Page 30 of Destined Mate

Pulling a pair of jeans and a teal sweater from my bag, I got dressed. When I was settled, I texted my place of work, informing them of my injury. I couldn’t keep them hanging—if I wasn’t already fired. Then I put the phone in my back pocket.

Downstairs, I smelled four distinct scents: Bodey, Samuel’s musky rain, and two I wasn’t familiar with—a musky vanilla and musky leather.

I’d paused at the bottom of the stairs, considering going back to my room, when Bodey stepped from the dining room into the hallway. He wore jeans and a pale-blue sweater that molded to his chest. His hair hung over his forehead, emphasizing his thick eyelashes and sculpted face.

He smiled, and my heart took off in a gallop.

“Good morning.” He nodded toward the kitchen. “Come in and join us. Mom is cooking breakfast while Dad informs Samuel about everything he needs to know as the future king.”

Even if I’d wanted to say no, I couldn’t. Not to him. My feet moved before I meant them to, heading straight to him.

“Does she have the lamp with her?” Samuel chuckled from the dining room.

I paused, tempted again to turn around and head back upstairs.

Bodey rolled his eyes and stepped forward, grabbing my hand before I could escape. He leaned forward and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “Ignore him. He likes to tease, especially when he’s impressed by someone.”

The world tilted underneath me at his gesture.

“Which isn’t kingly,” Mr. Valor scolded.

We stepped into the area between the kitchen and the dining room, and I found Mr. Valor sitting at the end of the table farthest from me, with Samuel sitting on his right. A cup of coffee sat across from Samuel by what must have been Bodey’s seat.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Valor was at the stove, flipping pancakes with one hand while scrambling eggs with the other. She glanced at me and grinned. “Good morning, Callie. I’m Janet, Bodey’s mom.” She was beautiful and wore a stylish olive sweater and ripped jeans.

Her friendliness caught me off guard. “Morning. Is there something I can do to help?”

“Not a thing.” She turned her focus back to the food. “Everything is almost done. Please, take a seat before the three other advisers get here.”

Bodey gently tugged me to the table. “Come. She doesn’t like help in the kitchen. Even when Jasmine is home from college, she shoos her out. You can sit by me and save me from Jack.” He pulled out the chair next to his.

“Jasmine?” My heart sank. Maybe he had a girlfriend after all.

“My sister.” Bodey gestured to the family picture I’d seen last night.

“Right.” I forced a smile, trying to seem unconcerned.

As I came over, I felt Mr. Valor’s gaze on me. He crossed his arms, his black button-down shirt wrinkling. My skin crawled. When someone paid attention to me like that, it normally didn’t end well for me.

Trusting Bodey, I sat and gritted my teeth, determined not to make a noise.

The entire time, Mr. Valor stared. Once I was settled, he extended his hand. “I’m Michael.”

I reached out to shake it, and my ribs twinged.

“Dad,” Bodey warned.

Michael cringed. “Sorry, I forgot about your injuries.”

“It’s fine.” I dropped my arm, the relief immediate.

As Bodey took his seat, Michael steepled his fingers, placing his elbows on the table, and said, “It’s nice to have you here with us, Callie, though I wish it were under better circumstances.”

I mashed my lips together and nodded, unsure how to respond.

Samuel tugged at the collar of his white shirt.

At least I wasn’t the only uncomfortable one.

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