Page 40 of Mated to the Enemy
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Klaue cursed his awkwardness. Jessica had managed to laugh off Natalia’s comment about the dress, but his big mouth hadn’t made a sound, which was only making things worse. Now Jessica was probably wondering what was going on in his mind that he didn’t brush it aside like it was nothing.
Neither of them had said anything since, and he knew they were both still thinking about it. Why was this so difficult? Either she was his mate, like Kincaid said, or she wasn’t. Klaue found her gorgeous no matter what, and he’d never been so tense around a pretty woman before. What the hell was different about Jess?
She might be a spy.
He hated that, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized it was accurate. Klaue wanted to like Jess. He wanted to feel comfortable around her and be able to talk and flirt openly. But he couldn’t. Not with the secret that she was holding. As long as the truth was still kept from him, Klaue knew he would never be able to truly trust Jessica Hanes. No matter the baser desires he may feel toward her, which were growing stronger by the minute.
It was a growing struggle to contain himself around her, but it was one Klaue knew he would have to keep up. The rest of his House was probably already judging him for being so close to her, but they didn’t know she was his mate.
And damn those judgmental bastards anyway. None of them have at least made an attempt to get to know Jess or even talk to her. They’ve all just given her the cold shoulder, or in Korred’s case, outright hostility.
“So,” Jessica said as they walked back through the maze of hallways and corridors to his quarters.
“Tomorrow will be fun,” he said. “Ursa weddings are always lively affairs. If there’s one thing we know how to do, it’s put on a damn good party.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” Jess said, smiling at him. “I love to dance. I’m absolutely atrocious at it, so I apologize if I crush your feet, but you had better not sit in a chair the entire time.”
Klaue chuckled. “I wouldn’t worry about that. Just worry about following along for the formal dances.”
Jess blanched a little. “The formal dances?”
“Yes. You know, scripted moves and such. After all, you are at theHouse,” he said, waggling his fingers to emphasize the archaic nature of the way he and his family lived.
“Right. Um, are there any youtube videos of these dances? So I can learn ahead of time. I’m not so great with the body control.”
Klaue laughed loudly as they rounded the corner into the hallway that his rooms were off. “Absolutely not. It’s okay, I know how to cheat. We’ll be fine.”
“Um. I’d really rather know them ahead of time,” she protested. “I don’t want to make a fool of myself.”
“You won’t. Half the House doesn’t know them. It’s always a fun time. Trust me, I’ll make you look good.”
Jess giggled, looking up at him through her eyelashes as she blushed slightly. “If you say so.”
“I do.” Klaue’s voice caught in his throat at that sight, and the words came out stilted, sounding far too much like the formal vows he might hear at the wedding tomorrow.
Jess laughed once and looked away. He cursed, waiting for her to look back so he could make a silly face, or do something to defuse the situation, but her attention was focused forward. Klaue frowned as her shoulders stiffened and she stood upright, then followed her gaze.
Taped to his door was a white full-sized envelope with the official insignia of High House Canis on it. Instantly, he knew what was inside. A formal demand from their King, most likely insisting that Jessica be returned to Moonshadow Manor at once. “Post Haste” was the phrase Canis often used.
But that wasn’t the big problem. It was the handwriting scrawled on top of it in big black marker that read,Just send the spy back already!
“Don’t read that,” he growled, the angry sound loud enough to echo down the hallway as he snatched the envelope down, fingers crunching it up into a ball as he took his fury out on the paper. “It’s just some juvenile asshole thinking they’re tough.”
The words were more than likely true, but it was too late, the damage was done and the mood that had been building between the two of them was gone. Jessica retreated inside her secrets, whatever worry it was that dominated her fears coming to the forefront. He could see it on her face, the way it tightened at the reminder of why she was staying with him.
He keyed open the door and pushed it wide for Jessica to enter.
Someone passed by, making a disgusted noise under their breath. Klaue spun.
“What did you say?” he snarled.
The other shifter paused, looking back at him. “I didn’t say anything,” he spat. “I wouldn’t want her to take word back to her masters about more secrets.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Klaue saw Jessica wilt at the accusation of being a spy as yet another chunk of her armor was battered and dented. How much more of this unproven abuse could she take? Klaue decided then that she would no longer shoulder that burden alone. This was his mate, and he would defend her honor until or unless she proved him wrong. That would behisburden to bear.
And this punk was going to carry that message to the other assholes in House Ursa who were judging someone without even talking to her.
