Page 19 of Forbidden Desires

The look on SaKura’s face intrigued her. He looked like he’d just been struck by lightning, but then his eyes lit up like he was figuring out a secret.

“She’s an empath?”

“Yes.” It was simple and direct.

“Was she being manipulated by the Tan-ge? Were they targeting her empathic abilities?”

“Yes.”

SaKura closed his eyes and shook his head. “I should have known”

“How could you when you were in a mating frenzy trying to secure your one and only?” It was the reason their kings and queens looked to meet their mates before they ascended to the throne.

“Amelia, I owe you an apology.” She stared at him with her mouth open. Zylar placed his hand under her chin and pressed her mouth closed.

“No, no. I was the one who almost got my cousin killed. I’m so sorry for my actions and no matter who manipulated me, I was still the one doing those despicable things. Tears came, although she was tired of crying.

“I always knew,” Jenna said.

“We always knew,” Bella corrected her sister. They both came into the viewing range. Amelia wasn’t surprised to see them together.

“Amelia, what happened?” Jenna asked.

Yep, that one question started the tears. She felt like Niagara Falls.

“I don’t know. One day, I was perfectly fine. The next day I was engaged in a sinister plan and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break free. I wanted to tell both of you, but the words wouldn’t come. Then I was convinced it was me against you. That you wanted me dead, and I needed to protect myself anyway I could.”

“Jeffrey! I wish I could kill him again,” Jenna shouted.

Amelia shrank back into Zylar.

“Bella and I have been talking about what was going on. The more we talked, the less we believed that you wanted either of us dead. That’s not the Amelia we know or love. Eventually, we reasoned that something must have happened to you. We heard Zylar say you’re an empath. What does that mean?”

Amelia tilted her head to look at Zylar, telling him without words that he was up. He took over telling them about how she could feel emotions around her and that because an empath was sensitive to other emotions without a shield, a species that understood how to reach deep inside their minds could manipulate them. Some Tan-ge could do that.

Zylar stood and placed Amelia on the chair, leaving the room while she talked to her cousins. Soon, the three of them were alone, and they talked through everything that happened, with tears and laughter filling the room. They also dealt with Amelia’s asshole of an extended family and what they wanted her to do. They talked for two hours before they winded down. When she disconnected, she knew that not only was she forgiven, but her cousins also loved her. She could go home again.

Now the butterflies were back for another reason. Was she going to have sex with Zylar and become his mate in more than name only?

Chapter Twelve

Zylar placed his hand in front of him like a gentleman escorting her from the room that was his office into the bedroom. Amelia’s stomach did funny flips, scaring her into thinking she might lose everything she ate. Part of it was fear, but the other part was arousal. Her nipples were tingling, and between her legs was sending up signals that they needed to do this while she could still make some wetness. Although she didn’t think that was going to be a problem with him. She gulped, trying to swallow past her dry throat and mouth.

“Water?”

“Yes, please.” He was a perfect gentleman. She never dated anyone like him. Especially not the ones who had money. They took being a bad boy to heart like it was a mission statement. He walked to the corner and murmured something. A bottle of cold water, perfectly chilled, came out. She knew it was cold the way she liked it because she could see condensation rising from it. Amelia drank it down in one large swallow when he handed it to her.

That was perfect, exactly what was needed. The water calmed her down and helped her to think. She wanted this and him. No one was forcing her, and Zylar wasn’t that kind of male. It wasn’t a revelation, but it was. She’d spent so much time thinking about her cousins. Then she convinced herself, even if she didn’t say it, that they sent him to find her and dispose of the body. Not once had she thought this thing through all the way. This was the male who rushed to deliver a baby. Then he sent her in to make sure that the two women in harm’s way made it out safe and sound, along with the child.

Amelia wasn’t afraid of him and didn’t think he would hurt her. That didn’t mean making out or having sex with big and purple was a hum-drum walk in the park. Not with the way her heart was pounding.

“Mate, you don’t have to. . ..”

“Stop right there, buddy. Please tell me you’re not about to tell me I don’t have to do this. Me, Amelia Astor, a grown-ass woman. You’re not about to tell me what I can and can’t do, are you?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He hid his smile at the spark in her eyes.

“You wouldn’t have a charger for this, would you?” She took out her dead phone. It hadn’t been charged since she’d been on the run. For a while, she was worried about being traced after that. She didn’t care about having it on.”

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