Page 42 of The Champion
“No, but it’s so tragic that I have to laugh or cry. I’ve never felt a stronger connection to anyone in the world and then destiny is cruel enough to have us live in different countries.”
Freya thought about it. “Even if I had been French, it would have made no difference. Our relationship would still have been banned. It’s not natural and I’ll bet there are more secret couples here than anyone realizes.”
Telling her she was wrong had been easier before I understood the difference between having sex and making love. I still hadn’t uttered everything that was in my heart, but I was sure Freya felt it when we were together.
“To answer your question, I feel like we’ve had a weird type of long-distance relationship for the past eight years. I want more than that.”
I looked down. “Yes, you deserve more.”
“So do you, Victor.”
We were in a public place so I couldn’t touch her, and I suddenly became aware of how many people were looking in our direction.
“Shoot, what time is it?” Freya asked. “I promised the Polo family that I would go sight-seeing with them today. We’re getting a drone ride to one of the clean areas outside the safe zone.”
“I can’t go with you. I have a meeting with members of the parliament.”
“Good, because you weren’t invited anyway. It’s just the five of us and someone Aubri thinks would be a great fit for me.”
I swallowed the last bite of ice cream. “What are you talking about?”
“One of the Explorers is a pure-blooded Northlander who is on my father’s list of potential partners for me. Aubri set up the meeting.”
“Why are you telling me that?”
“Because you French don’t get jealous. In fact, you wouldn’t mind if I slept with him, would you?”
I felt like swallowing my own tongue before admitting that I hated the thought of Freya being with another man. “Sure. Suit yourself but do me the favor of letting me know if you stay the night at his place. It will give me an opportunity for some variety. I’ve rejected too many women lately. We wouldn’t want rumors that we are sleeping together to spread so it’s probably best if I meet up with a few of them.”
Freya got up and brushed grass off her pants before she walked off without a word. Running after her would send a wrong signal to everyone watching so I stayed and pretended that I wasn’t bothered by her storming off. The scary thing was that it frightened the hell out of me.
I had introduced Freya to her sensuality and there was no way she would be satisfied living in celibacy waiting for our yearly summit that lasted one week. With me unable to give her the family she wanted, she would find someone else, and this Explorer might be the lucky man.
Just thinking about it made me tear off grass and pick it into a hundred pieces before I got up.
I’m not some primitive Nman who gets jealous. She is free to do as she pleases and so am I.
Yeah, but what good is that freedom when all I want is to be close to her?
Careful. You’re falling too deep. You’d better pull back or she’ll leave you a wreck.
The warnings sounded like those of my ancestors. There was a reason they had banned romantic relationships. They had witnessed the level of madness that came with love. I had a feeling I was just scratching the surface and thought back to the time I asked Banni if loving Sparrow was worth moving to the Northlands for. He hadn’t hesitated when he said “Yes.”
But Freya and I were different from Banni and Sparrow. I could never see myself leaving Europe. Not when so many were depending on me here.
I wasn’t in the mood to be polite, so I ignored the people trying to get my attention. All I could think about was the fact that the woman I loved was about to meet a potential husband.
CHAPTER 11
Ada’s Crush
Freya
I had lied to Victor.
Aubri never set me up with Shiva to marry him. It was seeing Marie flirt with Victor so shamelessly that made me sick with jealousy and petty enough to lie.
If Victor had been an Nman, he would have respected me enough to ask her to stop. French people didn’t understand the pain of jealousy and it was doubtful my lie would affect Victor, but it helped me balance things between us.
