Page 81 of The Duke's Virgin

“Luka, I don’t know what it is you’re thinking, but—” She shook her head, her face pale, save for the harsh red flags of color on her cheekbones.

I had no idea what she was going to say, but I knew one thing—I wouldn’t listen to it.

She’d spent almosttwo monthswith Emmett, and yet she’d told me there was no reason why she couldn’t come back here with me, and now she tells me she’spregnant?

And she had the nerve to lookhurt?

I thought I’d be sick, but I clenched my jaw and stared at her, trying to think past the sense of betrayal. “Don’t you? Stacia, darling, you’re good in bed, butnobodyis that good, and you’re far from the first to try and pull this sort of scheme. I’m trying to decide what your goal is here…money or marriage.”

Her throat worked, and her gaze fell away for a brief moment. Money, then. It had to be. Besides, she was Aeric’s cousin. She had to know marriages in royal families were complicated. She was too intelligent not to be aware of it.

She’d fuckingusedme. Was she evenpregnant?

“I bet it’s money. You’re connected to a royal family yourself…barely. But you’re smart enough to know there are rules when it comes to marriage among royals and marryingwellis one of those rules.”

She backed away a step, and I had a feeling she didn’t even know she’d moved.

A vague wave of disgust—directed at myself—washed over me, and I shoved it aside. I was entitled to be angry, wasn’t I?

I was, naturally.

But that righteous decision turned to ashes on my tongue as her shoulders curled in protectively, her head slumping just a bit…and she placed her hand on her belly.

Fuck.

Viciously jagged claws of envy tore gouges from my heart as I recognized the action for what it was.

A mother instinctively acting to protect a baby. Even one still forming in her womb. Shewaspregnant. A baby…

Envy and rage twined to form a monster.

Fuck this.

Crossing the floor, I dipped my head and stared into her soft blue eyes, now as blank as a doll’s. “Let me make one thing absolutely clear…darling. You fooled me once. It won’t happen again.”

I nodded toward the door and gave her a cold smile. “Now, get thefuckout of here before I have you thrown out. Aeric’s a friend, so right now, I’m restraining myself out of respect for him and his family, but my patience is about to snap. Much longer and you’ll end up as gossip fodder becausesomebodywill witness security dragging your lying, manipulative ass out of here.”

A noise escaped her, something like a low moan.

The pained, animalistic keening cut me deep, but I steeled myself against it.

She’d used me. Lied to me. Was she playing Emmett and me against each other? Was she trying to trick me into marriage? Was she jealous her cousin had a title but not her? I had no idea what this was or what her game was, but she’d used and manipulated me.

I refused to fall for her lies any longer.

She shoved around me, walking straight toward the main entrance of my suite, the ends of the throw dragging behind her like a cloak.

Abruptly, it hit me that her gown was in the main room. She had to change.

Fine.

I trailed after her, gripping the edge of the door that separated the living quarters from the bedroom. Staring at her narrow back, I watched as she gathered her belongings.

“Get dressed out here,” I ordered. “I don’t want to see—”

I broke off as she walked to the door of the suite, a slow, awkward shuffle, clutching the blanketandall her things.

“I’ll stop by the front desk and pay for the cost of the throw,” she said, her voice so faint, I could barely hear her.

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