Page 67 of The Artist
Belle moved a tiny bit closer to me and I wasn’t sure if she was discreetly offering me support or seeking protection from my father, who was intimidating with the scars from his accident many years ago.
I searched my mother’s eyes and saw a worried expression on her face. Clearing my throat, I spoke up. “Belle and I… we… well, it wasn’t something we planned, it just… ehm…”
“Bullshit.” Thor accused. “If it was one time, we might buy that pile of lies, but you had sexfourtimes.”
My head whipped to Belle. “Youtoldthem?”
Her eyes were teary, and she was fiddling with her necklace.
“Could someone please explain to me what the problem is?” Victor leaned back on his heels and jammed his hands into his pockets. “So what if they had sex? It’s not the end of the world. We’re going home tomorrow, and as far as I can tell, no harm is done.”
“That’s right. It’s not like I raped her. Belle wanted to have sex with me. Right?” I turned to her, encouraging her to confirm that the sex between us had been consensual.
“Yes. It was my suggestion,” she defended me with her nose turned to her feet.
Khan stared at me. “And you think you can have sex with her four times and let her walk away?”
“We always knew it couldn’t be more,” I said, but he snorted.
“If you’re anything like your father you’ll fucking start a war to get her back.”
“Hey, don’t go there!” Magni warned in a gruff voice. “That was before any of them were even born.”
“Yeah, well, right now it feels like history is repeating itself.” Khan walked over to stand in front of Magni. “This is exactly why I insisted on their promising to marry a Northlander. I don’t want an international crisis because they fuck around and get attached. You know just as well as I do that the moment she leaves, he’ll be pining for her.”
“I’m not my father,” I said harshly.
Khan pivoted and glared at me. “You’re exactly like your father. The problem is that you don’t know it.”
“My parents were already married when my dad kidnapped Athena to get my mom back. Belle and I don’t have that sort of relationship. She’s French and they don’t marry.” Even as I said it, I felt a pinch of something stir in my chest.
“That’s right, we don’t. Nor do we overreact to something as natural as sex,” Victor said.
Freya turned to him with annoyance. “No, you live promiscuous lives and sleep with as many as possible. Unlike your preference for sleeping with strangers, we prefer to find one mate and stay with them for a lifetime.”
“Mate.” Victor curled his lip up. “Sounds so animalistic.”
She narrowed her eyes and leaned closer. “Maybe it is, but you wouldn’t know since you never stick around long enough to learn the name of the woman you’re fucking.”
Victor tilted his head. “Is that jealousy I’m detecting?”
That comment made Khan snarl at him. “Do not test me, Victor. No one speaks to my daughter that way.”
“Dad, I can fight my own battles,” Freya said, but Khan wasn’t having it.
“He might be all that back in France, but in this country I’m the sole ruler and I won’t allow this arrogant bastard to disrespect my family.” Pointing to Victor, Khan hissed. “Got it?”
Victor didn’t look half as intimidated as I would have expected. He simply inclined his head signaling that he got the message.
“Maybe Victor has a point,” Pearl said. “Who are we to judge two people who had a consensual relationship for a few nights? I’m sure they were aware that it would never amount to more than sex.”
“Except,… Belle might be pregnant.”
I frowned at Aubri, who had spoken. “No, she’s not. Belle has an implant.”
“Mhmm… that expired a year ago,” Aubri said with an attitude.
It felt like someone was holding my head under water and all I could hear was my beating pulse in my ears.
