Page 137 of Heir of the Beast

“No,” she clips out, looking bored. “Didn’t care enough to notice.”

Laura huffs, pulling her long blond hair to the side. “I am not sure if I’m mad or not. I can’t decide.”

A knock on the door makes us all tense.

Mort and Leenie are gone in a flash.

Laura gets up to go to the door and I hold my breath. I am not sure if I am ready to see Apollo just yet.

I need to get my feelings and emotions in order. I don’t want to see him when I am an emotional mess.

I tense as the door opens, revealing Tarren, clean and shaven. Relief washes over me. He looks handsome, the same dashing Tarren that I thought was a rugged pirate.

I can’t see Laura’s face, but I can tell something is passing between them. My heart is in my chest. He is saying something to her, something I can’t quite make out, though it is not my business.

I turn and pretend to examine my fingernails.

~I’d kill for a mani/pedi.~

I peek over my shoulder and see them embracing, her head buried in his neck. At that moment I smile, a warmth spreading through me like honey.

Laura thought she was falling in love with a cutthroat pirate when it was the noble Tarren in disguise.

I am so happy for her, because truthfully, I was a little nervous about the cutthroat pirate guy being her lover.

Fate knows what it’s doing.

That scenario would probably never repeat itself in a million years.

Tarren lifts his head and glances at me, and I hold my breath. “Tarren,” I say.

He takes Laura’s hand and leads her over to where I am, never taking his gaze from me. Tarren sits in the chair next to the bed and inhales. When he tilts his head at me, he reminds me of Apollo.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

I stare at him.

Tarren nods. “Apollo is cured,” he says carefully, and he glances at Laura then back to me.

“That’s great news,” I breathe, my hands twisting my pale green gown. No matter what I’m feeling, that is wonderful news. It feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders.

“Let me clear some things up for you. Apollo is a very strong man, not easily taken down by a drone’s poison. But it did affect him mentally—profoundly, actually.” He pauses.

“When you both were taken, Apollo was extremely ill, but still able to function on pure stubbornness.

“We found out about Irena’s deception and demanded she tell us what was happening, to put it nicely. It was at that point when Apollo started showing signs of not being himself.”

“The poison,” I say.

Tarren nods. “He would turn dark, not remembering what he did. Blackouts would happen, scaring everyone. That’s when I knew we were racing against the clock.

“Apollo would not break down physically first, but mentally. The beast within was emerging.”

“Oh my,” Laura murmurs. “That actually makes sense. I always thought Apollo was different—supernaturally weird, even.” She shot me a glance. “In a good way.”

I try not to smile.

Tarren leans back in the chair. “Yes, we were all very nervous, not knowing how long we had. So, we faked Apollo’s coma and devised a plan to rescue you both.

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