Page 3 of Fae Divided
“I know you’re unhappy with my brother and Lady Rose.” She didn’t understand why James was suddenly discontent with the vampire queen and angry with Samuel’s refusal to challenge her rule. The hatred for the region’s Dádhe monarchy had seemed to come out of the blue. “Even if we don’t always agree, I’ll stand by you. You don’t have to cut me off to protect me.”
“He’s family and our pack Alpha, Sarah. I don’t want you in the middle of this.”
She drew back, all at once angry enough to spit. “How can I be anywhere else? My mate and my brother are at odds. I love you both, but as my Ca’anam, you hold my loyalty. First. Last. And always.”
James pulled her into his body, tucking her head underneath his jaw. “But you shouldn’t have to choose. I’m trying to spare you.”
Sarah felt his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed hard. His grip tightened around her shoulders.
“You know I love you. Love you more than anything in this world?” James asked with regret in his voice.
The scent of sorrow hit her nose for an instant before he broke the embrace and set her from him. He turned and unlocked the car.
She grabbed his t-shirt, fisting the black fabric with both hands. “Please, please tell me what’s wrong. You’re scaring me.”
“I’ve told you what’s wrong. I don’t want you involved in the region’s politics. That’s all.” James kept his face averted and opened the vehicle’s door with her still hanging onto his tee.
“I’m strong, James. I can take anything but you pulling away from me. I feel like I’m losing a piece of you every day.”
His hand on the car’s roof clenched. “I have to get to work. We can talk about this later.”
“When? You’ve been avoiding me and this discussion for days.” She dropped her hands, pressing them into her aching stomach. “The increasing tension between humans and the Fae Touched concerns me as much as they do you.”
“Tonight. We’ll talk about it tonight,” he said, sliding behind the wheel. The door slammed shut, and he reversed down the narrow driveway.
Sarah watched him go. Tears spilled down her face as the camphor scent of a lie wafted faintly in the air.
Chapter 2
James felt likeshit.
He punched the heavy bag hanging in the Harbor Complex’s gym, picturing Prince Myles’ face. He hammered at it until the tape around his knuckles tore, and the skin beneath bled. Sweat dripped into his eyes. His t-shirt was soaking wet.
I’m strong, James.
He stopped the bag’s motion with a hand and leaned his forehead on the warm leather, Sarah’s words replaying in his mind on a continuous loop. “I know you are, baby. I know you are,” he said under his breath.
The memory of her brandy-colored eyes filling with moisture and her lower lip trembling earlier that morning nearly broke his resolve to keep her in the dark. Only knowing his stubborn mate would never allow him to take on the dangerous mission alone kept him from confessing.
He was counting on that strength when he left Sarah behind.
It was time to find the rebels and join their cause. Time to abandon his mate, his son, and his pack.
As planned, James hadn’t been discreet. Word of his displeasure with the Fae Touched region’s current Dádhe regime’s handling of the escalating violence against their people had spread like a witch’s catalyst spell throughout the magical community and hopefully traveled far enough to reach rebels’ ears. The locals certainly believed he had lost faith in his queen and his Alpha, Samuel Walker.
His claws stabbed at the punching bag’s tough hide, tearing into the outer layer of foam and breaching the sand filling. He hit it again. And again.
“I think it’s dead,” Samuel said, grabbing ahold of the perforated sack and swinging it out of James’ reach.
“Take it out of my pay, commander.” He forced disdain into his voice while using every ounce of strength to bar his true emotions from Samuel’s probing Alpha bond. James concentrated on the fury of his circumstances, allowing the burned coffee odor of rage to override the stale scent of despair.
“I don’t care about the damn money,” his brother-in-law said, placing his free hand on James’ neck. “Talk to me. Why are you so angry lately?”
“I’m angry because my pack’s Alpha is acting more like a pup with his tail between his legs than the Clan príoh of an entire region of shifters.”
The sharp scent of crushed evergreens made James’ nostrils flare, and the hair on his arms rise. Claws grasped his nape, the tips pressing into his skin.
“What the fuck, James?” Samuel asked through long canines. “What. The. Fuck.”
