Page 20 of Reveal Me
“Well, I am a grown ass woman.”
“I know, but you seem… settled. You usually have all this energy bubbling under the surface of your skin. But since you got here, you just seem like… I don’t know, grounded. I’ve alwaysthought of you like a potted plant. But now it seems like your roots are ready to go in the ground.”
I bit at my lower lip. My secret was at the tip of my upper lip. I held on to my tongue, trying not to let it out.
In the past, I’d told Stella and Tori everything. About every guy I went to bed with. But this was the first time I felt… embarrassed.
Not because it was Dion. Because he was my fated mate. Because I was playing this stupid game with him.
I knew that if I told Stella, I’d have to come clean. If I came clean with her, I’d need to come clean with Dion. If I came clean with Dion, would he be relieved that it was me? Or would he be pissed?
My feet itched like I wanted to run. No, that wasn’t my feet. My feet felt like they wanted to stay. Grounded, Stella had called it. She was right. My feet remained firmly planted on the ground. It was my ass that felt ready to hightail it out of there. But I knew, no matter which way I ran, there was no way I’d escape the hot seat.
Dion was going to find out. I was back to wearing my own face. It wasn’t like I could hide any longer. So I might as well tell my bestie and hear the riot act she would read me.
“Stella, you decent?” came Oz’s voice.
“Yeah, I’m out of my dress. The coast is clear.”
“What the fuck is Dion doing in—” Oz came to a halt when he saw me sitting next to Stella.
“He’s not here, but I thought I smelled him, too. Maybe he was with the designer last night.”
But Oz’s gaze stayed fixed on me.
Chapter 14
Dion
Sitting on my throne was the last place I wanted to be. My back ached from the unnatural posture I’d been holding for what felt like hours. I wanted to be anywhere but here, in this cold, impersonal room. I wanted to find Niamh, no matter what face or hair or makeup she’d be hiding behind today. I wanted to tell her that I saw past it all, that I saw her, and I wanted to claim what was mine.
But I had to deal with my duties first.
My fingers ached from the endless paperwork. My mind dulled from reading letters that all sounded the same. My people wanted more food, more shelter, more help. From me.
I had put programs in place, processes, too. But unless I was the one cutting the ribbon or blessing the deal, it didn’t seem to count to them. They wanted all of me or it didn’t matter.
That hadn’t mattered to me. Before her. Before I shared every part of my body and mind with the people I ruled. Now I only wanted to hear one woman’s pleas, one woman’s groans, one woman’s acceptance.
My eyes glazed as the line of courtiers, nobles, and advisors filed past me. I signed petition after petition, blessed babies, made deals, and listened to complaints I couldn’t care less about. I rushed through them, moving faster than I ever had. Normally, I would have relished the attention of my people, enjoying their respect, the way they looked up to me. Today, it felt suffocating.
“You’re in quite a rush, Your Majesty,” a noble from the back commented with a mocking chuckle, raising an eyebrow. “Have an orgy you’re late for?”
A ripple of laughter spread through the room. Normally, I would have made a joke at my expense. I had never felt the need to hide my sexual exploits.
“Or maybe wedding preparations have you in a hurry?” another voice chimed in. A different noble, his face set in a smirk.
“I doubt we’ll see our great king at Lord Oz’s wedding,” another voice piped up, the words wrapped in a chuckle. “Can’t remember the last time our king attended a mating ceremony.”
I was about to call the man out for blasphemy against his sovereign. That wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. I’d attended a number of mating ceremonies.
Well… attended might have been a stretch. Mating ceremonies were prime hunting grounds for women thinking about pairing up. At least during the ceremony. I’d always be sure to be back in time for the cake and cream. I did love cream.
The heavy doors swung open, cutting through the air with a sharp creak. I didn’t need to look up to know who was entering. Only Oz’s boots made that sound against the stone floor.
“I need a word in private with the king.”
I also knew that tone. My best friend was not happy with me. There could only be one reason why.
