Page 34 of Mate For Hire (For Hire 3)

With effort, he focused on her. Even as he tried to order his thoughts, they wouldn’t settle down. He knew it was Kelly and nothing more. The flimsy nightgown with the low cut at the bust made no sense, her bare feet, and the pout on her pink lips and so on.

“It’s been weeks,” she griped. “We should have adjusted by now. Soon everyone’s going to be questioning why we haven’t had a baby. We haven’t even slept together, and when I try to get into bed with you to start something, you get all defensive. I know I’m not the problem. Look at me.”

He didn’t speak. After the initial look at her, he rolled over on the bed and faced the window.

Get up, Gerard.

He blew out a breath and managed to get to his feet. At the window, he climbed onto the sill.

Behind him, Kelly shrieked. “Can’t you use the door like a normal person? I hate this! I thought it was going to be different. What am I here for, and how do I—”

She cut her words off, but he didn’t care whatever it was she intended to say. Dropping to the ground, he thought his wings would come out. They remained hidden. Instead, he landed hard. Pain shot up through his ankle. He welcomed the sensation. It brought stimulus to his brain.

One of Declan’s men appeared before him. “Sir, if you’re going out, may I escort you?”

He should have thought his man, but inside they didn’t belong to him. He still saw them as belonging to his brother. Sure, his people, but that was all.

“Alone,” he said simply.

“Sir, I can’t let you go out alone. I’m one of your personal guards. It’s our duty to…”

The man nattered on. Gerard wondered why he asked to escort him if he was going to do it anyway.

He left the homestead grounds and looked up at the sky as he walked. The desire to fly wasn’t there, but he wanted to want to fly. It made no sense. No, the fact was, he wanted the simplicity of his life back—before he had found and loved Lachelle.

Wincing in agony, he stumbled and fell against a tree. The guard rushed up to touch his shoulder.

“Sir.”

Gerard pushed fingers in his hair and flattened his back against the tree. The sharp bark bit into his skin through his shirt. Good. He shut his eyes and concentrated on breathing.

Declan. He was the answer. Gerard needed to go see his brother and demand he come back to take over. This life wasn’t for him. Living in Declan’s house and pretending he was the king turned Gerard’s stomach. He despised solving every day disputes and deciding on the economical affairs of his people. The meetings with the elders bored him to tears. He couldn’t care less about what cabin was built where and who was bonding with whom.

Gerard looked up at the guard still babysitting him. “You drive?”

The man stood at attention. “Yes, sir, of course.”

“Drive me to my brother.”

“Uh, but, sir. We could fly—”

“Drive me.”

“The visiting hours…”

Gerard glared at him, and he snapped his teeth together.

“Yes, sir. Let me gather a few other men to accompany us.”

After what felt like an eternity, Gerard stood outside the prison where Declan had been transferred. As suspected, the humans dragged their feet, but the elders had recently arranged for a human lawyer who agreed to cut through the nonsense. Gerard had been told it wouldn’t be long for his brother to be freed. He’d hardly heard a word of the detail. All he knew was that Declan wasn’t there now.

He gazed up at the building and breathed in. His brother’s scent filled his nostrils. No doubt, Declan already knew he was near. “I’m breaking in.”

“Sir, if you do that, we’ll be blamed. It’ll make it harder for Declan to get out.”

“He can break the lock.”

The man scratched his head. “I meant legally.”

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