AllFreeNovel
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Her eyes narrow. “Don’t be absurd. I have no reason to be jealous of anyone, least of all a naive girl who’s little more than chattel.”
“At least I’m not carrying the child of a man who wants nothing to do with me.” I should feel a trace of guilt for using her pregnancy against her, but I can’t muster another drop of the soul-crushing emotion right now—not for her.
I’ve filled my quota of guilt for a lifetime.
But instead of disarming her, my cattiness seems to amuse her. The corners of her mouth turn up in a cruel smile.
“It digs under your skin, doesn’t it? Knowing he loved me.” She inches closer, lowering her voice. “Do you see us together in your mind? Imagine his cock sliding into me? I won’t lie. We were great together. That boy came for me like nobody’s business.”
Fury boils in my veins, and to be fair, it’s not all directed at her. No, plenty of it is directed at myself for allowing her to tear me apart like this. Her words only hurt because I allow them to.
And I’m angry at Sebastian for putting me in this position. I’m angry with them all. But she’s the one in front of me right now, urging my claws to come out, and I wouldn’t want to disappoint her.
“Sebastian told me he made a mistake when he fucked you goodbye. You should thank me for stepping up to take on your responsibility.”
“What are you talking about?” she grinds out through clenched teeth.
“Your child. Sebastian asked me to help him raise the consequences of your poor choice.”
Denying her the chance to respond, I push past her and barrel out the door. I’ve barely made it three steps down the hallway, my limbs heavy and sluggish, when I realize I’m more inebriated than when I escaped the aftermath of Ford’s public display of indecency. Either that, or it’s adrenaline from the confrontation I just fled. Maybe it’s a bit of both, but as I approach the ballroom’s entrance, the wall all but invites my body to lean into it.
That’s where Ford finds me, using the wall for support as the hallway spins.
“Here, hold on to me,” he says, offering me an arm. “A little too much champagne?”
“A little too much everything.” After the show we put on in front of his guests, I can’t even look at him.
He tilts my chin up, his fingers gentle on my skin. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Novalee. There isn’t a person in that room that didn’t enjoy what they saw.”
“I think Sebastian and Liam might disagree.”
“They’re the exception. Those two love-sick fools are much too invested, exposing their bleeding hearts for everyone to see.”
In my alcohol-laden mind, I play back all the times my own heart bled, especially over Sebastian’s situation with Lilith. “They must be so upset with me.”
“Sharing the queen is tradition, and it’s expected. They’ve been preparing for you their whole lives. We all have.”
“Sebastian didn’t want any of this.”
“We’re in it whether we like it or not. If he cares about you at all, he’ll figure his shit out. None of this is your fault.”
“Why did you make me do it?”
“To break the ice.”
I shake my head. “You did it because it thrilled you.”
“Well,” he says, one brow raised. “That too.”
He begins ushering me into the ballroom, but the floor seems to tilt underneath me again. I cover my mouth as nausea rises.
“Okay,” he says, snaking an arm around my waist. “I think it’s time to tuck you in for the night.”
“I’m fine,” I protest, even though I know I’m not.
“You will be after some aspirin and a good night’s rest.” He changes course, escorting me in the opposite direction of the raucous dance, and Lilith emerges from where I left her.
She strides back toward the ball, the scowl on her face a notch above lethal, but she doesn’t say a thing. I glance heavenward, offering a silent thank-you for small favors.
