Page 31 of The Pakhan's Kidnapped Bride
“Anya is just staying here for a bit,” I say, not really explaining anything, but feeling the need to make some sort of comment.
“Are you joining us for breakfast? We’re about to take Em out before he starves to death,” Belle giggles.
“Oh, no, thank you, I’ve already eaten,” Anya says, her eyes drifting towards me. I know she hasn’t eaten yet. But maybe she can sense that I don’t want her around them.
I clench my jaw and smile tightly.
“Shall we get going?”
“Sure.” Ard nods. “Come on, my love, you’ve been craving those butterscotch pancakes for weeks now.” He places his hand on Belle’s lower back and gently pushes her out of the living room.
“Bye, Anya,” Belle calls out as she walks towards the door. She heads out into the front garden area, and I follow them, leaving Anya in the living room.
Before I can leave the house, Ardalion grabs my arm and pulls me aside.
In a harsh whispered tone, he demands to know what’s going on.
“That’s Kristopher’s sister,” he hisses. “What the hell are you doing with your enemy’s sister?” his eyes are narrowed as he stares at me.
Ardalion doesn’t know about the history between Anya and me. He doesn’t know that I’ve been in agony for the past five years since she left me.
He has supported me through everything, but this was too much to share. I tried to bury it, tried to push it down, instead of asking him for help to deal with it.
I clear my throat and answer carefully.
“I’ve got this handled, Ard. There is nothing for you to worry about, and I will not involve you in any of it.”
He shakes his head, his mouth pulled tight. “I don’t like this, Em.”
“I promise you, there’s nothing to worry about,” I say again, nodding, locking my eyes with his.
He sighs and tilts his head to the side, studying my face. “Alright. But I’m here, if you need anything. Support. Defense. Whatever.”
I grin and slap his shoulder. “Don’t be so dramatic,” I tease him, trying to make light of the situation.
But his expression tells me he isn’t falling for it that easily.
“Let’s go get some food,” he sighs, walking out to the car, towards his wife.
Thankfully, Ardalion doesn’t bring it up again. Not when we have our business meeting late that afternoon, and not the next day when I invite him and Belle for dinner at the mansion. He’s already seen Anya, so it hardly matters if he spends time with her, and he’s shown that he’s willing to stand back and not ask questions.
Anya is thrilled when I tell her that my cousin will be joining us for dinner with his wife. I think she’s lonely at the mansion. We hardly speak to each other, and she spends most of her time in her bedroom alone. It’ll be good for her to see other people, and at least they are people I can trust.
Ard and Belle arrive before sunset as we are having dinner outside on the patio with ocean views and a gentle sea breeze. The air is warm and fresh, and Anya comes down wearing a beautiful summer dress that floats around her thighs, teasing my imagination. She’s taken off the bandage wrapped around her leg and just left the stuck-on plaster with fresh gauze. She leans against the kitchen counter, her breasts pressing together, making it difficult to tear my eyes off her.
“Do you need help with anything?” she asks.
“How is your leg?”
“It’s much better. There isn’t much pain anymore, not like the first day. Whatever the cream was that you put on seems to have helped it close up faster.”
“You still have to be careful with it,” I warn her, keeping my eyes on the drink I’m making. “Do you want a gin and tonic?”
“Yes, please. Have you got blueberries? I love—"
I hold up the little tub of blueberries. “I know,” I say.
She grins, her cheeks turning a beautiful shade of pink. “You remembered,” she says softly.
