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As Nyla and the other servants made her comfortable, Scarlett felt frustration and anger colliding within her. She had never been so desperate. In all her years of slavery, nothing had ever looked so bleak.
The room was full of every comfort, every luxury she could desire, yet she was still a prisoner, just as she always had been. The saying of old had never felt truer.
A cage is a cage, even if the bars are made of gold.
Grux watched the attendants making Scarlett comfortable, and he could sense her frustration rising, even though she appeared calm. He knew she didn’t need him fussing over her, but she looked so miserable he felt he had to do something.
He moved a chair over to the bed and sat down, holding her hand gently. When she turned to look at him, he couldn’t stand the hurt written all over her face.
“I’m so sorry, my love,” he whispered. He saw a single tear gather at the corner of her eye and roll down her cheek. He was getting sick of saying sorry, but he couldn’t help it.
“It’s okay,” she said. He could tell she was anything but okay, though.
“Maybe we should just look on the bright side,” he said gently. “You are on forced bed rest anyway, and at least the palace is comfortable.”
“It is,” she agreed softly.
“You’ll have everything you need as well as medical care.”
Scarlett did not look at him. Grux felt like he might be digging a hole deep enough to bury himself in.
He bent over, stroking her hair and kissing her cheek so he could whisper in her ear. “Once the baby is born, I’ll take you back to Earth,” he murmured so softly the attendants could not hear.
Scarlett did not react, and Grux felt fear trickling through his blood, chilling his bones. He wanted her to be enthusiastic and support his plan. He had been hoping she wanted him by her side because he was happy to be banished from Lorr if it meant keeping her by his side.
He loved his planet and his people, even if he never wanted to be king. He thought Kozien had been insane to choose a woman—a Terran, of all races!—over his family, but now, Grux understood. He’d give up everything for her.
“I love you,” he whispered.
Scarlett didn’t appear to have heard. He gently let go of her hand, and Scarlett lay back on the pillows, turning her head away from him.
He wanted to let her rest, so Grux hurried to see his father in private. He needed a chance to unleash his emotions without worrying about upsetting his mate.
He found his father in the same comfortable room they had just left, holding an informal meeting with a few key advisors. When Grux entered the room, the king stood up and greeted him warmly.
“My son!” he cried enthusiastically. “The next King of Lorr!”
“The next king after you pass,” Grux ground out. “After the stunt you pulled with the bounty hunter, I just might help that progress along.”
His father waved him off. “Nothing came of that. Now, I am organizing a celebration, and you could not have arrived at a better time. When were you planning on holding the bonding ceremony?”
“What?” Grux muttered, feeling disappointment flooding his guts. He realized his father wanted to take advantage of the fact they hadn’t yet been married by making it a state affair.
Then no other organization would dare interfere. We’d be stuck here forever!
“Bonding ceremony,” his father repeated. “Since the two of you have mated, I don’t see why you haven’t had it yet. I think this is a great opportunity for the kingdom.”
“I bet you do,” Grux muttered.
His father addressed the advisors, talking about the preparations that would need to be made. Grux felt his worst fears being confirmed with every word the king spoke.
“Father,” Grux cut in suddenly. “Have you informed Scarlett’s family of her pregnancy?”
“Why, no,” the king said graciously. “You know how long it takes to send messages out there, but I think there is plenty of time for that. Don’t you? Let’s organize the ceremony for now. Then everyone will know that Lorr has a new prince!”
Grux turned on his heel and left, not wanting to hear any more. He was disgusted by how quickly his father had disowned Kozien and by how easily he manipulated Scarlett’s life and that of their unborn child. He couldn’t rely on his father any longer. He knew that no matter what he said to him, nothing would change. Instead, it was time to take matters into his own hands.
He hurried back to their suite, finding Scarlett sitting up in bed with a tray of food in front of her. She was staring at it with disgust.
