“He’s not my servant.”
The sisters looked at each other and said together, “He’s definitely my servant.”
Maggie shrugged. “You know, in the most kind and loving…”
“... equal and reciprocal way!” Evie finished.
“You two are impossible. I can’t take advantage of Declan like that. He’s not like your guys. It would crush him.”
Right? The words came out, but I knew Declan better than ever now. That wasn’t quite true. Back in this Keep, with my friends, I parroted our old lines without much conviction. But what would I tell them about the Declan I now knew?
Evie smiled. “That’s true. Declan is the most innocent, sweetest shifter alive…”
My cheeks flamed crimson when I thought about how “sweet” he was because he definitelywasn't innocent. Declan hid his bite well.
“But all the more reason to let him help!” Evie chirped.
“I don’t think you’re giving him enough credit,” Maggie said.
“He’s a King. Declan's not sitting around in anticipation of my next request. There are enough burdens on his time.”
Two sets of eyes locked onto me. Neither of them looked to be breathing. The only sound that filled the kitchen was the crackling of the fire.
“A King?” They screeched together.
“He said you were a burden?” A murderous glint entered Evie’s eye.
“No no. He would never say that.” He hadn't said that. Ever. Quite the opposite, in fact. “I told him that.”
Suddenly, as all my emotions flowed back in, I was real angry with myself. I was a strong, independent woman who never backed down on my self-worth for anyone. Explaining it out loud to Maggie and Evie made me sound like an idiot. Declan had loved me all this time. Without reservation or hesitation. I at least had to muster the strength to let him in when he had seen me at my worst and still begged me to stay. The truth sank in slowly, a snowflake on warm skin.
“Fallon. You will not choose a job over love.” Maggie, or maybe Evie, sounded outraged.
My mind started whirring with a million things to do to make this right. I had royally messed this up.
“A mate, actually.”
They both reared back in horror.
“How is he even surviving right now?” Maggie asked. “When Noth finally came for me, he looked like death.”
I threw up my hands. “You're being dramatic. I’ve been gone for all of two hours!”
I had to fix this. Turning someone into a bowl of soup was nothing next to this.
Evie looked like she was about to carry me herself all the way back to Nightfell. “Wow, you really don’t know how this works. Try to talk to him.”
“Through the bond, stupid.” Maggie glared.
I glared right back. My friends had never managed me this hard. I was the glue of the group that kept them from destroying each other. I dispensed advice and I didn't exactly appreciate being at the other end of it. Still, they had been mated to a shifter longer than I had and I couldn't deny I was curious what was happening on Declan's end.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “As stated, I've only been gone for two hours. What am I supposed to say?”
“That you can't live without him,” Evie jumped in.
“That your heart beats for him,” Maggie replied.
Ward’s voice rumbled into the kitchen. “My life unfolded in such brilliance the moment I met you I was blinded, stunned, and perhaps I forgot to tell you, you're my everything.”
