Page 132 of My Five Daddies

“I don’t know how,” I admit. “He’s been surveilling the castle for some time. Maybe he has some blackmail on the head of the network. But either way, it’s him, and we’ll do what we can to fightit.”

“I’m so sorry,” I say to him, suddenly realizing how bad this probably is. “You’re trying to win over your father and to get your crown, but I’m nothelping.”

“No,” he says. “You’rehelping.”

“I’m a distraction. A foreign distraction.” I climb out of bed and walk over to the window. “Why are we even doingthis?”

He stands up slowly. “You know why. I need a wife and a child. You can give meboth.”

“You can get that from someone else. Why me, Nolan?” I stare into his eyes, notunderstanding.

I’m pulling him down. I’m a liability. I’m some foreigner married to a royal in a country that hates foreigners. Of course they’re up in arms. Of course they’re calling me a spy and a whore. What else could we haveexpected?

“It’s you because I want it to be you,” he says sternly. “Stop questioningme.”

“Questioning you?” I laugh at him. “This is serious,Nolan.”

“I know it is. You need to trustme.”

I bite my lower lip, annoyed at the situation. I know it’s not his fault and yet I’m mad at him for choosing me. I seem like such a dumb decision on his part, and I don’t know why he won’t just let me go and find someone bettersuited.

“Let me help at least,” I say. “We can do something to combat this. Release a statement orsomething.”

“We already did,” he says. “There’s nothing you need to do. Just relax here and enjoy thestay.”

I stare at him. “We’re here because of this story, aren’twe?”

He hesitates. “No,” hesays.

“You’re lying.” I shake my head in disbelief. “You think it’s too dangerous back in thecastle.”

“Hazel,” he says. “Please,stop.”

“No, you stop.” I can feel myself getting worked up, but I can’t stop it. “This whole thing is insane. People think I’m some kind of foreign spy and a whore, and you’re supposed to get me pregnant. What the hell am I supposed todo?”

“Hazel.” He steps toward me, but I backaway.

“Just stop, okay? Just stop. I need asecond.”

He nods and watches as I take some deep breaths, trying to calm the panic that I know is swelling inside of me. I can’t lose it right now. I’ve been holding it together throughout this insane situation this whole time, and I can’t let myself suddenly lose it just because they’re calling me a traitor and a spy on top of everything else. It’s just another drop in the already deep bucket, I should befine.

But for some reason, I don’t feel fine. Being in this place suddenly feels dangerous. He clearly took me from the castle because of this story, and I’m betting it’s because he thinks my life is in danger if we stay there. That freaking terrifies me. I didn’t sign up for something that could get mekilled.

Hell, I didn’t know what I was signing up for. I guess I thought it would be a grand adventure. Difficult, once I got pregnant, but I thought I’d work it out. Now I’m realizing how silly I am and stupid and shallow. I thought it would be fun, but this isserious.

This is the future of a country, and I’m right in the middle ofit.

“I just need some time,” I say to himfinally.

“I’ll leave you alone.” He turns toleave.

“Wait, just tell me the truth. We came here to keep me safe, didn’twe?”

He hesitates at the door. “Yes,” he says before leaving and shutting the door behindhim.

I sit back down on the bed and stare at the floor for a few minutes. Finally, I crawl up toward the control panel and turn the damn television off. I don’t need to keep hearing about how I’m a spy and awhore.

At least he told me the truth, so I guess there’s that. But I don’t like the truth. I wish I could go back to a couple of days ago, when I didn’t feel like I was ruining an entire country forever, just because I am who Iam.

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