Page 55 of Cold Heir

All of them.

For now.

Forever.

Chapter Nineteen

Julian

The first face I expected to see when I awoke in Corina’s bed wasnotElle’s.

“Good morning, Your highness,” she whispered, holding out a robe for me to take. Her eyes volleyed between a still-sleeping Corina and I, unable to hide how pleased she was to see that we’d spent the night together.

“My apologies for waking you, but an urgent matter has arisen. One I thought it best not to put off until later.”

Stretching beneath Corina’s comforter, I delighted in her warmth beside me, hating that I’d have to leave it behind to tend to whatever business Elle spoke of at the moment. My first thought was that it must have pertained to Roman, possibly that he’d made good on his promise to be less‘diplomatic’in his approach to dealing with my brothers and me.

Elle turned away when I stood from the bed, still naked from act two of the show Corina and I put on for whomever might have been close enough to watch. At the time, there wasn’t even a thought concerning who in neighboring buildings could see. When we kissed, when I touched her, everything and everyone else simply fell away.

Securing the robe I’d been given around my waist, I glanced at the angel who somehow fell into my life as I followed Elle from the room, latching the door behind us.

“What’s this about?” I asked in a low voice, making my way down the hallway toward my own suite, where we could speak at normal volume.

“I’ve heard from your father’s assistant, Jenna, this morning,” Elle informed me. “She stated that Dr. Percival has decided to postpone his visit, indefinitely, but made it clear that he does still intend to check in soon.”

My expression shifted into a somber scowl. “Did he say why he’s decided to put us off?”

It seemed strange, considering that being a part of the bonding process was once high on his list of priorities. Now, I was left to wonder what he could possibly have deemed more important. Besides, waiting would mean several more weeks of nervous anticipation, when all I wanted to do was get it over with already.

“Well, I suppose there’s nothing to do about it but wait,” I stated with a heavy breath.

When Elle lingered, I peered up again. “Is there more?”

A quick nod accompanied a hesitant smile. “It’s the empress,” she began, and that was enough to draw a frustrated sigh from within me.

“I’m listening,” I answered, dropping down into the armchair beside the window.

“Well, she intends to stop in around noon.”

First the news about Percival, and now this.

Mother was a kind woman, yes, but she was also calculative. It wasn’t lost on me that after being gone for weeks, she continued to make her presence scarce, never so much as inquiring about how my brothers and I were adapting, or how Corinaherselfwas coping with her sudden infamy. Yet, now, after so much time passed, she was suddenly interested in stopping by.

What I’d observed the day she returned, also hadn’t been far from my thoughts ever since. She’d found time to purchasetwoharvesting camps while away. Call me crazy for thinking she and Corina—or should I say Blackbird—were likely destined to never see eye-to-eye. Having the two of them under the same roof might as well be the clash of the Titans.

Listen to me, judging Mother as if my own hunger isn’t part of the problem.

I needed blood to survive just like every other Ianite, so it felt hypocritical and counterintuitive to think less of her for dealing in the business that kept me alive. However, it wasn’t lost on me that I was straddling the fence. It seemed my entire life had become one big contradiction, right down to finding out Corina’s true identity, and then going on to spend my entire night with her.

Elle studied my expression, perhaps sensing how troubled I was.

“Should I tell the empress that today doesn’t suit you?”

A laugh slipped out of me. Had she met my mother? She was persistent if nothing else.

“Don’t bother. She’s welcome here anytime.”

Elle nodded. “Very well then. Should I awaken Mistress Corina? Perhaps draw her a bath?”

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