Page 65 of Sovereign

“Aria,” he warns.

“Would you really force a pregnant woman to obey you?”

He doesn’t miss a beat. “Yes. And you’re not pregnant.”

“Yet,” I mutter, as I take a triangle of toast and bite the edge.

His eyes crinkle around the edges, a rare sight that does funny things to my heart. I swallow.

“You stay and rest in bed for a little while. I’ll check on you and then we can make a plan for tonight.”

I sigh. I don’t want to stay in bed, but he has a point, and I know he won’t budge, either.

“Can you pretty please bring me my laptop though?”

“Which one?”

It’s a fair question. I’ve maybe gone a little crazy with that credit card.

“Hmm. The rose gold one, please.”

I maybe had a little fun with that.

While he gets the laptop, I head to the closet to get something comfy to wear. I still feel a little guilty going into this closet. I never had anything like this in my life, and now I have more than I could’ve ever imagined. If my mother saw me now…I pull out a pair of soft white sweats and a hoodie when a garment bag catches my attention.

I peek at the dress hidden behind a blanket of plastic, hanging right in front. Is this…oh, wow.Okay, so this is the dress he got me for the gala. I lift the plastic to take a peek.

Wow.

Woooowwww.

It’sbreathtaking. I reach a tentative finger out to touch the coal black, luxurious satin bodice. It’s elegant and sophisticated, modest because he won’t showcase metoomuch, but…sexy as hell. Spaghetti straps and a fitted bodice, accented with a panel of sheer lace at the waist and a cinched waistline accented with a thin satin ribbon. A full, A-line skirt, a narrow hem adorned with rhinestones.

Or are those diamonds? I’ve never worn anything like this in my life.

I let the plastic drop. My eyes fall on a few shoe boxes, each labeled in my size, and a hanger featuring the sweetest little handbag with a rhinestone clasp that matches the hem of my dress.

I’ll feel like a princess tonight.

No, not a princess.

Aqueen.

An elegant, sophisticated queen.

But for now, I’m just Aria, certified hacker.

I hear Mikhail’s footsteps. I join him in the room.

“That dress is stunning,” I tell him as I climb back into the bed.

“Mm,” he says with pursed lips. “If you go tonight. Let’s make sure you are well.”

I prop myself up on pillows and notice the wooden tray with tea and snacks on the bedside table. He had his staff bring them up. I swallow the lump in my throat.

“I should be fine. I really think it was just something I ate.”

“Or,” he says, lifting a brow at me. “It’s just too early to test, like Polina suggested.”

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