Kiara's POV"What are you doing here?"Kiara. I nearly slapped myself hard. How could I have gotten caught so easily? Spying wasn't for me.The annoying part was I had been unable to hear the conversation due to the direction of the wind and the low pitch of their voices. I had tried to move to at least see who had been talking to when King Damien caught me. "Not listening to your conversation?"I shrugged, a girl could try, right?Damn. If I had been able to hear something at least I would have convinced myself that it was worth it. But no. I had been caught and I still had no intel. Worst day ever. Damien frowned. He wasn't buying any of it. But considering the circumstances who would? "Kiara.""What?" I shrugged. Maybe if I played it off as casual he wouldn't try to strangle me. "I saw you coming here secretly and I was curious. Don't worry, I didn't come quick enough to hear anything so why do you look so pissed?"Damien's left eye twitched as though he was barely restraining h

Kiara's POV"What did you want to talk to me about? If it's about the date, I understand you are busy and I am not upset."I was seated at the dining table with Katlsn and heaven knew where Damien and Keturah had wandered off to. It was probably for the best that they weren't around when I did this.I met Kaylan's beautiful blue eyes. "You should be." He had every right to be upset at me. I think I would have preferred it if he was instead of being so understanding. "This isn't just about the date. It's about everything."Kaylan seemed to understand this was no routine conversation."Kiara.""Please let me speak while I still have the courage to do so."I inhaled deeply. I could do this. It would be quick like ripping off a band-aid. "You are a good guy. The best. I haven't been completely honest with you. Mostly because I am still very confused myself."I met his gaze. It was the least I could do while saying something so hurtful but it needed to be said."I like you…as a person. B

Kiara's POVI couldn't feel half of my body when I woke up. I groaned groggily, moaning as I turned. The bed felt soft and massive as though it was actively trying to consume me with each movement I made and it smelt like Damien. It was that thought that jolted me fully awake. I sat up in bed-Damien's bed. I was wearing a nightwear that wasn't mine without any underwear. I looked around his room, certain I was still dreaming because how had I gotten here and more importantly, what had I done here?I recalled my conversation with Kaylan. Then nothing. Not exactly nothing. I remembered the feel of Damien's hands on my body. I remembered the feel of his hardened length against my core, I remembered the taste of his skin on my lips… Goddess, did we have sex? If we did, why couldn't I fully recollect what had happened? "You are up."I jumped at Damien's voice as he stepped out of the shower, his hair dripping water down his broad shoulders to his smooth well-muscled chest down to hi

Kiara's POVDid he just say what I thought he did? I couldn't believe my ears. "What? I should come to your room?"Damien looked at me with an almost bored expression across his face as he spoke. "You don't need to get too excited about it."I fought the urge to throw something at him from across the table. How was it that he was the one throwing inappropriate advances but he was making it seem like I was dying to be with him or something?"Excited? You seem to have gotten the wrong idea. I am mortified. How can you just proposition me like that?"He had the effrontery to sip on his juice like what I was saying didn't remotely concern him."I am not propositioning you."Really? I wasn't deaf. I had heard him loud and clear and now he was trying to gaslight me."You are. You literally just asked me to come up to your room. You can't treat me like a slave and expect me to come up to your room because you are horny and–"He didn't let me finish before he interrupted."Kiara–""Let me f

Kiara's POVMaybe I shouldn't have asked. Maybe I should have just sat quietly and ignored the voice in my head that wanted answers. It would have been smarter.But what Keturah said had pushed me. The way she had said it. And of course, the 'secret' itself had compelled me. I could still hear the liquid fluidity of her voice that was heavy with implicit meanings."You want to hear a secret? Damien and I were expecting once. I was going to bear his heir and be his. Then we were betrayed and I lost the child. You are probably thinking how this is any of your business but consider something."I wasn't thinking it was none of my business. I was thinking how it was possible that both of them shared such a bond and I had been unable to tell. I thought what was between them didn't get any deeper than casual sex. But keeping a child. At least until it was terminated or whatever betrayal meant, was a different ball game entirely. I suddenly felt guilty for all the moments I had shared wit