Page 74 of Beyond the Winter Kingdom
Sadie looked to Damon for help but he just laughed again. “I actually think it’s a secret. I didn’t know it, and the chef makes a ham hock and pea soup once a fortnight.” Damon leaned back, tilting his head back as he cackled. “Because the stewardess thinks you love it! That’s why she has the chef make it.”
Vareck nodded. “And that is why you can’t say anything. Imelda is the kindest, most gentle, hardworking woman. The castle runs smoothly because of her. She’d be crushed if she knew how much I hated it. I won’t do that to her.”
I rubbed his arm. “That’s really nice of you.”
Sadie grumbled, crossing her arms. “That’s a bullshit secret.”
“That secret would hurt feelings, Sadie. Feelings of someone I care about. That’s not bullshit. But is it what you were looking for? No. Because you weren’t specific.” Sadie narrowed her eyes at him.
“Well played, Your Majesty.” She inclined her chin.
Vareck dipped his chin in return. “It’s my turn, yes? Damon, truth or dare.”
Damon shrugged. “I’ve already been a party to a dare, so I guess I’ll go with truth.”
“Good. I’ve been wondering about something for a while now.” His nephew gestured for him to carry on. “I know you’vesnuck in my chambers and fucked in my bed. I don’t need that answered.” Damon paled, his eyes darting over to my sister quickly before looking back to Vareck. He shook his head slightly, but Vareck either didn’t notice or didn’t care. “How many women did you bring into my room?”
Damon closed his eyes, breathing out. He was miserable. This was the same man I had kidnapped by enticing him while he was already on the way to sleep with another woman. Everyone knew he was a playboy. He didn’t hide it. The only reason he would want that swept under the rug now was because he caught feelings for my sister, and now he would either have to back down and forfeit or give away the answer. Both of which would cause my sister to lose respect for him, if she had any to begin with.
Vareck groaned. “Fucking hell. How many?”
“Sixteen,” he answered softly, opening his eyes and looking at Sadie. She held his gaze for what felt like an eternity before she sniffed once and looked away, taking a drink from the canteen.
“For fuck’s sake, Damon!” Vareck started, but I put my hand on his leg and tried to subtly show him that now wasn’t the time to bring it up. I angled my head over toward my sister and looked again at Vareck with wide eyes, just hoping he could read my mind.
“Vareck, it’s not–”
He held up a hand, cutting Damon off. “That’s enough. I don’t want to hear details.”
Damon’s jaw clenched and cleared his throat. “You’re up, Meera. Truth or dare.”
“Truth.”
“You sure about that?” he asked.
“Oh yeah. I’m not much of a dare kind of girl when I’m playing a game. My job is daring enough.” I thoughtfor a moment before adding, “And I usually play this while drinking, so my uncoordinated ass doesn’t fare well in the dare department.”
“Are you going to accept the mate bond with my uncle?”
Time stopped.
The sound of white noise filled my ears as I tried to swallow the thick lump in my throat. I should say yes. I should know the answer, and it should be yes. Right ... right? I wanted to say yes. Why couldn’t I say it with confidence? Why couldn’t I say it with certainty? I tried to speak, but no words came out. Instead, I just floundered, my lips moving, but no sounds forming a coherent answer. I may as well have been a fish out of water, gasping for air.
“Are you serious right now?” Vareck growled under his breath as he turned his head to look at me. The pain in his eyes was barely masked by pure rage. “This is how you answer? With nothing? No words at all?”
“Vareck, I—” My voice broke as I tried to hold back tears. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to say. I ...”
“You said you were trying. But I guess that was a lie?”
I felt like I had been slapped, but then my own anger surged forward. “What? You’re accusing me of lying? Are you high? I am trying! I thought we were on the same page! Or did you just pretend like we were so we could fuck around in our dreams?”
“I would think you know me better than that.”
“Right now I’m not sure I know you at all.”
“Are you going to accept the mate bond or not, Meera?”
“Why are you pressuring me?”
