ANSEL POV “I think I should get going,” Maggie said from behind Karin, but Ansel hardly heard her. He continued to look from the ring to Karin. Quickly moving past them, Maggie all but sprinted to get out of the line of fire. Karin backed into the villa and Ansel followed her, shutting the door behind him. “I see the good doctor has proposed,” he said.The unhinged look on his face had returned. “Yes, he did,” she said cautiously.“So he proposed knowing that you’re my surrogate?”“Yes.”“Just making sure that I have the story correct before I kill him.”“Ansel, you can’t kill him.”“Yes I can,” he said lethally. “I suggest you learn that rather quickly. I may have remained calm earlier today, but make no mistake, I will slaughter anyone who touches you.”Karin’s bottom lip quivered. “Please, I’m begging you not to kill him. If you just let me fin—”Ansel grabbed her in his arms. “Stop talking,” he demanded. Wrapping his hands in her hair, he craned her head back, making her l
KARIN POV “You look pretty, mommy,” Jemma says as she beams up at me. She tugs at my tutu. “Can I dance, too?” “Of course you can,” I say, returning her smile. She jumps up and down, making the large yellow bow in her hair wiggle. “Yay! I’m going to be a famous ballerina like you!” I find myself elated at the idea of her considering me someone she could look up to. I’m dreaming. I realize, but it doesn’t matter. If anything, I’d been secretly hoping that I would dream of her again. I watch as she runs across the massive ballroom to turn on the music. The sweet melody emitted from the speaker fills the air with music that somehow brings a familiar routine to my mind. Jemma does a twirl and falls on her bottom, causing a fit of giggles. “Oops,” she says, still laughing. “I got dizzy.” I walked over and helped her stand. “That’s alright. Just remember to find a focal point that way when you spin, you won’t get dizzy.” I do a spin that ends
Ansel remained silent, and Aron sighed. “Ansel, again, we jest a lot, but these are the things that are important factors in your sessions. I can only help if I know even the things that make you uncomfortable. I’ve seen you grow so much over the years, and I hope to see that continue.” “You’re right,” he said, sighing. “Yes, to your question. I’m still working through that part at the moment, that’s all.” “Why?” “Because it was unexpected. Honestly, the entire thing was. We got into a bit of an argument and next thing you know we were in bed. I only planned to tease her, but there was something about the way she looked at me that made it impossible to pull away.” “How did she look at you?” “With love,” he replied. “I could see it in her eyes. At first I thought I was imagining it, but the longer she looked at me, the more it seemed to grow. Next thing you know, one incident turned into the entire night.” “…Ansel
KARIN POV Climbing the steps to the manor two by two, I knock on the door. “Hello, Lady Karin,” the butler greeted me warmly. I tried to contain my temper, knowing it was not directed at him. “Hello. Is Ansel in?” The butler raises his eyebrow but doesn’t address my informality. There is a sly smirk on his face. At this point I may as well tattoo we had sex on my forehead. “Sir Ansel just returned. I believe he’s in his office,” he says. “Of course he is,” I reply, and the butler moves to the side to let me in. “Thank you.” “You’re very welcome.” I stalked past him and made my way to Ansel’s office. Barging in, I don’t let him get a word out. “Ansel, I understand that I’m your surrogate and I respect the ins and outs of our deal, but if you think you’re going to sleep with me and then bolt, you have another thing coming!” From the corner of his office, I hear someone clearing th
ANSEL POV“Nice of you and your men to join us, Ansel,” King David said with a huff. “At your convenience, nonetheless.”“Apologies, father, there was a pressing issue that I needed to handle.”King David rolled his eyes. “Let me guess. This pressing issue had something to do with Karin.”“Yes, but she remedied it as well, so all is forgiven.” Ansel heard muffled laughter from his men, and he covered his mouth to hide his own.“I would have never guessed you would become one of those men who lets a woman impede him conducting business,” Edwin said. “Perhaps you should rethink accepting the role of Alpha if you’re so distracted.”“You somehow always find yourself in affairs that don’t belong to you, don’t you Edwin?” Ansel replied. Edwin raised his hands. “No need to get defensive. I’m only pointing out the difference between you and I. Anyone who has met me knows that when something comes up, I handle it with speed and ensure things are done to my satisfaction.” “So I’v
“I can’t tell you,” I say, unable to hold in my tears. Maggie nodded. “Yes, you can. I may not understand, but I can try.” “No, I really can’t, Mags.” “How are things going?” Ansel asked from the doorway, making us jump. Maggie dropped my hands, and I tried to wipe my face without him seeing, but it didn’t work. He enters my room and grabs my shoulders. “Hey, what’s the matter?” “I miss my father is all.” It may not have been the reason for my current tears, but it also wasn’t a lie. After our last visit, my father banned me from coming back. It hurt, especially because I know deep in my heart that something is wrong. Ansel kisses my forehead to comfort me. I smile softly at him. “Sorry for worrying you.” “Don’t apologize. I understand how much he means to you.” He rubs my cheek with his thumb. “How about we go for that walk now?” “You’re not too busy?” He shakes his head. “I can make time. besides I realize you’ve been here for a while
ANSEL POV Ansel and Karin enter the manor and find Henry and Maggie waiting for them. “Where’s the fire?” Ansel asked sarcastically, looking around. Seeing Karin’s disheveled clothes, Henry rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry boss. If it wasn’t so important, I would have waited until you were no longer occupied.” “Mhm,” Ansel replied, enjoying the red forming on Karin’s cheeks. “Don’t worry about it. We’re here now. What’s so urgent?” Henry lowered his voice. “I was on my way to the manor and happened to have overheard something that I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to.” “From whom?” &
KARIN POV “It’s all frivolous in my opinion. There are so many other things I could do with my time…” I say, mocking Ansel. “Like he’s that damn busy. I have stuff going on too. Tomorrow I have two books on the history of fire that I promised myself I would finish.” Maggie smirked as we worked together to fold Ansel’s clothes for his travels. “Of course, shame on him for not seeing the dangers of unfinished books over battling bearmen.” “You know sarcasm is said to be the lowest form of wit,” I say, turning up my nose.She nods. “I’ll make sure to remember that the next time we converse. Instead, how about we discuss the pyromania that swept the land in the 1950s?”“What really?! I haven’t gotten to that pa