her gait retreating down the hall before whispering, “Your Majesty… your servant is a werewolf.”
“I know.” I wave my hand to indicate it’s not a big deal. “The former King had a thing about thralls. I mean, no offense.”
“I’m not offended. I’m concerned,” she says, then stops herself. “It’s not my place.”
“You’re my bodyguard. It’s your place if you think there’s danger,” I tell her.
Her brown eyes dart across the high ceiling as she considers her answer. Finally, she comes out with the diplomatic, “If the former king didn’t trust his thralls, there’s probably a reason.”
“You don’t think it was prejudice, maybe?” It seems like it would be on brand for a werewolf king. “Our kind are pretty snobby.”
“You are, but the pacts made by our families, our allegiance to the packs we serve aren’t something taken lightly. At least, in my experience.” She opens her hands toward me. “Yours might vary.”
“We don’t have proof yet that thralls put the binding on us. But we do have someone trying to find that out.” At the mention of families, though, a thought occurs to me. “Hey, you being here, that isn’t messing things up for you at home, right?”
Her brow wrinkles in a frown. “At home, Your Majesty?”
“Yeah, like, with your family. Do you have a husband? Kids?” I’m ashamed I never asked before. Talk about snobby.
“No kids. Husband will never really be a thing, ma’am.” Her lips compress in a silent “whelp,” and I get the hint.
“Oh. Well, do you have pets? Parents? What I’m getting at is, the king just flew you all the way over here at a moment’s notice. Are you okay with that?” As she opens her mouth, I hold up one finger. “The truth. Not some answer about how you’re pledged to the safety of the pack or something.”