Page 13 of Brambles and Bellflowers
His mouth deepened into a curious frown, highlighting the fine wrinkles on his face, and he brushed the arm of his navy suit and asked, “And to whom do you belong, Bianca?”
A strange undercurrent to his question made me pause, and I could no longer meet his eyes. I pulled the book closer to my chin and studied the fireplace. “D-Dubois.” When he didn’t respond, I added, “I’m… I’m married to Bryce.”
For now.
“So it is,” he mused, closing the gap between us with deliberate steps. His elegant movements were fluid andpracticed, and I watched him warily as he took the opposite chair.
“I—I didn’t mean to intrude. I found this place by accident,” I confessed in a whisper, studying the floor between us. He was so close now, less than five feet away. “I’ll leave.”
“You don’t have to leave,” he replied.
I bit my lip, nodding. “O-okay.”
A tense silence moved between us, and I focused on his polished, black shoes.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said suddenly. “You’re fae.”
Did that mean he’d hurt me if Iweren’t? Still—
“I wasn’t going to—”
“Then why do you avert your gaze?” he asked. “That’s beneath someone with your lineage. Make eye contact and speak properly.”
Slowly, I looked up, and even though it was stupid and my nerves were screaming in protest, I nodded.
“Be more confident,” he commanded, and when I didn’t respond, he frowned, clearly displeased. “And answer me directly. Why are you cowering?”
“Um…” I bit my lip. The air seemed to swell as the powerful presence wrapped around me. “I—” I paused, sucking in a breath, before continuing, “I don’t mean to. I’m scared of men.”
“Is that so?” He tilted his head. I looked back to the floor, and he leaned forward, bracing his forearms over his knees, demanding my attention with his presence. “Why?” he asked.
“They—” I began, hugging myself. Why was I telling him this? “They can hurt you.”
He was silent momentarily, and the seconds seemed to stretch between us before he suddenly asked, “Where’s your chaperone? I did not see anyone outside.”
I fought the heat rising at the back of my neck and replied through gritted teeth, “I don’t have one.”
“Why do you seem displeased?” The man scowled. “A female of your standing should have a chaperone.”
“I don’t understand why.” I bit my lip. “I—I don’t need someone following me around, telling me what to do.”
“A chaperone isn’t only for supervision,” he replied. “They are your bodyguards—a necessary thing, especially in this realm. There are so few of you and fewer yet that can hold your family’s secret.”
“S-secret?” I blinked.
He was still looking at me in that disapproving way. “How do you know so little about being a fae?”
“I—” My cheeks grew hot, and I looked at the fireplace. “I’m still learning.”
“Who raised you?”
“Ah—” I touched my fingertips together. “Well, I was adopted when I was eight…”
“And before that?” he asked.
“Does it matter?” My breath caught, and I wrapped my arms around my stomach as it began to twist painfully.
His eyebrows drew together, and he tilted his head. “What is your given name?”
