“I’ll have them sent to your room,” Khan continues, and I narrow my eyes at him. Sometimes I wonder if he’s on Krav’s side. “If the demon asks, I will tell him the gifts were delivered, but nothing more.”
“Thank you.” It’s a compromise, I guess. But I hate the thought of the items in my room, smelling like him, a constant reminder…
“Now, if you’ll excuse us, I need a private word with my mate.” He turns to Emma, his hand sliding possessively around the nape of her neck. Emma sucks in a breath, drinking in his scent. Her eyelashes flutter. Khan smells nice, but not delicious. Not like my favorite blend of smoky whisky and chocolate.
“Of course,” I say, scurrying for the door. Khan’s been away a lot lately but it’s clear he’s going to make up for it today.
It’s okay; I’m happy for Emma. At least one of us is getting sexed up by her Alpha.
Not that I’m missing mine. It’s just that he gave me the best orgasms of my life…
I turn down the hall and slow my steps. The platform full of gifts floats just behind me, following me to my room. I’m careful to stay in front of it, avoiding Krav’s scent.
Maybe I do miss more than the orgasms.
But it doesn’t matter how much I miss him. What I told Emma was the truth: Krav sending me these gifts doesn’t make a difference. This is not new proof he’s grown capable of love. Possessions are his thing, and he always gave me anything I wanted—for my material comfort.
Nothing’s changed, and as things stand, being with him would break my heart. Unrequited love is the worst, and not even the best sex in the world can make up for it.
That’s what I tell myself when I lie awake at night. Forgiving Krav and moving back to Pyreda would just mean dooming myself to a shallow relationship without the love and respect I crave from him. The hollow ache of sleeping alone. The uncertainty of how he’ll react when I ask him questions he doesn’t like. The frustration of watching him follow in his father’s footsteps when his kingdom—hispeople—deserve so much more.
I don’t want any part of that. The old Renee might have stayed and tried to make things work, sacrificing herself and her needs for too long, but I’ve come a long way since then.
Going through my divorce was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but at least it taught me self-respect. That you need to teach people how to treat you. And if they don’t want to learn, you GTFO.
The only option I have is to stay busy so I don’t think of him. Luckily, I have a girls’ night to prepare for. After all, the margaritas ain’t gonna mix themselves.
Seventeen
Krav
After an entire dayof waiting to hear back from Altrim, I reach out to Khan. He made it clear Renee has no desire to see me, but he cannot decline my calls forever, so I will keep trying regardless of how much it annoys him.
As far as I’m concerned, annoying him is a bonus.
I press the button, the orb pulses with light, and the Wanderer’s grumpy face appears. “What is it now?”
“Did she receive the gifts?”
“Yes.”
“What did she think of them?”
“If she wanted you to know, she’d tell you herself.”
If I punch the orb, it will shatter. Khan would remain unscathed. Still, it would be satisfying.
Not as satisfying as flying to Altrim and ripping the guts out of their space-faring ships. How powerful would the Wanderer King be without his armada of flying vessels?
But I will not compromise the safety of my Omega. Should theChitin—or anyone else—attack, Khan would need his ships to protect his kingdom.
Nothing matters, as long as Renee is safe. She may have left me, but she’s constantly foremost in my thoughts.
“Demon, your gifts are not necessary.” Khan sounds irritated. “We are providing Renee with everything she needs. Did you think we would not?”
My tail thumps the rug behind my chair. Of course I assumed Khan would provide basic hospitality—food and shelter—for Renee. But he and his queen do not know my Omega like I do. They don’t know how cold her hands get. How she presses them to my chest to warm them. That she adoreshimajuice. Altrim has a temperate clime, not prone to extremes like Pyreda, but still… “She is fragile,” I insist.She is precious.
“She can also take care of herself.”
