Page 42 of Mated to the Enemy
Jessica slowly nodded, her eyes fixed on something off to the side that only she could see. “Klaue.”
“Yes?” He tried to keep his voice calm, sensing something was happening.
Her words came hesitantly. Cautiously. “I…didn’tdoanything.”
Immediately, he clamped down on all emotions, not wanting to let anything sneak through that could scare her or startle Jessica. This had to be difficult enough for her, if the slowness with which she spoke was anything to go by. Whatever was going on, it was big, and he needed to ensure she trusted him fully before she finally told him.
“I understand,” he said once it was clear she wasn’t about to spill the rest of the beans.
Things were going to take time. Whatever it was that Jessica knew, it was big enough that House Canis would openly side with a rogue mage in an attempt to get her back, or kill her. It bothered Klaue that the wolves could be so brazen about it too. Before the uprising, if they’d tried something like that, Ursa and the other minor Houses would have come down on them like a load of bricks.
But Canis was in power now, and they were clearly willing to use any means necessary to keep it that way.
Still, this was progress. She’d opened up to him some more. In time, he felt confident she would trust him enough to share, and then they could figure out a way to deal with it. Together.
Klaue wondered if it had something to do with her sister. He didn’t dare bring it up, because that could cause Jess to clam up even further, but that would make a lot of sense. If her sister was in danger, or would be in danger if she shared the secret, then it would take a lot for Jessica to open up to him.
“Hungry?” he asked as his stomach growled, deciding to change the subject, and to try and put her more at ease for the time being.
“Fucking starving,” she said with a little laugh.
It wasn’t much, but it was enough.
“Alright, I’ll ring up the kitchen. We’ll eat in tonight and go to bed early so you can get over to Natalia’s rooms. How does that sound?”
“Delightful,” she agreed.
Klaue made the arrangements and then relaxed. The evening would be easy. He could make it through that without doing anything to worsen the situation. Now, if he could only say the same for the wedding.
Things were about to getveryinteresting in House Ursa.
