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But I was furious with everyone else in the castle.
Chapter 13
Maren
The new place where Nyx had set me up was incredible. It was located a few blocks away from Maximo’s, much to my surprise. I had it in my mind that he would try to keep me away from the club for some reason, but when he pointed out that I could easily walk to and from work, I found myself questioning if I had him all wrong again.
I should have told him about the baby, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that yet, not when I hadn’t fully wrapped my mind around the idea yet. I was still reeling, in partial denial. How could I bring a kid into that castle when the staff did nothing but berate me?
The movers finished bringing in the brand-new furniture as I stood on the balcony, overlooking the west end of the city, away from the traffic and buildings and toward the more rural side of South Havenmire. The Juliet-style terrace made me feel like a princess, the cold autumn air refreshing from the tenth floor, higher than I’d ever lived before, even in the apartments I lived in with my father as a child. My father had always preferred the lower floors.
“Easier to escape,” he used to joke, but now I wondered if he was kidding. Escape from whom or what, I couldn’t say.
“What are you thinking about?” Nyx asked, joining me to slide his arm around my waist and pull me against his solid body. His hands splayed over the swell of my belly and I tensed, moving them up slightly, but he didn’t notice.
“I like this place,” I told him honestly, already relaxing in the privacy it offered. That sense of being locked away in the castle was already fading away like a bad dream. It had been more than just the mean whispers of the staff in the hallways. It had also been about my need to be free.
No gossiping servants roamed the halls, and no one watched me and talked about me behind my back. I didn’t have to worry about running into Odette in any of the bedrooms as I went about my day.
“I wish you’d tell me what scared you off from the castle in the first place,” he sighed unhappily. “I can make it right if you let me.”
I cocked my chin toward him, half tempted to tell him about all the rumors and innuendo I’d heard floating around the palace, but I didn’t. There was no sense in stirring up drama. It wouldn’t serve any purpose but to cause more animus, and could I really blame the servants for looking at me the way they had? I’d come in out of nowhere, from nothing. I didn’t deserve to be in the castle.
I didn’t deserve the king at all.
“It doesn’t matter,” I told him, raising myself up to kiss his lips softly. “We found a suitable solution, didn’t we?”
He said nothing, but I could read his displeasure all over his face.
“The movers will put everything exactly where you want it,” he informed me. “I have to get back to the castle tonight, but I’ll be back later to make sure you’ve settled in.”
“You don’t have to come back tonight,” I said, untangling myself from his arms.
A flash of hurt crossed over his face. “You don’t want me to come back?”
I sighed. “I never said that,” I replied shortly. “It’s just going to be a night of unpacking, and I’m tired. Stay home, and we’ll meet tomorrow.”
His brow furrowed, and I immediately wished I hadn’t said anything at all. It hadn’t come out the right way, but it was too late to retreat.
“Fine. You’ll still have Drakias with you.”
“Is that necessary?” I asked timidly, afraid I might say the wrong thing again. “It’s not like this is a dangerous neighborhood or anything.”
“If I’m not here with you, I’m not taking any chances. He can escort you to and from work or wherever else you need to go.”
I bit on the inside of my lip to keep myself from protesting. “Thank you,” I said instead, recognizing how much he had done for me. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
He nodded and brushed another kiss over my lips as we both turned to wander back into the apartment.
Most of the furniture was already inside, along with the clothing and toiletries that had come from the castle. Nyx was sure to give the movers final instructions in case I was too shy to be firm.
“You listen to exactly what she says,” he warned them. “I don’t want to have to call you to come back tomorrow and fix anything.”
“Yes, Alpha,” they agreed in unison.
He opened the door and ushered Drakias inside, nodding toward the movers. “Stay with Miss Maren until they’re gone,” he ordered the Royal Guard.
“Yes, Alpha.”
