Page 60 of Dark King Daddy

Her voice softened on my name.

That made me angrier than if she had shouted.

I set down my cup. “Then don’t reduce this to one of my bad habits.”

“I’m not reducing it. I’m telling you the bad habit is wearing a very convincing strategic argument. You want to fix everyone else’s problems and you love to suffer for it.”

I leaned back.

Zoe watched me for a long moment.

Then her expression changed.

“Oh,” she said.

I hated that word.

“What?”

“This isn’t only about marrying a Pakhan.”

“I think that’s enough.”

“You’re afraid he’ll find out.”

Every muscle in my body tightened. Zoe lowered her voice.

“That you’re Little.”

The café did not change.

No one turned.

No one had heard.

Still, heat rushed into my face.

“That is not the central issue.”

“It’s central to you.”

“I could simply not tell him.”

“You’d live with him without telling him?”

“People conceal things from spouses.”

“Yes. Healthy marriages are famous for it.”

“This would not be a normal marriage.”

“That’s supposed to make the secrecy easier?”

I looked down at the cake between us.

The frosting had begun to soften under the café lights.

Zoe reached across the table and touched my wrist.