Page 109 of Red King

She shakes her head. “I have to leave. It’s the only way. Cathy agreed not to say anything as long as my resignation is in before the close of business today.”

“Fuck Cathy!”

“It was my idea, not hers. This doesn’t have to get out. No one need ever find out. You can stay in the program and—”

I take her hands in mine. “I don’t want to stay in the program. I don’t want you to leave. I have feelings for you, Paisley, and I’m sure you—”

She shakes her head, pulling away. “No, Arctic. We had an agreement. No feelings. It was supposed to be a short-term thing and just sex.”

“I don’t give a shit about the agreement. And things change. I’ve changed.” I keep my gaze firmly on her. “I think you’ve changed too. We can get through this…together.”

“Well, you should care about the agreement. We only just met…stop it already. You only think you have feelings for me because we have such great chemistry.”

“That’s not it at all. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“I’ve made up my mind.” She puts her hands on her hips.

I’ve seen the way she looks at me, and I’m sure there’s more there. I’m not that clueless. I wasn’t born yesterday. I know what I feel.

“Hear me out. I want to talk with my Council about you. I will tell them that I’m in love with—”

“No, stop!” she practically shouts at me. “You need to stop talking right now.” Her eyes fill with tears. She blinks them away, swallowing thickly. Then she sniffs. “Jim left me because I’m flawed. I am broken, Arctic. I’m not a real woman. It’s all true.”

Rage fills me.

“That’s not true at all. Your ex is a fucking asshole who doesn’t know what he had. You shouldn’t listen to that prick. You shouldn’t—”

“My ex is right. I am flawed. It is what it is. It’s a fact.”

“Stop saying that about yourself. You’re fucking perfect. You—”

“I’m not on any birth control, Arctic. I’m not on it because I don’t need it. I can’t have children.”

My mouth falls open, and my blood runs cold.

No!

It can’t be.

I shake my head.

“I tried. Jim and I tried for years and years. I have a whole host of problems. Problems with my uterus, problems with my ovaries, my hormones, you name it, I pretty much have it. At first, we were hopeful. We went through round after round of IVF until I was eventually told I couldn’t have kids. I’m infertile. I will never be a mother.”

“And he left you. That motherfucker left you.” I hate him. I want to hunt him down and break every bone in his body.

She nods, and a single tear falls down her cheek. She wipes it away, and it’s like it was never there to begin with. “Yes, he left me. Jim left me for a younger woman, and they’re expecting their first kid. In fact, their son has, more than likely, already been born by now.”

“I’m so sorry, Paisley,” I choke out the words. I can’t believe this. It’s so unfair. She’s been through so much. Now this.

Fuck!

“Don’t be sorry. It is what it is.” She finally closes the distance between us and puts her arms around my neck. “We can’t be together. Your Council would never allow it. You need heirs, remember?”

“I want you.” I’m being selfish in saying it. Paisley is right. We can’t be together. I can’t have her and keep my crown.

I’m the king.

I have responsibilities.

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