My jaw dropped in shock when she turned and I saw her swollen red eyes and nose. “What happened?” I quickly moved towards her, stopping before pulling her into a hug but getting close.
“What do you mean? I’ve been crying. What do youthinkI’ve been doing?” She snarked, and her mouth twisted.
Just as I was about to caress her cheek, her despondent gaze gave me pause. She had the right to be upset, but it appeared there was more to the situation.
I could sense the pain radiating from her, as if her heart had been broken into a million pieces, and I was the cause.
“Grace, I’m sorry...”
Her eyes, filled with pain, locked onto mine, cutting off my apology.
“Why did you have Orin tell me about your father’s passing? Why didn’tyoutell me?” She rubbed her hands down her sides, then balled them into fists.
Her voice trembled as she continued, “I never thought you would do something like that to me. You abandoned me, like everyone else I’ve ever loved.” She turned away, muttering sadly. “Because of you, I’ve spent days with my head filled with all sorts of messed up thoughts.
A lump formed in my throat, and I forced myself to swallow it down.Loved? Does she not care about me anymore?My lips curved downward and my shoulders sagged. Grace was correct. It should have been me who told her. Sending Orin was a mistake. It was my fault that I pushed her away.I need to rectify this.
With a gentle touch to her arm, I turned her to face me. “Grace, I will never abandon you. You are the center of my universe and you are everything I could have ever wanted in a mate. I promise not to abandon you.” With a frown, I continued. “So much has happened since the initial message from the royal advisors. I needed time to sort through things before I explained-”
Her arms were folded and frown lines appeared at the corners of her mouth.
“That’s the other thing,” she snapped. “Why didn’t you tell me you are the Prince of Alara? Don’t you think I should have known that?” Her voice was tight, as if she was struggling not to cry.
I held her and felt her tense up, but I knew she was more wounded than angry. “You deserved better.”
She hugged me tightly and buried her head in my chest. I provided solace by rubbing her back in calming circles while she quietly wept.
“I’m sorry for the pain I caused you, Grace. It was never my plan.” With each stroke of my hand through her hair, her sobs grew quieter. I could feel the vibrations of her voice, but it was muffled against my chest. “I’m sorry about your father,” she said with a sympathetic tone. When she stepped back and looked up at me, my heart ached knowing the hurt I’d caused her.
But I still needed to explain why I’d done what I did.“Because of who I am, I keep my identity a secret when on away missions. It is for the safety of the Empire, since I am the only heir to the throne now. By not telling you, I thought I was protecting you.”
Now that I said it out loud I realized how foolish it sounded. Not telling her was a mistake, despite my reasoning behind it.
She wrung her hands together, looking insecure. “Trex, you should have trusted me. As your mate, don’t you think I deserved to know the truth?”
I stroked her head. “I do trust you and have been truthful about everything. Except this.”
I frowned, hesitating to confess the real reason, but didn’t want to keep anything else from her. She deserved to know the truth.
Leaning back, I looked down at Grace. “The thing is, I wasn’t sure you would want to be with me if you knew who I was.”
Grace shook her head, releasing a sad groan. “Oh Trex, how can you think that, after everything we talked about?” Her voice was soft and filled with compassion.
I grimaced and shrugged.
She put her hand on my chest. “What matters is how youtreatme. Who youareis not important.” Her hand sent warmth through my skin and caused my mating marks to heat up. “No matter your title - Prince, King, or Captain - my feelings for you won’t change.”
Grace’s words were a balm that knitted my broken pieces back together. The gods chose well when they made her for me.
With a croaked voice, she added. “It seems we have to have an extended conversation. There should be no more secrets between us.”
A grin spread across my face as I touched her cheek with my thumb. “I’m aware that there have been many changes for you in a short period. There is nothing more I am keeping from you.”
I placed both hands to her cheeks. “Allow me to clarify that my feelings for you haven’t changed. They have become even stronger. I still hope you’ll accept me as your K’sha. I desire to be with you.”
She tilted her head and eyed me, flicking both brows toward her hairline. “As a Prince, don’t you have to marry a Princess or something?” She tilted her head back and forth. “I mean, you are going to be a King soon.”
Was she joking, or did she really doubt my intentions?
