Godric lifted his left hand and studied his nails.
The situation was truly messed up.
Godric picked at his pinky nail—there was nothing wrong with it—and peered over his shoulder, not a smidge of emotion on his features. Bored.
“Jonathan, why don’t you get some water for that cough.” It was an order.
The coughing guard was Jonathan. White haired and broad shouldered. Damn beautiful in his black uniform as he walked past me and out the door, not arguing with Godric this time. Completely professional.
I motioned with my thumb behind me. “I’m going to head to our quarters, Father.”
He nodded. “I’ll be here. I don’t think this meeting will end anytime soon.”
I nodded in agreement and turned to my fiancé. I made myself speak the words in a calm fashion and lifted my hand in his direction again. “Mr. Moore, it was nice meeting you.”
He tipped down and kissed the top of my hand again, once more lingering too long—as if he had the right to kiss me. An agreement on paper did not give him that right, not in my opinion. “The pleasure was all mine, Ms. Carvene.”
My chest rose as I inhaled deeply and turned the other way. I raised my hand again. “Mr. King.” I didn’t say it was nice meeting him.
The right side of Godric’s lips tipped up in a cocky and sexy smirk, and he bowed over my hand and took it in his own. “It was a pleasure, Ms. Carvene.”
When he kissed the top of my hand, his thumb slid beneath the sweater that had rolled down my arms, hiding my bruised wrists. He pressed hard on the bruise—right at my pulse point.
I didn’t flinch but merely held his stare as he straightened. Asshole. He hadn’t liked my brush-off and told me so in his own way.
I turned to the door, walking toward it.
But I pivoted and marched back to my father.
I tossed my arms around his neck, hugging him close.
He grunted in surprise but quickly enfolded me in his arms. The General wasn’t the best with affection, but he had never denied me a hug. He patted my back and waited until I let go to lower his arms.
His brows rose when I stepped back.
I shrugged. “I love you, Father.”
He blinked. “Poppy, are you really all right?”
“I’m fine. I’m fine. I just wanted a hug before I went to bed.” Before I left you for New City. “That’s all, Father.”
He nodded his head, but concern still shone in his eyes. “Well, goodnight. And I love you too.”
With one last look at him, I left the room.
* * *
Jonathan was trailing me. And there was no damn water in his hands. Godric had sent him outside to follow my whereabouts. He was quickly catching up with me, no longer ‘hiding’ the closer I got to my quarters.
I rounded the last corner and walked faster. The LA guards were just at the end. Only authorized personnel were allowed past that point. I glanced behind me and picked up my pace even more.
Jonathan’s eyes narrowed on the guards, and he began running. He lifted his right arm. “Ms. Carvene! Wait just a moment.”
To hell with that.
The look in his eyes was not of peace talking.
I sprinted to the end of the hallway.
