Page 49 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate

“That’s better.”

My muscles relaxed as I leaned into another round of “tea” served by my daughter. This father thing wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be if it were that easy to talk to Sydney about hard stuff. Besides, that hard stuff was in the past now. I didn’t have to worry about it much longer.

“Other things to do, eh?” My heart sank as Robyn sidled into the room carrying a mug. “Sounds like you were pretty busy.”

That sounded like bitter sarcasm. I wanted to get mad about it, but I knew I was in the wrong here. Like I had just said to my daughter, I hadn’t been the best dad ever.

And that meant I hadn’t been the best mate ever, either.

“How was your nap, Darling?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Try again.”

“Sweetie pie? Princess?”

Sydney nodded with glee. “Yes! Mommy is a princess!”

All the irritation in the world couldn’t hide that rosy hue to Robyn’s cheeks as she ducked her mouth behind her mug. “Yeah, I guess that’s technically accurate.”

“Right, you’re a princess,” I agreed while standing up, “and that means you deserve the royal treatment.” I stepped around the play table that I had been crouched at with my daughter and approached my mate. I gave her my deepest bow.“Please, Your Majesty, forgive my absence. I’m at your service now.”

I heard my daughter clap her hands. “Mommy, you have to get a sword!”

Excited feet pattered over the carpet to the other side of the room, where I heard the toy chest get flung open. Some rustling erupted next, and then I listened to my daughter enthusiastically jog toward us.

I watched her out of the corner of my eye as she lifted a plastic short sword with both hands. “Mommy, you have to forgive the knight. Pretty please?”

“Pretty please, doesn’t make up for three years of being a ghost.”

Sydney sighed. “Daddy is here now. Please?”

I dared to glance skyward, recognizing that uneasy look on Robyn’s face that I was just wearing about five minutes prior. Being a parent was hard stuff. I couldn’t imagine doing this by myself for any extended period.

Robyn cast me a hesitant glance as she accepted the sword from her daughter. She straightened her stance, put on a fierce and regal grin, and placed the bladed end of the sword on my left shoulder.

“Sir Clifton,” she stated as though speaking loud enough for an auditorium to hear her, “you’ve been brought before these two princesses to be judged for your actions. Do you have any last words?”

“Is this an execution?”

Sydney laughed dramatically. “You have to tell the Mommy Princess you’re sorry if you want to keep your head, Sir Knight!”

I laughed nervously. “Wait, I thought you wanted Mommy to forgive me and—”

Robyn raised the sword. “Last words?”

I stared up at her with my hands folded in a prayer position. “Just that I love you, Princess, and I will do everything in my afterlife to make it up to you.”

She lowered the sword to my shoulder again and sighed. “Did you just say that you love me?”

I grinned. “Did I? I’m not sure I said that exactly.”

“Mm, I think you did.”

“Ah, then I must have if you think so, Princess.” I winked. “I’m at your mercy.”

A smile spread slowly over her luscious lips, one that made my heart soar. “I suppose I can forgive you for now,” she teased, “if you truly love me.”

Sydney pumped her hands in the air. “Yay! Love wins! Mommy, love wins!”

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