Page 68 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“Mark my words. I saw it from the moment he met her. Elim likes Violet.”

“Hmm, and Chris likes Violet. I wonder how that will turn out,” I replied absentmindedly.

“Wait, what? Chris likes Violet? Since when?”

“I thought you could notice the little hearts over people’s heads?” I teased.

“Chris is like this wall of grunts and silence. He rarely gives anything away,” she defended, crossing her arms and making my eyes gravitate toward her tantalizing chest.

“He’s softer around her. More open. He’s even cracked a joke or two,” I explained, tearing my eyes away from where they were before she noticed.

“Chris? My Chris, cracks jokes?” Bells’ jaw dropped.

“What do you mean ‘your Chris?’” I asked, unable to stop the jealousy I felt at the thought.

I liked the man, a lot, but I would fight him for her if I had to.

“I don’t mean it that way. I used to spend hours planning and trying to make the boy crack a joke or a smile. He was harderto get a reaction from than the guards at Buckingham Palace. It became a challenge for me growing up. He’d never relaxed enough to appreciate my shenanigans. He was always worried about what kind of trouble it might get me in. I think he thought it would reflect poorly on him or something. You really think he likes Violet?”

“Yes. He’d do anything for her.”Just like I would do anything for you.

“I wonder what’ll happen then. I think she might like him, too.”

“He’s good for her and she’s good for him. No offense to Elim, but I’m rooting for Chris and Violet,” I replied.

“I think I might be too, but I feel like I should root for the underdog here.”

“You think Elim is the underdog? Isn’t he related to the Queen of the Vampires? He’s literally royalty. How’s that an underdog?” I asked.

“Hmm, maybe you have a point there.”

We finished talking and I left her office. John met me in the fields, and we talked while we worked.

‘So, you’re leaving in a few days?’

‘Yeah. I’ve got the real estate agents setting up properties left and right. It’s going to be an exhausting three days.’

‘I’d go with you, but I think your princess has enough on her plate without adding our two hundred wolves to it.’

‘Goddess, don’t let her hear you calling her that. She’s bound to kill me in my sleep,’I joked, unable to stop myself from sneaking a peek over to where she was working.

‘Does that mean you’ve finally managed to share her bed?’John asked.

‘If only. She’s either truly not interested or really stubborn.’

‘I mean, she does have a point. It’s different for her as a woman and how the packs view her. And this pack alreadyseems to struggle in the respect category for some reason,’John reminded me.

‘Except I don’t want a conquest,’I sighed, sneaking a glance at where she was now walking toward the grape depository with a basket overloaded with grapes.

‘You really like her,’John mentioned.

‘She’s the only woman I’ve met that I prayed to the Moon Goddess to be mine,’I admitted.‘Is it a shit thing to feel happy her mate died?’

‘A little?’He laughed.‘If your mate hasn’t appeared, do you think maybe you’ll be second-chance mates?’

‘All I know is I’ve never prayed for my mate to be dead instead of hiding somewhere so the Goddess could give Bells to me before.’

‘Shit, you’ve got it bad.’

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