Playing the docile companion perfectly, Clover bowed her head and turned to leave.
“Stop,” Paul ordered, watching Amos closely before shifting his gaze back to Clover.
Clover stopped and turned gracefully, bowing her head again. “Yes, my lord?”
“What’s your name?” Paul asked, stepping closer.
Amos tutted, and blocked his path. “I don’t allow other men to touch my toys, Paul. You know this.”
To keep up the facade of an arrogant prince in the capital, he kept a woman from the Hydra with him as a pretend mistress, and every time, Paul made a pass at them.
Paul smirked. “I only wanted her name.”
“Enough of this. Who cares what the girl’s name is?” the king interrupted. “Send her on her way. We have more important matters to discuss.”
“Clover?” Vetta said, stepping out of her shop. “Did you forget something?” The woman glanced sideways and did a double take when she saw the king. “Your Grace, I apologize. I did not see you there.” She dipped her head.
Amos’ father ignored her. “Come, son. I don’t want to be here any longer than necessary.”
“Goodbye, Clover,” Paul purred, throwing Amos a knowing look. “I hope to see you again soon.”
Fuck.
Clover turned the corner, sprinting toward the nearest hitching post. The boy watching the horses jumped to his feet as Clover started untying the nearest one.
“Unhand that horse or I’ll call the guards,” he snapped. The boy looked to be no older than fifteen.
She ignored him and threw herself into the saddle. “Tell the owner they can retrieve it from the Ambrose ranch.”
The boy yelled after her, calling for the guards, but she didn’t look back. Clover wasn’t an idiot. She’d seen the calculating way the other man looked at her, and Amos’ reaction alone was enough to tell her she needed to leave.
Her whistle pierced the air the second she burst through the gates of her father’s land. Marcus came riding up from the east, and Ruth ran out the front door of the house. As Clover and Marcus approached the house, they both dismounted.
“What’s going on?” he demanded.
“The king is here.” She breathed deeply, forcing herself to calm down. Amos’ reaction spooked her. “He stopped Amos and me in the market.”
They both swore. “There was another man with them. I didn’t recognize him, but his name is Paul. Amos was worried when the man found out my name.Reallyworried.”
“Godsdammnit,” Marcus growled. “Paul Mallard. He’s been a target of ours, but since we took out his father, he upped his guard detail. If he’s not with the king, he’s escorted by no fewer than two guards. If he fucks a woman, she is strip-searched first. He’s impossible to get to.”
“That doesn’t explain why Amos reacted the way he did.” Clover started to pace. “It wasn’t jealousy or anything like that. It was genuine fear.” She looked at the two. “Amos doesn’t fear anything unless it involves losing me.”
“Paul Mallard is as despicable as they come,” Ruth said. “He’s smart and strategic, and he hates Amos. If he thinks you’re a weakness for the prince, he’ll target you.”
“And he knows your name,” Marcus added grimly. “It’s not a common one.”
“You need to get to the den,” Ruth said, her worried expression heightening Clover’s anxiety. “Amos will come to the ranch when everything is clear.”
There was a riot of emotions barreling down the bond, and Clover knew the best thing she could do for him was stay safe.
“I’m sorry, Jenn,” Amos said, hating his father more than ever. “I tried to convince him to let you stay here, but he insisted you come with me to the capital.”
His father’s visit had been to inform him that he’d be living in the capital now and making a monthly trip to Dragon Village for the sacrifices. He, Jennifer, and Alice were to leave after this month’s sacrifice, next week.
“Bring that mistress of yours if you’d like,”he’d thrown out carelessly.“We all have our favorites.”Amos wanted to kill them right then, but he wasn’t strong enough yet.
Paul staring at Clover, smiling when he learned her name, crawled over Amos’ skin like poisonous roots. He’d observed Paul long enough to know the man would hyperfixate on her until he had her, just to piss Amos off.
