I nod, biting my lip and unsure if I agree, before turning away. I hurry to the door and pause for only a moment before it opens on its own. I assume that’s Lady’s doing.
He’s waiting in the hall. Mass is leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, a stormy glare on his face. I step out toward him, shaking slightly. I wish I didn’t have Rosie right now.
The door closes behind me.
We stare at each other. There’s so much between us now. Too many secrets. None of them are good. I could scream from all the pressure I feel burning in my chest.
“Is that why you took me home that night? Don’t lie to me, Mass.”
He shakes his head slowly. “That was never part of the plan.”
“But you knew I was his granddaughter. You knew my grandfather was a Dragon.”
“Yes. I knew.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“How was I supposed to? Elias shouldn’t be here.”
“It’s possible to know who his family is without hiding him inside your freaking fortress.” I hug Rosie tighter but force myself to stay calm. “Is that why you did it? Because I have an important grandfather?”
“Did what?”
“Got me pregnant. Married me.”
His eyebrows raise. “You think I got you pregnant on purpose?”
“I don’t know!” Rosie pushes back against me, and I put her down. She teeters on the carpet, crawling a few feet away. I follow her a little but refuse to turn my back on Mass. “I feel like you’ve been keeping things from me this whole time.”
“I have,” he admits, which doesn’t help at all. “But only because they’re important secrets, and I didn’t know if I could trust you yet.”
“He’s my grandfather!”
“Yes, but he’s also a Dragon, and you barely know him. What if I was wrong about you? What if Medved had gotten to you first?”
“That’s insane!” I stare at him in outrage. “I didn’t even know Medved existed until recently.”
“But I had to be sure. Elias is important. If he dies, his position opens, and Medved or a man like him might take control of it. I can’t let that happen.”
“This is too much.” I back away from him, my head spinning. “I need time to process.”
“Your grandfather doesn’t change anything,” he says as I grab Rosie again and lift her up. My arms are tired from hefting her around. “You’re my wife. That’s my daughter. Nothing changes.”
“Everything does. You kept this from me, Mass. How do I know you didn’t marry me just so you could take over my grandfather’s empire?”
He flinches back like I slapped him in the face. But is the idea really so absurd? He saved Elias from Medved, but eventuallymy grandfather is going to die. When that happens, someone has to take over.
Why not Mass? Why not become the most powerful Dragon there ever was and control two of the five positions?
Maybe that’s been his plan from the start.
I turn and hurry off. I feel Mass staring after me, but he doesn’t call out. I feel sick and exhausted, and I’m not sure how much longer I can take this.
Too many surprises. Too many lies.
But I’m the granddaughter of a Dragon, and that means I have to be strong. At least for my own baby girl’s sake.
ALLIE
