They stared at one another as she waited for him to blow up the rest of their relationship. If she’d been upset about a lie by omission, she’d never forgive him for this.
“Let’s go back to your house, and we’ll talk about it there.” Where her family could back him up. They’d all agreed it was a good idea.
Voice barely a whisper, she said, “Tell me.”
A weight settled on his shoulders, and he begged every god in the heavens to not let this be their end. “Every house mother at the orphanage since Amelia was placed there has been one of Queen Charlotte’s most trusted warriors.” Clover gasped and stepped back. “So is the school teacher,” he added quietly.
Tears slithered down his mate’s face, her lips parted and eyes wide. The bond was on fire, and he needed to hold her, to make her understand.
“Why did you send me?” She already knew, but she needed him to say it. He couldn’t, knowing it would put the final nail in the coffin. “Why?” she screamed, a sob ripping from her chest.
“I needed you far away from my father,” he whispered. “Ruth said you’d never go if you thought it was for your own protection.”
“Ruth?” His mate broke in front of him, her shoulders shaking, head down. “Did everyone know?”
Words wouldn’t form, and Amos could only nod like a coward.
Clover backed further into the cave. “I don’t ever want to see you again.”
“No,” he pleaded. “We can get through this. It was for your safety. Don’t you see? I can’t lose you.”
“You and my family took away my choice,” she sneered. “It wasmychoice to make. Who the fuck are you to manipulate me?”
“I’m your mate!” he roared. “I watched my mother die, and I have a sister who would be murdered if she stepped foot into our kingdom. She doesn’t even know I exist. Almost everyone I love has been taken from me. I couldn’t let them take you too.”
“You think you’re the only one who lost someone to this fucked up kingdom? I watched my mother be raped and killed.” Clover sucked in a sharp breath. “She didn’t fight back. I didn’t tell you that. She didn’t eventryto fight him off. Your mother didn’t get the chance to fight, and Amelia is too naive to survive our world, butI’mnot.Ican fight.Ican defend myself, and you took my decision to stay and fight away from me.”
Uncaring about his pride, he hit his knees. “I’m sorry. You’ll never know how sorry I am. I didn’t think of it like that, but I see now. Don’t leave me, Clover. I’m begging you to not leave me.” His own tears fell. “I don’t know who I’ll be without you.”
She backed up more and whistled. “Don’t write me letters. Don’t send gifts. Don’t even think about me anymore. We’re done. Marry Jennifer for all I care.”
A whooshing sound filled the air and a black dragon landed gracefully behind her.
Amos’ eyes widened and he climbed to his feet, running after her. “Clover, no!”
Without a backward glance, she climbed onto the dragon’s back and disappeared into the den.
10
Clover,
I know you told me not to write. I know every word you said, because I’ve replayed them every day since you left. I’m writing anyway.
I lied because I thought it was the only way to keep you alive. If I had told you the truth, you never would have gone, and at the time, I was stuck in the capital with no way to shield you from my father. You would have stayed, and he would have found you.
You don’t understand what he’s done to me or the things he’s put me through. I couldn’t risk him coming after you behind closed doors because you’d pissed him off. I couldn’t chance him somehow figuring out I’d lied about my mate and searching for the truth. I never saw it as taking away your choice, but I see now that I did.
You said you’d fight back, so come back and fight me.
You can be angry or hate me if you need to, but don’t cut me out like I’m nothing. Don’t pretend what we have doesn’t matter.
Write back. Even if it’s just to tell me to go to hell properly.
Yours,
Amos
Clover,
