“Before I knew that I could be with you, that’s what I’d hoped you would do,” I admitted. “I wouldn’t have liked it. I would’ve hated it—loathed every second of it—but it was the right—”
“You can believe all you want that it was the right thing to do. Maybe on a superficial level, it was, but our child changes that. Keeping that knowledge from me was never the right thing. Not when you love me. Not when you know I love you.” He turned, his body stiff. “And the worst part of this is the fact that you really believed I would move on. That I could just happily go and marry someone else.”
“I didn’t think you’d do that happily.”
“But you told Tanner to do whatever was necessary to make sure I married a fae,” he shot back, and I stiffened. “Yes, he told me how the woman I love conspired with others to make sure I ended up with someone else while she was carrying my child.”
It felt like my heart had stopped. “I didn’t conspire. It wasn’t like that. I couldn’t risk the whole world. Not when our child would have to grow up in it.” My hand went to my stomach. “What I was trying to do doesn’t change that I love you, Caden.”
“But you didn’t love me enough to fight for me, did you? You didn’t love me enough to trust that things would be okay.” Hisjaw hardened. “And you sure as fuck didn’t respect me enough to tell me about our child.”
“Caden—” I started, but the door opened then, revealing Luce. “Can you give us a moment?”
“I don’t think so.” Luce was rocking one hell of a no-nonsense tone and expression. “I’ve been monitoring Brighton’s heart rate and blood pressure remotely, and I apologize, my King. I know you two have a lot to discuss, but we need to keep her heart rate and pressure stable.”
“I’m fine.”
“This is not keeping her stable,” Luce continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “And so soon after everything, this could threaten the pregnancy.”
“You’re right.” Caden folded his arms. “When do you think it will be safe to move her?”
“I think tomorrow will be fine, as long as her stats remain stable, and she’s kept as…” She glanced over at me. “Stress-free as possible.”
“She will be,” barked Caden, and I raised my brows. “I don’t want her here for one second longer than necessary.”
“Understood.”
Caden turned to me. “When we leave tomorrow, you’ll be coming home with me.”
“To your apartment?”
“No. To a place very few are aware of,” he said. “And do not argue with me about this and cause yourself unnecessary stress. Your house is not suitable.”
Too much was happening, and strangely, my brain focused on that statement. “Why is it not suitable?”
“Because too many people know where to find you, and I cannot possibly begin to secure the house,” he replied, turning back to Luce. “Notify me the moment you leave here.”
She nodded.
There was no way he was leaving. “Where are you going?”
Caden didn’t answer. He simply turned around and left the room, closing the door behind him without answering my question.
Without so much as looking at me.
Chapter 59
“He hates me.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Tink patted my arm. He’d followed Luce in, advising that he was on the approved visitation list.
In other words, he was allowed to see me.
I had a feeling that Caden had prohibited everyone else from getting close to me, which was understandable. But Tanner and Faye? Kalen? Ren and Ivy? Fabian? They were the only ones I trusted, but apparently, Caden was taking no chances.
While that should give me some relief because it meant that he still cared, I had a sinking feeling that he was more worried about the baby.
After all, according to him, I wasn’t all that easy to kill. Or whatever.
