“How about we all eat lunch together, then? Unless you have a reason to say no to that?” His smug, asshole grin is challenging me.
I want to say no. I want to continue to fight this. But I can’t give Samil any more indication that I want to keep him from Bellamy. Or Bellamy from him. He’d make it his mission to seek her out.
Ignoring Samil, I look down at Zayer, tucked comfortablyagainst my chest, and then over to my little princess, who has been quiet, clinging close to my side. I soften, my tone softening along with me. “Would that be fun? Do you want to eat lunch with the grown-ups?”
“Do I have to eat all your courses?” Sabrina questions. “You eat only grown-up food.”
“Oh no,” Bellamy exclaims, crouching down so she’s Sabrina’s height. “Only grown-up food?” She makes an ick face. “Will you help me then? I’m not sure what I should eat and what I shouldn’t. Grown-up food sounds scary.”
Sabrina leans into her, whispering in her ear, “Don’t eat the lapin. It’s a bunny.”
Bellamy’s eyes widen in outrage. “A bunny? I definitely can’t eat that. I need you to sit beside me and help me out.”
Sabrina nods in earnest, ready to take up that charge. “I’ll help you. They eat the worst stuff.”
“Sounds like it. Thank you, legendary princess.” Bellamy takes Sabrina’s hand, her blue eyes casting up to mine as she offers me a timid smile. “Thank you,” she mouths to me before her gaze flickers over to Samil and back to mine. Relief flashes across her face and through my heart. It stuns me, rendering me momentarily unmovable as it sweeps over me. She’s staring at me as if I just saved her.
Had Samil made her that uncomfortable with his slimy advances? Murderous indignation flares within my chest. Irrationally so, I know this. I tell myself that it’s just him. Samil. A weaselly bastard, I’d have this reaction with any woman in my home he went after.
I tell myself I cared when he aggressively did the same with Nora.
Only I know that’s a lie.
I didn’t care when he went after Nora.
But I do care now.
His hands and eyes feasting on Bellamy makeme rabid. For reasons I don’t comprehend beyond that she’s new to us and young and beautiful and a wiseass and…the nanny. She’s the nanny. The caretaker of my children, and that’s why I hate him touching her. That’s why I have to protect her from him.
That’s the only reason that makes sense. The only acceptable answer there is.
“Then it’s settled. We’ll all dine together.” Samil shifts to the other side of her, walking far too close to her for my blood pressure to tolerate. “How do you like working in the palace?” he asks after a pause while the royal attendant leads us to one of the formal dining rooms down at the end of the hall that’s already set up for lunch.
“So far I like it very much.”
He laughs, brushing back his blond hair from his face. “I find that very hard to believe. You don’t have to pretend for me,mia bella. We all know of the king’s temperament. He’s a monster, is he not? Even on your first day, I have no doubt you’ve been privy to it.”
“Shut up, Samil,” I growl, adjusting Zayer in my arms and giving him a sharp look. “You will watch your mouth and words in my palace and in front of my children.”
Bellamy twitches uncomfortably. “So far I’ve only seen a king who works very hard and a father who adores his children.”
That pulls me up short. She’s defending me to him? Why?
“How diplomatic of you to say so in front of us.” He gestures to the men and women who have reluctantly joined us, no doubt wanting to be as far from the two of us as possible. “Especially after the king speaks to me so. I should hire you to come work for me. I could use a good assistant. A woman of your beauty and intellect should not simply be a nanny in a cursed palace to a cursed family.”
Bellamy gasps, as do the members of parliament.
Fury strikes a match in my blood, igniting everything insideme into a raging inferno. I shuffle Zayer into Bellamy’s arms without warning. She catches him, her eyes going round.
“Get him bandaged up and take him and Sabrina to the breakfast room to dine. You will not be eating with us.”
“Yes, sir,” Bellamy says, adjusting Zayer so he’s on one hip while she holds Sabrina’s hand. “Sabrina, will you show me where the first aid kit is?” Without waiting for her answer, she takes my children away.
The second they’re out of sight, I turn back to the other members of parliament and say, “Please enjoy your lunch. Samil and I will be along shortly.”
With wary glances, they do as they’re told, leaving me alone with my former friend.
“I can see why you hired her. Gorgeous and obedient. Are you fucking her alre?—”
