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Magnus said, “I need tae take Tyler home as soon as possible, I have a vessel. On the morrow I will deliver him back to Florida.” Our glasses were filled with wine.

I asked the woman serving me, “Can I have some water please, I’m very thirsty.”

Lady Mairead rolled her eyes in my direction. “Tis always about ye, Kaitlyn? We daena need tae ken your thirst, just ask for water and be done of it.”

I hated her so much I wanted to leap across the table and start swinging.

Tyler’s expression was ‘oh shit, she did not just say that to you,’ which was a very small comfort.

I met Magnus’s eyes across the table. His expression was ‘I love you.’ That was enough.

Magnus said, “Explain tae me how we are safe here. Your windows are verra large. I see that they are shielding us from view, but there are drones flyin’ around outside. I can hear them.”

Lady Mairead waved it away. “Ye winna be safe here forever, of course, but Minister Donahue at the war ministry is on the other end of the information the drones are gathering. He likes you. He wants ye tae be the next king. More importantly, he likes me verra verra much. I have made it so he feels he canna live without me. He winna tell Samuel where ye are until tis time tae plan your battle.”

A basket of warm bread was delivered to the table. I was famished. Tyler and I bumped hands reaching for it. I slathered butter all over a piece and ate hungrily. Magnus ate a piece in two bites and reached for another.

Lady Mairead continued, “Samuel has seized the throne. He is tryin’ tae have ye declared dead in absentia’.”

Magnus scowled.

She took a demure bite of bread, chewed, and swallowed. “Ye arrived at the right time, Magnus. We will challenge him tae a battle and⁠—”

A full plate of what looked like pork, potatoes, and vegetables, piled high, was placed in front of me.

But before I could enjoy it a woman I had never seen before entered the living room, swept a long coat with fur accents from her shoulders, and dropped it to the couch. Then she crossed toward the table. To say she walked slowly would be lying, it was more like time stopped around her. She was beautiful: petite, dark, barely dressed — a tight filmy dress that hugged every curve and exposed her very rounded pregnant stomach —

My heart dropped to my feet.

And as she caught sight of Magnus a slow, sexy, very very happy smile spread across her face. She came to the table with her eyes intent only on him.

My face flushed. Warm.

Hot.

Motherfucking sweltering.

Beet red - burning.

Lady Mairead’s eyes were settled on my face.

I didn’t know what to do. Watch this woman — what was her name?

Or watch Magnus — his elbows were beside his plate, staring straight ahead, alternating between checking my face and looking ahead, then checking my face again.

Here was the thing — I had two courses of action. Freak out. Create a scene. Act like I was losing Magnus.

Or I could — do what? Who was I kidding, I had no idea how to be a grown up in the current situation — but I could pretend, maybe.

I changed my expression to one that I hoped exuded grace. And competence. I was going for Audrey Hepburn. Wishing I had a cigarette. The ability to exhale smoke rings.

Scratch that.

I wanted to be a dragon. I could catch her chair on fire.

The woman slid into the chair beside my husband. “Hello, Magnus.” I hated her fucking face.

“Hello, Bella.” He gave her a curt nod. He said, “I’d like tae introduce ye tae my wife, Kaitlyn Campbell. And this is our friend, Tyler Wilson⁠—”