That was when the tears came, and I knew she’d convinced herself she would have me again. Her feelings were back.
Without any notice, she draped herself over me and wept into my shoulder. “You can’t say that.”
As I was trying to disentangle myself, there was yet another soft knock at my office door.
“I see you two have worked things out.” My mother’s shrill tone echoed through my private chamber. She strutted into my quarters like a peacock, fluffing her feathers.
“We have not,” I said a bit gruffly, extricating myself from Emelee’s grasp.
“Well, that simply won’t do. Will it, Em? We have new plans for Blake, and they are perfect.” My mother addressed Emelee as if she hadn’t just banished her from my life. Then she glared at me. “I made a mistake. You were promised to Emelee, and I thought it was because of what you learned about her condition that you didn’t want to pursue the relationship. But I was wrong. Those silly rumors about you and Tuvy are all I thought they were, rumors. Why would I believe you would tangle yourself up with the one person you are forbidden to? I was also wronged—and Emelee can’t be blamed for something that isn’t her fault. She will love Blake as her own. With that magic she has, you’ll be able to hone her.”
Emelee tag-teamed with my mother and stated, “We can fix us, and make it right.”
She threw her arm around my neck in a dramatic way and clung to me again, making me want to shoo her off, especially when Tulya showed up in my doorway breathless.
She’d never been to my area of the house before, and I presumed the housekeeping staff had let her in and showed her the way. I took in her chest rapidly rising and falling.
“Donovan,” she choked out, her eyes scanning the scene before her.
“Tulya, what is it?” This time I did wrestle free of Emelee and walk straight toward the woman who held my heart. “What happened?” I didn’t know why, but I grabbed her weakened hand and held it tightly, absorbing the tremor running through it.
“My mom… She said…this,” was all she got out. Her eyes zipped around the room, taking in the scene in front of her.
“Donovan, you heard your mother. You’re promised to me,” Emelee said, slinking up to my side.
“You’re not. I’m my own man,” was my response, to which she started crying.
“Ceci, you said—”
“Maybe I should leave?”
My grip on Tulya’s hand tightened. “No, you’re the only one not leaving,” I said.
Granted, this wasn’t how I imagined Tulya’s first time in my space. I had to temper my thoughts; I would show her around later after I dealt with this fiasco.
“Mother, listen. I made a mistake in siding with you against Magnum. He should love who he wants. Our family’s legacy will still go on. Look at Blake—she has greater powers than most. The House of Malachite prevails no matter what. We are stronger than this.”
She looked like I’d put a gun to her temple. “You don’t believe such a thing.”
“I do, and I should have a choice too. I want Tulya for me, and she picks me. We are good together, better than good. Amazing.”
“You will do no such thing. The woman who cares for you is by your side.” She motioned toward Emelee who was still clinging to me. “Tsk, Tulya, you know you can’t. I always told your mom she babied you.”
I shook my head. “Tulya, I need you to take Emelee’s feelings away. I know I shouldn’t ask, but I need this all to be done with her. She’s confused by my mother’s words and has fallen for me all over again. But I’m not Ceci’s to promise to anyone.”
Emelee started backing away, but Tulya stepped forward, letting go of her connection with me. She brought her stronghand in the air and was close to Emelee’s cheek when the room darkened, the lights dimming in the Minister’s presence.
Looking up, I found he and Ezza had joined our miserable party.
“I will have you know I did no such thing,” Ezza told my mother with a glare. “I heard you, and I did not baby Tulya. She is at my disposal.”
A small gasp left Tulya’s mouth, and it wound its way up my spine, making my chest rage with anger.
“Emelee is with Donovan, and you’re to back away,” Ezza said to her daughter.
“She will not,” I barked back.
“Tulya! You will do as I say.”
