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“How is the young lady?” The question comes from behind Landon.
I carefully move into a sitting position just in time to watch a lady walk in. She’s elderly, her white hair tied in a neat ponytail, and she has a tiny frame. She walks in with such poise and shows such strength.
How old is she?
She walks over to the opposite side of the bed, joining Hunter. “Hello, love. My name is May. I’m not sure what this dashing young man has told you...” she gestures to Hunter, “... but I’m your grandmother, your father’s mother. I’m sorry for what Hunter did to you, but it really is for your own good. I want you safe, and with him, you are.”
My eyes widen.
“I know you probably have a million questions, but I think we should leave those for tomorrow. It’s been a big day for you, thanks to Landon here.” She looks pointedly at him, and he hangs his head, mumbling something I don’t quite catch.
“Young man, I won’t have that in my house,” May snaps. Wow, she must have some wicked hearing, and I can’t help but laugh. “You look so much like your mother, which I’m happy about.”
She smiles, and it lights up the room. She has an aura surrounding her. I bet everybody who meets her falls in love with her.
“Nice to meet you, May. I’m—”
“I know who you are, Aelina. I’m the one who gave you that name. I needed to keep you safe. Unfortunately, I’ve failed.” Her hand takes mine, and I note how soft her skin is. She shakes her head, then says, “As I said, we won’t discuss that right now. Let’s get some grub in you and get all of you settled for the night.”
“Okay,” is all I manage to say. I can’t believe I’m here with someone who is my actual family.
My blood.
May stands and goes to the closet on the right side of the room. “My girl, all your clothes are in here.”
She opens the door, and I spot my suitcase on the floor. Above it, eight brightly colored dresses, three shirts, and four pairs of pants hang from the silver rail like clothes on a line—a small amount of belongings.
“Wow, thank you so much,” I gush.
She waves her hands, brushing me off. “It’s nothing for my granddaughter. There’s a shower through that door there.” She points to a door on the left side of the room.
“Thank you again.”
I push back the blankets and move to the side of the bed opposite where Hunter sits. As I process this whole ordeal, my head becomes less foggy. As things become clearer, frustration bubbles toward Hunter, who doesn’t seem to listen to anything I say. He brought me here even when I asked not to be included.
“I’ll be out finishing dinner. Landon, you come help me, son,” May says, and he nods, following her out the door.
I place my feet on the soft carpeted floor and stand to pull out some new leggings and a blue tank top. Clothes in hand, I walk slowly toward the bathroom, well aware of Hunter and his heated gaze.
“Let me help you.” He rushes to my side, taking my arm.
I snatch it away from him, and he holds his hands up in defense. Stopping, I turn toward him, my face deadpan. “I told you I didn’t want to be a part of any of this. Yet here I am, and I feel like death because of your stupid bodyguard out there. Did you have him follow me?”
Hunter’s stare drops to the floor. He doesn’t say anything but simply nods.
I narrow my eyes. “Thanks to you, I’m now in danger. Our fathers want me, not you. If you were the smart man you think you are, you would have helped hide me. Instead, you want to bring me into a world I know nothing about and want nothing to do with.”
I drop my clothes, my hands coming up and shoving hard against his chest. My body temperature rises with the anger rippling through my veins.
Hunter moves back when I push him. His face is unreadable. The tension in the room is so thick a knife could cut through it. My breath is ragged as the hammering in my heart increases. My head can’t figure out what to do. I’ve become a bird locked in a cage. Hunter has inserted himself into my life and now wants to own me. I won’t have it. I’m not some exotic bird who will remain a pet.
Bending over, I collect my clothes from the floor. As I come upright, my head spins slightly, and I press my finger and thumb to the bridge of my nose, hoping to settle it. Hunter takes my arm again, but I pull away, losing my balance. My hands fly up in the air, and I stumble backward. Then I’m falling. In seconds, I’ve got a throbbing pain in my ass.
“Oh my hell,” I cry out and release a hiss between my teeth. Breathing through the pain, I struggle to hold back tears because of the pain shooting up my back.
Hunter rushes to my side. This time, he doesn’t touch me or even make a move to assist me. “Let me help you.” That soft, smooth-like-honey voice tickles certain parts of me and makes me want to fall at his feet, letting him do whatever he wants.
“You’ve done enough. I’ve survived perfectly fine on my own without you before...” I pause and gingerly pull myself off the cream-colored carpet. Straightening up, I say, “Just leave.”
