“Actually,” Amos started, and Clover elbowed him in the gut before he could continue. His hand moved from her hip to band around her middle, pinning her arms to her sides. “Clover is my true mate. Jennifer is only a cover.”
With the exception of Sariah, Ruth, Marcus, Rainer, a woman Clover didn’t know next to Rainer, everyone looked gobsmacked. After a brief pause, the room erupted with questions.
Rainer and the woman with him approached Amos and Clover. “We didn’t agree to tell anyone who Clover was to you yet,” Rainer said.
Amos glowered at Thomas, who stared open jawed. “I improvised.”
Rainer shook his head and the woman stuck out her hand. “I’m Isabella. Rainer’s mate.”
It was Clover’s turn to be surprised. She turned to Rainer. “You found your mate?”
The love in his eyes when he looked at Isabella was unmistakable. “I did.”
“You’re going to be queen?” Marjorie’s little voice shrieked as she ran up to Clover with stars in her eyes.
Clover bent over and put her hands on her knees so she was eye level with the girl. Amos grunted and tugged her skirt down in the back. “I am,” she told Marjorie.
Marjorie peeked shyly up at Amos, then lowered her voice for only Clover to hear. “I want to marry a prince one day, too.”
Clover chuckled. “You’re too young to worry about boys. When I was your age, I was beating Thomas during sparring too. Focus on beating the boys before you worry about kissing them, okay?”
Marjorie’s little mouth turned down into a frown. “I don’t know many boys. Grandma Trinity won’t let me near them when we go to town.”
Clover’s eyes flicked over to Trinity, who’d followed Marjorie over. “That’s because boys can be cruel,” Clover murmured.
“But not all boys are cruel,” the young girl pointed out, her innocence nearly taking Clover’s breath away.
“No,” Clover agreed gently, “but you should assume they are until proven otherwise.”
Marjorie’s brows bent. “Why?”
Clover hated this—hated having to teach children to be on guard around those meant to protect them. “Because not every snake will strike, but enough do that we treat them all with caution.”
She watched the little girl’s mind turn. “Boys are like snakes?”
“Yeah.” Clover swallowed the lump in her throat. “Boys are like snakes.”
“Marjorie,” Trinity said, touching the girl’s shoulder, “say hello to Amos and we’ll leave.”
Clover straightened and moved to the side. Marjorie turned to Amos, who had already removed his hat and gone to a knee with a beaming smile. “How’s my favorite girl today?”
Marjorie practically glowed. “I made you something yesterday.” She dug into her pocket and produced a small rock painted red with black spots. “It’s a ladybug,” she said proudly. “They have them in the Garden Kingdom.”
Amos’ eyes lit up and he gingerly took the present. “I’ve always wanted to go to the Garden Kingdom,” he said,examining the rock. “I’m going to carry this with me everywhere until I get to visit.”
Marjorie practically bounced away with Trinity, and Clover tried not to smile as wide as the little girl. “You have a fan club.”
Amos stood and replaced his hat, pocketing the rock. “Before she experiences our fucked up world, I want her to know that she doesn’t have to accept men treating her like she’s unimportant. Even in the most progressive kingdoms, there are pieces of shit who treat women as less than because they view them as weak.” He tapped his pocket. “If I have to carry around a rock painted like a bug for the rest of my life to show her she deserves more, I will.”
Clover reached for his hand and threaded their fingers together. “I’ll be right beside you as you lead our kingdom toward a future where that knowledge isn’t rare.”
His eyes held her captive, pinning her in place with their intensity. “It won’t be me leading them, Clover. It will be you, with me at your side. Our kingdom needs a strong queen to usher in a new era. I’m just the bloodline that will put you on the throne.”
“He’s right,” Sariah interrupted. “The mate bond gives you legitimacy, but we need a strong woman on the throne. How can we expect women to take back their own power if it’s a man telling them to do so?”
Clover didn’t know what to say. Luckily, she didn’t have to, because Thomas approached them, giving Amos a wide berth. “Hey, Clove.”
“Hey, Tommy,” Clover replied at the same time Amos said, “Clove?”
