Page 83 of Knotted By the Triad

“All right,” I told them. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll stay in with Allie while you go out and take down the Prime Minister.”

The meeting ended not long after that. Zian stood, still cradling me in his arms.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Taking you to your room,” Zian told me.

“I can walk.”

“It rained.” Zian looked down at me with a completely serious expression.

I kept silent, knowing he just wanted to carry me. That realization warmed something inside me that learning about my past had left cold and numb. I settled against his chest instead of arguing. Zian's arms tightened around me. Behind us, Daemin laughed.

Zian carried me all the way back to my courtyard despite the complete lack of mud, puddles, or any other evidence supporting his claim that last week's rain had made walking dangerous. Daemin followed us into my room. The moment I saw Allie waiting inside, I tapped Zian's shoulder.

“Put me down.”

He lowered me to my feet, and I went straight to her. Allie threw her arms around me before I could say anything, and I hugged her just as tightly.

“Are you all right, Princess?” she asked when we pulled apart.

“I'm fine. How are you?”

“Better now that you’re back.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Here's the money, Princess.”

My eyes lit up as she slipped the money we'd taken from the smuggler into my hand.

“We’ll split it later,” I whispered, tucking the envelope into my pocket without hesitation. Behind me, Daemin and Zian chuckled.

“There's more,” Allie told me.

“More?”

She pointed toward the other side of my room. Five large chests sat against the wall.

I stared at them. “Where did those come from?”

“They were delivered while you were gone.” Allie caught my hand and pulled me toward them. “They’re from Zian’s courtyard,” she whispered

I looked back at Zian. He smiled at me. I crouched beside the nearest chest and lifted the lid. Gold. Actual gold. Gold bars filled most of the chest, mixed with jewelry and fine silks.

“We’re rich, Allie,” I whispered.

She leaned close and whispered, “We no longer have to sell our butts in the brothels.”

I chuckled. “Nope. We can give our butts away for free now.”

Allie burst out laughing. I turned to look behind me and found Zian watching me.

“All of this is from you?” I asked.

“Yes. It’s all my treasures. They belong to you now, mate.”

“Zian, thank you.”

He blushed. Actually blushed. How adorable!

“You're cute when you blush like that,” I told him.