Page 19 of Cruel Alpha: Season Two

“I’m here to listen,” is all I say before falling silent again.

Her expression twists as she fumes, and I brace myself.

“Your brother is a completeass,” she hisses. “The way he spoke to Guinevere today… I could have actuallykilledhim.”

I’ve only ever seen her anger aimed at me, so seeing it channeled toward someone else is a new experience. And while I would never say it out loud,Angry Annalise…is incredibly fucking sexy.

“She made such a small, insignificant mistake, but with how harshly Dimitri reacted, you would’ve thought she held a knife to his throat. And all this over a broken bottle of wine!” she shouts. “I swear to you, Cas, if he ever talks toeitherof my maidens in that manner again, I’ll?—”

“He’s already been relieved of his duties where you’re concerned.”

For the first time since I entered her room, Annalise glances toward me. “Good. I don’t think I can stand the sight of him. Actually, I don’t think I can doanyof this.”

My brow tenses when her voice suddenly seems much smaller than a moment ago.

“The endless swatches of fabric for my next dress, the planning, being followed andwatched…I had a plan for my life, you know. And it was far more meaningful than organizing elaborate, frivolous parties,” she snaps, and nowIfeel the heat of her anger despite thinking I’d escaped it. “Then, on top ofeverything else, since the incident, no one in this godforsaken place trusts me further than they can throw me.”

It doesn’t take long to realize she’s spiraling. I don’t blame her; it’s been quite a day. When I grip her wrists, she seems startled. She’d been so preoccupied with her thoughts, I don’t think she even noticed when I stood from the chair.

“Who gives a damn iftheytrust you?” I invade her personal space while asking. “Itrust you, and that’s all that fucking matters.”

She’s completely still and silent, holding my gaze. It’s like I can feel the weight she’s carrying, and I’ll do anything within my power to take it away.

“I’ve dealt with Dimitri. I’m replacing him with a trusted ally of the High Chamber. Zara is a very close friend, and I think you’ll like having her around. She’s well-read, kindhearted, and she?—”

“No.”

It’s jarring being cut off midsentence like that, so it takes my words a moment to catch up with my thoughts.

“No?”

Annalise stands firm. “No. The guards I have are enough.”

While her response seems fairly reasonable, the anger behind her eyes does not.

“Am I missing something?”

She takes a step back, crossing both arms over her chest as our gazes lock. “It’s just that I’d rather not have some woman you’ve probably slept with breathing down my neck.”

My mouth opens to speak, but I close it again, because I’m unsure what to evensay to that. Then, when I smirk a little, Annalise doesn’t seem nearly as amused as I am.

“That’swhat this is about?”

She doesn’t respond, maintaining that same mad-at-the-world stance, proving that she’s even more tightly wound than I realized.

“I’ve never slept with Zara. She’s Creed’s twin sister, and I’m not the kind of man who’d betray a friend. Besides, Zara is about the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sistermyself, so…”

Annalise cocks her head a little, studying my face like she isn’t sure I’m being honest, but then her eyes soften, and I know she’s come to her senses. While I’m not a fan of being falsely accused, it’s hard not to be flattered that she cared.

“Since we’re on the subject, have you slept withanyof your female staff?” she huffs, and I have no clue where any of this is coming from.

“No, Annalise.” A laugh slips and she’s still unamused. “Unless you count thatonetime when?—”

She slams my shoulder with her fist, and the laugh I’d fought to control slips out.

“For fuck’s sake! I was joking.”

She shoves me again anyway, then seems to have gotten the violent outburst out of her system, letting me bring her close by her waist. It isn’t often that she allows herself to be vulnerable with me, but this is one of those rare moments, and I do relish them.

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