Page 101 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

“So, what’s the problem?”

I slam the carrot down on the cutting board, glowering at her. “He’s married! I don’t care who his wife is; I’m not going to be some sleazy homewrecker.”

“Oh.” Kathering leans back, her brows arched. “So, if he divorces her, he stands a chance.”

“That’s not what I said,” I retort.

“That’s what I heard,” she says in a sing-song voice.

“So did I.” Mary walks out of the bathroom, her hair wrapped in a towel. “By the way, why do I have to leave?”

“I would rather you stay, but Jimmy wants to take you out on a date.”

Mary grimaces.

“I can be a third wheel,” Katherine offers. “That way it can be just a friendly dinner.”

“Jimmy doesn’t want to date me,” Mary informs us. “Darian probably told him to get me out of the apartment. Either way, you’re welcome to join us, Kat.”

Mary has known Katherine for over two years. It was hard for the two of them not to get acquainted since Katherine likes coming over and Mary visits me multiple times a year, staying for at least two to three weeks. Healers get a lot of vacation days since they get burned out very easily.

Grateful for the change in topic, I slice the vegetables and coat them with seasoning before tossing them into the oven with the lamb.

Katherine looks at her watch. “Darian will be here soon. Aren’t you going to get changed?”

“What’s wrong with the way I’m dressed?” I look down at my white shirt and loose pants.

“You’re going to let him see you wearing that?” Mary raises a brow. “You look like you just rolled out of bed.”

“He’s here to see Mira, not me.” I frown. “And let him see me like this. Maybe he’ll realize I’m not worth chasing.”

My friends exchange a look.

“Honey…” Katherine leans forward, ready to jump into a lecture about appearances.

I hold up a hand, but before I can speak, Mary scoffs. “Don’t worry, Katherine. She could be covered in those vegetable peels and wearing a sack, and he’d still find her sexy. Just give up, Alice.”

“You know what?” I point my knife at the two of them. “I find it very offensive that my two best friends, instead of supporting me for not wanting to be with a married man, are telling me to go after him.”

Katherine rolls her eyes. “Nobody’s saying have sex with him on this counter as soon as he enters the apartment.”

“Yeah,” Mary agrees. “Wait for the divorce to come through. Jimmy told me that Darian applied for it yesterday morning. Willow has received the papers.”

I go still.

He actually went through with it?

“Maybe Jimmy’s ly—”

“It’s all over the news.”

“It is?” Katherine looks surprised. “How important is Darian that his divorce is being covered on TV?”

Mary and I exchange a look. In the heat of the moment, it seems both of us forgot that Katherine isn’t from our world.

“She’s referring to a local gossip channel in our community back home,” I say quickly.

But Katherine is already peering over Mary’s shoulder at her phone’s screen. There’s an article open on it, and Katherine frowns. “Why does it say, ‘His Majesty’?”

---