Page 52 of The Pakhan’s Hidden Heir

Dragging myself to my feet, I swipe at the tears then move to the bed, crawling back under the covers where less than an hour ago I felt safe in Bastian’s arms.

I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve ever really been safe, if Bastian ever really was the man I thought. I fell so hard so fast, and maybe I was living a delusion.

I got so swept up in how much he lavished gifts on me, how he cared about my wellbeing, but with the blinders off, I’m seeing more clearly. Maybe I’ve just been a fool.

And maybe I need to figure out how to get away from here, sooner, rather than later.

19

BASTIAN

This is nonsense.

I sit in bed staring at the empty spot beside me after having slept with that woman for almost ten months now, and after one little bickering match about the nursery, she pulled her things from my dresser and moved off into her own room. I don’t understand what’s gotten into her, but I hate it.

She only has about four weeks left. I need to make sure she’s sleeping well and eating what she’s told.

And she’s taken to this little tantrum because we don’t see eye to eye on the methods with which I intend to protect my heir. It’s foolish and childish, and she has to know I’m not budging. It’s why she won’t come to bed with me anymore and I intend to put a stop to it tonight.

Sliding off the bed, I stalk toward the door and out, down the hall several paces where her bedroom door is shut tight. When I try the knob, it’s not locked, but before I get the thing halfway open the anger in my chest fizzles out, immediately replacing with concern.

She’s sobbing.

Her entire body shakes and her hands are drawn up over her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I cross the room and lower myself to the side of the bed, taking her chin to turn her face up to mine. “Are you hurt somewhere, or is it the baby? Tell me why you’re crying.”

“It’s nothing.” She pulls her chin out of my hand and strains to turn away from me. “I don’t need anything from you. Go back to your own room, Bastian.”

“I could hear you crying down the hall,” I snip, which is a total lie, but what other reason did I even have to come in here? When Agnya would cry, I would rush to her like a fool, turn the world upside down to make her happy again. I couldn’t help myself, just like I can’t help but feel compelled to check on Raina right now.

“People cry sometimes, and last I checked it was allowed.” She wipes her face and turns it farther away from me. “This was only ever an arrangement, remember. Those were your words. I’m already pregnant, so I’ve held up my end of this arrangement. You don’t have to keep checking on me like I’m one of your bank accounts.”

Using my own argument against me is petty, but she put me in my place. My chest feels ready to explode right now.

Seeing her cry and not knowing what’s wrong is torture.

I can’t fix anything and make her happy if she doesn’t tell me. I can only assume it’s about the nursery still.

We never did talk about it after that morning. She just pulled back from me and withdrew.

“The cameras and the bars aren’t to keep you from the boy,” I tell her gruffly. “Men in my position have enemies, and those enemies would take my son the first chance they got. Everything in that nursery is there so nobody reaches him.”

“So you cage him?” She turns back to me with red, furious eyes. “Bars on his windows, a camera watching him sleep? He’s a baby Bastian. He might not even sleep in that room. He may sleep in bed with me.” Her eyes search mine, testing me, but I don’t bite at that. She may well co-sleep for a while, but when he begins using that crib—and he will—I must ensure he’s safe.

“What happened?” I ask, clearly having missed something. She’s so angry, and it’s not about my security measures. She didn’t even react like this when I told her what I really am. The idea that keeping my son safe has elicited this reaction seems outlandish. She’s hiding something.

“Nothing happened.” Her throat works as she swallows, then she looks down and mutters, “But I hate that man Akim, and I want you to get rid of him. I don’t want him anywhere near my son.”

I almost correct her to tell her it’s “our” son but stop short and shake my head. “You have no reason to hate him. What did he do?”

Raina shrinks inside herself now, letting her chin drop as she toys with the edging on the blanket, avoiding eye contact.

“It doesn’t matter now.” She drags her wrist across her cheek. “You’d never take my side over his in a hundred years. He’s just a piece of trash and I want him gone.” The fire has gone out of her words for the moment, but it’s one request I can’t honor. Akim is like family.

I’d sooner get rid of her, and god knows that’s not happening any time soon.

“Akim stays right where he is,” I grumble, “Whatever’s going on between the two of you, you’ll have to get over it.” He told me she’s trouble and now she’s trying to get rid of him? It’s not a good sign, but then, I have no intention of getting rid of him just because she said to. And he can’t make me push Raina out until I’m certain the boy will be fine without her.