Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 165618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 165618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
We worked our way through a lot of snacks and two bottles of wine before Gayle bid adieu.
When she blinked out, Laura immediately turned to me, which was good, since I was already turned to her.
“We need to get our males on this,” she decreed at the same time I said, “Our males need to intervene immediately.”
“I’m not a fated mate expert,” Monique put in. “But maybe you two should let this play out as it will.”
“Love you, but I have to ask, how would you feel, you’re parched, dying of thirst and locked in a cage with a glass of water just out of your reach?” I demanded.
“See your point,” Monique mumbled.
I bet she did.
After that, we didn’t linger, and they left (Laura’s RS pilot was dropping Mon home).
When they did, I cleared away the bottles, glasses and food (I didn’t own bots, because of Mom, instead, I had a weekly cleaning service, and they were beings).
I then went right to my Palm, saw a text comm from Tanyn that said Home. How’s Wednesday for you to come up?
I did not text back.
I threw myself on my couch and audio commed him.
“Hey, baby,” he answered.
“Prince Cormac is holding Gayle prisoner,” I announced.
He was silent for a second before he requested, “Say that again.”
“One. Of. My. Dearest. Friends. Is being held prisoner. By Prince Cormac!”
My voice was rising by the end.
“Prisoner?” he asked.
“It’s what we expected it was, only confirmed, but it’s also worse. He only sees her every once in a while, doing this to reiterate she’s staying until he’s assured she’s safe. Otherwise, she’s restricted to the Fleur de Flora grounds, and all her comms are blocked, except work, her gals, and her parents.”
There was more silence from Tanyn, but this time, it didn’t end.
So I filled it.
“She’s exactly where she wants to be, closer to him, which is killing her, Tanyn,” I snapped. “She’s happy, and she’s desolate. Tugged one way by her fate, only never to have what it is she needs when he’s living in the same castle as her. It’s…it’s…fucking diabolical.”
“Leave this with me.”
My back shot straight at his tone, one I’d never heard from him, but it sent chills over my skin.
“What are you—?”
“Leave it with me, Cat,” he bit off. “Is Laura going to speak to Aleksei about it?”
“Yes, we both—”
Again, I didn’t finish because he gritted. “Fine. Good. I’ll let you go now. I’ll comm you tomorrow. Oh, and Nayden is on his way down to you. His team will relieve Aleksei’s in the morning.”
“Tanyn—”
“Sleep well. Dream of me. My dreams will be of you.”
And with that, he ended our comm.
I stared at my Palm.
I gave a moment’s thought to Tanyn being pissed and doing something about Gayle.
I then approved of Tanyn being pissed and doing something about Gayle.
And with that, I headed up to bed with my tablet and read for a while before I fell asleep.
And dreamed of Tanyn.
The next morning, the lift doors opened while I was deep into coffee number two and eating some yogurt and berries.
I was not surprised when Nayden walked in because I’d been informed by the head of my RS detail that the handoff would be at eight, Nayden had been given access to my flat, and he’d report in at eight fifteen.
Which was now.
I sipped from the other side of the island and watched him walk toward me.
His expression was blank and he offered no greeting when he stopped moving.
So I said, “Hey.”
“Catla,” he said low.
I swung my coffee cup out and offered, “You want a cup?”
“No,” he replied shortly.
“Sorry you were pulled away from your life to do this.”
“The only higher honor I can have other than protecting our future queen, is protecting our king, something I will never be able to do because of my relationship with Tanyn.”
That didn’t make sense.
“I would think that would make you perfect for the job,” I noted.
“Having an emotional connection to your charge is detrimental to the focus you need to do it correctly.”
Well then.
Reading between those lines, since he didn’t feel much for me, he’d be all set.
“Listen—” I began in an effort to mend the damage I’d inflicted by upsetting Tanyn on a day he’d already been devastated.
He cut me off. “It’s none of my business.”
“It is. You two are close.”
“It’s still none of my business.”
“And he and I are courting.”
“I think I’ve made myself clear.”
“You don’t like me,” I deduced.
“I don’t know you,” he tried diplomacy, though, he totally didn’t like me.
“There’s a very good possibility I’ll be in his life for a very long time,” I pointed out quietly.
“Then I hope there’s a very good possibility you’ll give a shit about his feelings in future,” he shot back.
Well, there you go.
We knew where we stood.
Although, after that exchange, I was partially seeing the point Tanyn made about not sticking my nose into Gayle and Cormac’s situation (though, I figured last night he changed his mind about that), I wasn’t going to defend myself to Nayden.