Page 32 of Foretold

“But you still got her pregnant,” I point out, arching my brow.

He nods slowly. “She was taking the contraceptive herbs, and apparently, she had forgotten.”

“Is that why you offered to take them with us? You didn’t trust me to?” I ask him, frowning. Did he think I’d trick him, too, like she did? Because there is no doubt in my mind, she tried to trap him.

“Astrid,” he growls out, a muscle working in his jaw. “I said I’d take them so you didn’t have to worry about it. If you wanted a child, I’d give you one right now. You said you wanted to wait, so we’re going to wait. All you have to do is ask, and I will make it happen.”

“Anything I want?” I ask.

“Anything,” he replies, icy-blue eyes scanning my face. “If you wanted the fucking moon, I would get it for you.”

Thinking over his words, I press further. “When did you fuck her last?”

His throat works as he swallows. “A few months before you strolled into the palace gardens.”

“I see,” I reply, the thought of him being with another woman making my skin crawl. “Do you love her?”

His eyes flash. “No, I don’t. I care about her as my son’s mother. I respect her and probably let her get away with far too much for that reason, but I don’t love her, no. I’ve never felt for another woman what I feel for you.”

“And who have you fucked between her and me? Because I know you haven’t been alone for a few months.”

There’s no way, and I want to know if the rumors I heard were true.

His jaw tightens. “No one who will be an issue.”

“So, you did fuck around the entire eight kingdoms?” I ask, my eyes narrowing.

“No, but I didn’t go without. Anyone before you doesn’t matter, Astrid. My life is in two parts… before you and after you. And be on my ass for anything that happens after I met you, but don’t hold the before against me,” he replies, his eyes almost pleading with me. “I didn’t know it would be like this. I had no fucking idea, or I would have just waited for you.”

My eyes widen as I process that.

“Now I have a question for you,” he continues.

“What?” I ask, biting the inside of my cheek.

“Has Bane made a move on you? Tried to kiss you?” he asks through clenched teeth. “I’ve seen how he looks at you. It’s the same way August does. And I don’t fucking like it.”

Something in his tone warns me to tread very carefully.

“And how do you look at me then?”

“I look at you like you are my fucking heart, and they look at you like you are water, and they are dying of thirst. Like you cansave them from this miserable immortal existence and give their life some meaning. But for me, you aren’t just water. You are the whole fucking ocean and mine to love and protect. Now answer my question.”

Love and protect?

I want to remind him of his lies and throw those words in his face, but I bite my tongue instead.

“No, he hasn’t,” I reply, my brow furrowing. “Bane has been nothing but a gentleman to me.”

“If it wouldn’t upset you, I would fucking destroy him,” he mutters, pulling me against his hard body.

“You fucked up, Rave. There’s no point blaming anyone else. You don’t get to threaten the people who have come to support me when you’re the one who hurt m-me,” I say, my voice cracking a little.

“You don’t think I know that?” he says into my hair. “Trust me, I do. I know I’m the one who ruined everything, but I will also be the one to fix it.”

He says it like an oath.

“How do you fix the ocean you’ve poisoned, Rave?” I ask in a soft tone, and his breath hitches.

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