Page 44 of Surrender
“But aren’t you angry I lied to you? For months?” Tears glittered in her eyes and she inhaled a shuddering breath. She wrapped her arms around herself and lowered her head.
“Iwasangry,” he said. “I was furious, even.” He paused, carefully considering his next words. “The truth is, I have never felt more betrayed.” He made sure to keep his voice gentle, not wishing to sound as though he were scolding her. “I have grown to care for you, Fiona. I still care for you.” His words hung heavily in the air and he held his breath, impatiently awaiting her response.
She uncrossed her arms and took a tentative step in his direction. Her tearful gaze met his. “I have grown to care for you too, Merokk. I swear I wasn’t pretending with you. What I mean is, all that happened between us was genuine. I lied about my name and little things about my past, but I wasn’t pretending when I fell in love with you. I swear it.”
He exhaled the breath he’d been holding, shock reverberating through him.
I wasn’t pretending when I fell in love with you.
This statement struck him like a lightning bolt. His legs weakened and he placed a hand on the back of a chair, needing to steady himself.
“You love me?” he asked.
She shot him another one of her trembling half-smiles. “I do. I’m not sure when it happened, slowly over time, I suppose, as these things do. But I first realized I loved you, with absolute certainty, on the night you took me out to dinner, when those men attacked you. The thought of something bad happening to you scared me to death. The thought of losing you…” Her voice trailed off and she choked up for a moment. “HaveI lost you?” she asked quietly, once she found her voice.
He stepped forward and took her in his arms. “I’m right here,” he said, “and I am yours. Likewise,youare mine. You’re my wife, Fiona. My little one.” His voice almost cracked over the endearment. Almost. Why did his throat burn? Perhaps he was coming down with a virus.
A look of immense joy filled her features. She beamed at him through her tears.
“By the way, wife, I love you, too.” Yes, he really must’ve caught something on the training field as he sparred with his fellow warriors. He swallowed past the increasing burn in his throat.
He wiped at her tears and hugged her tight. She wrapped her arms around his waist and clung to him, sobbing and laughing at the same time.
Suddenly, she quieted and stared up at him, her eyes filled with despair. “But what will happen now? Your marriage with Betsy Carson was supposed to be an important part of the treaty. If she’s been arrested and people know—”
“It will all work out, little one. I promise.” He stroked her hair, hoping his gentle touch would calm her. “You are my wife and that will never change.”
“But I married you under a false name and—”
“You are still my wife. We exchanged vows, consummated our marriage, and we love one another. Trust me when I promise a solution will be found. My father will likely invent a cover story to explain why I married you instead of the First Daughter and the treaty can quickly be modified.”
She sighed and eventually nodded. “Okay, I do trust you.”
He smiled down at her and then guided her to the communicator that rested next to his broken desk. He helped her sit in his chair and entered the proper sequence of numbers to establish a connection with his father. Hopefully, he was home at this hour.
Penka’s face soon filled the screen and Merokk exhaled in relief.
“Father,” he said. “I would like to know if Fiona’s mother is still safe in the medical resort. I assume you know about that by now? You are usually quick to investigate such matters.”
Penka blinked in surprise and his eyes soon focused on Fiona.
“She’s been crying,” he said in an angry tone. His gaze swiveled to Merokk. “What did you do to her? I ordered you not to harm her.”
Fiona gasped, no doubt shocked that Penka had defended her. Merokk reached for her and squeezed her hand, then gave her a warm smile as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Ihaven’tharmed her, Father,” he explained.
After a quick reassurance from Fiona that she was fine, Penka leaned back in his chair, a look of relief falling over him. “Yes, I have verified that Janie Lockhart is alive and well. She is still living at the medical resort in the Caribbean.”
“Thank you for checking,” Fiona said, clutching a hand to her chest as she slumped forward slightly. “Oh I’m so happy to hear it.”
“You called just in time, son. I have just finished working out the details of legitimizing your marriage to Fiona, without raising any questions.” He cleared his throat and then continued. “I have made it look like you requested Fiona Lockhart’s hand in marriage instead of Betsy Carson’s at the last moment after you learned the First Daughter was suspected of engaging in rebel activity, but that the switch needed to be kept secret until the treasonous First Daughter could be found and the investigation into her unlawful conduct completed. Records have been forged to make Fiona appear as a wealthy cousin to Betsy. I will send you a full report.” A smug look of triumph gleamed in Penka’s eyes.
“Thank you, Father. I am in your debt.”
“You’ve been in my debt since that time you broke my foot when you were five years old,” Penka replied in an overly weary tone. “But I am glad to help you. You deserve happiness. Both of you. And I must say, I am glad you came to your senses so quickly, son. You were in quite the state when I left earlier.” He sat up and peered forward, looking surprised. “Wait. Is that your desk smashed in half?”
“Father, we must go now,” Merokk replied quickly. “But please, we hope you will visit soon for dinner. Goodnight.” He turned off the communicator before Penka could reply.
