Page 25 of Wyoming Cowboy Undercover

“Hey, Mercy,” Alex said, catching up. “Hold on a minute.”

Sighing, she stopped and faced him. He’d always been attractive—in an unmemorable way—overzealous and not quite right for her.

“What is it?” she asked, wondering if he’d have the decency to mention the incident with Rocco.

“I’m looking forward to spending time with you later tonight,” he said, and she gritted her teeth at his ability to disappoint her. “Especially since you got sick last night, and it cut our evening short.”

Too bad for him she had planned to get a sudden case of uncontrollable nausea yet again. “Let’s play it by ear. I’ve been queasy off and on throughout the day.” Seeing him triggered it.

She turned to leave, but he caught her by the arm.

“Empyrean thinks we should try bundling tonight.”

Mercy had heard whispers of some who had done more than talk or cuddle in the night, engaging in non-penetrative sex.

Every couple who had bundled, that she was aware of, had been quick to marry.

She flashed a tight-lipped smile around the foul taste coating her tongue. “I’ll consider it.”

“Your father wasn’t making a suggestion. He doesn’t believe that you’re taking this courtship seriously and I agree with him. Would you prefer your room or mine?”

The audacity of him.

Seething, she let the fake grin slip from her face and with her fingertips, grazed his Shining Light tattoo at the base of his throat. “When I was younger, I was so scared of you. Remember how you’d sneak into my room and crawl into my bed?” His was right down the hall from hers. Empyrean wanted his daughter by blood and his son by choice under one roof. Always together. “Your hands were like fire as you held mine, your fingers clinging so tight to me. Back then I used to think that you could never really love someone. A dalliance, sure. But not for a lifetime. You needed too much. Approval. Admiration. Validation.” It was always:look at me, am I good enough, am I special, am I worthy?“Because you’re weak. And I was right.” It felt good to speak this truth after being pushed so far, and she considered how she’d share the same thoughts with her father soon.

He clenched his jaw. “My problem has always been that I love too much. Too deeply,” he said through gritted teeth. “This is going to happen. You and I were always meant to be. The sooner you realize that, the better.”

His self-assuredness knew no bounds.

She glanced down at his hand on her arm. “Let me go,” she said, meaning it in more ways than one.

Something predatory sparked in his eyes like he’d picked up on her implication. “And if I don’t?”

Then she would make him. A quick punch to the throat should do the trick.

He squeezed tighter, even more possessive, before his hand fell, releasing her. “On the full moon, your father plans to announce my transformation from gray to white. He also expects us to seal our union by the end of the year.”

Alex would be her father’s successor instead of her. She felt like she’d been the one punched in the throat.

But why him? There were others on the council of elders who were better qualified.

She should have seen her father’s plan all along. Alex’s ascendance from gray to white, elevating his position. Making him her equal before his inevitable succession. The desire for them to be married, despite the fact she considered Alex an overbearing brother.

Not a potential husband.

“I guess I’ll cross that borderline incestuous bridge when I come to it.” Or burn it to the ground. Either way, there wasn’t going to be any union between them. “As for bundling, we did quite enough of that years ago.”

Even though it had been innocent then, she would never share a bed with him again. In any manner. Under any circumstances.

He narrowed his dark eyes. “We were kids. It was different—”

Gunshots rang out, making her jump. People screamed, dispersing and running for cover.

Her head snapped to the side out in the direction the reports had come from—on the east end of the compound near the farm.

Sophia.Perfect timing with this distraction.

“We’ll finish our discussion later.” Alex took off as three more shots resounded.

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