Mardichi’s grin died, and his jaw locked. His hands fell off my arm. “If that’s what ye’re after, then ye may make a run at ‘im, Gel.” He was eyeing me coldly. “But even if ye can get past his valkyrie, who’ll likely open ye from button,” He nodded to my lower stomach and rolled up to my head. “to ye’re hair, ye’ll make it to a bed where ye’re not wanted. For in the last two decades, the only woman I’ve seen him allow atween his sheets is the only one that doesn’t want there.” Ouch. He’s saying Sebastian would reject me. In my heart, even I knew that was true. The man would likely rip the sheet from beneath me to toss me on the floor. But it was the fact that Mardichi implied no man would want me for more than a slave, that cut me to the core. “Nevermind.” I shouldered past him and aimed for the window. Wrapping my arms around my waist and staring out at the green moat surrounding the castle and beyond it to the river trailing

He set me inside the door of the Parlor where I could see, Mardichi curled up in the window seat. The wide wooden frame jutted out from the sill and was lined with pillows. Like a place a lady might sit and read. Far from a lady there now Mardichi was draped along it and clearly well on the way to intoxicated. Or more. Only about half of Mardichi’s giant body fit there. He had one big leg drawn along it with his booted foot resting in the opposite corner. The other leg strung down to the floor. The toe propped beneath him. He was wearing black breeches and a billowing red shirt. His head was down and he looked like a grieving child. My heart suddenly ached at the sight. His smile flashed through my eyes. His big chest heaving laugh and the way he seemed to fill a room when he was being vivacious. Whereas right now, he was working hard to look as small as he could. Almost as if he feels forg

I wasn’t raised as part of a pack. I’d had my family but to say they were a ragtag bunch that mostly hated each other, was a kindness. My father was rarely home, and I hadn’t known my mother since I was very small. A woman outside of town had mostly cared for us until my sisters were of age to wed and be off. Taryn, the woman, had become like a mother to me. I cared for her more than I cared for anyone beyond my brother. My eyes skittered over to Mardichi. Perhaps not now. I understood that I had a problem telling him what I was thinking, and we both had a penchant for interpreting the worst-case scenario from what the other said. But in a far-off kind of way, I did feel like there was a depth of caring that I was only beginning to understand. I didn’t have enough time to figure it out all out. Only my brother had vowed he’d always stay and take care of her as she’d done for us. Sweet Taryn.

Afterward, we lay side by side in the cool shade, watching the sunlight drizzling through swaying leaves above. I was entirely sated. My mind quiet for a time as I appreciate the view surrounding me. And the warmth of a man next to me. “This place is beautiful.” I remarked. Staring at the large, lush green leaves and the springy plants flourishing over the forest floor. Like a tiny piece of the paradise WaterRose was. I was suddenly heartbroken to be leaving. There was such a sense of security there. I understood why the Forever Knights didn’t want anyone to know about it. They carved out this tiny bit of peace and healing. I knew that for them, going to WaterRose was like having a home in the chaos. Somewhere family always was. I remembered how they’d all treated me. Even the Alpha. They’d made me feel like I was part of their oddball troupe.

He caught me around the waist and pulled me closer against him. Holding me in the protective circle of his body. He shifted me to the other arm as he twisted to look over our shoulders and see the direction we’d just come from. Trying to watch everywhere. Nestled in the protective circle of his arms, I was reminded how massive he was. Nearly covering me with a shielding leg and his forearms. I noticed the trees seemed darker right now. Long twisted branches overhung the path we’d taken. There were empty bits of ground beneath where the leaves above didn’t let any rain or sunshine reach the forest floor. It was very barren in this area. I heard the first branch crack and realized what had so much of Mardichi’s attention. There’s something here with us. Once I noticed, I couldn’t help but feel it. A presence. And there were eyes. Someone’s eyes watching our every movement.