Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

ELIA

When she reached the dining room, the morning sun was glittering on the massive, old-fashioned chandelier that hung over the table, making the light prism on the walls. But Shaw sat at the head of the table, a tablet next to his plate, reading something as he ate.

"Good morning, Your Highness," he said happily as she walked to the buffet on other side of the table and picked up a plate.

"Good morning, Shaw," she said quietly, suddenly so weary. She didn't want to talk to this strange man. She didn't want to have to answer his inevitable questions—or navigate dodging them. Gahrye's instincts about Shaw hadn't changed. They still didn't know what was wrong with him, but something was not to be trusted. And as long as that was the case, she found the man tiring.

"I haven't been seeing you at meals very much. Are you getting enough food? You know in your condition it's very important to eat and drink plenty. You're providing for two now!" he said with wink that made Elia want to shudder.

She turned her back to dish herself some food and answer when he couldn't see her face and would be less likely to pick up the lie.

"I'm fine," she said. "Very healthy, in fact. I haven't had any sickness at all, yet. I guess we'll see, won't we?" She glanced at him over her shoulder.

Shaw nodded, his glasses reflecting the light from the window behind her. Elia couldn't figure out why that made her feel nervous, so she turned back to the food.

By the time she was seated at the table and had taken half a dozen bites of food, Shaw was rambling about his research. It wasn't until he mentioned the voices that her ears perked. But just as she was about to ask him, Gahrye and Kalle appeared in the doorway, making their way through—very carefully not touching—to the food.

Elia looked down at her plate and stifled a smile. She was going to have to tell Gahrye if he wanted to hide their relationship, he was going to have to stop watching her every move as if she was the most fascinating creature in Creation. And the hottest.

Then she swallowed a mouthful of bacon along with the pinch that appeared in her throat as she remembered catching that same look on Reth's face when she turned in a full room.

She sighed heavily.

Shaw looked like he was about to ask her something, when Kalle spoke to Shaw. "Have you had any luck with the house, Uncle?" she said casually, though Elia knew she was asking for Gahrye's benefit.

Shaw grimaced. "Sort of. I'm pretty confident of which one we should use. It will allow you access to here, to the portal, without a vehicle. But it hasn't been opened in years. I'm paying cleaners to go through it this week, just to make sure there's no infestations or other issues. We should be able to move you both in a week or so."

Elia's skin prickled. She wanted to get out of this house, out from under the eyes of this man and the staff who lurked in the halls. But she knew this had been sprung on Shaw, and she shouldn't expect him to be able to materialize a house of thin air.

She just desperately wanted to rest.

She rolled her head on her shoulders. She was so tired her skin felt too tight.

"Have you had any progress in your research, Gahrye?" Shaw asked eagerly. "Can we arrange that interview for tomorrow do you think? I really want to get through our questions before the memory fades too much.

Elia's stomach went cold. If there was one part of this trip she'd been avoiding so much as thinking about, it was the voices in the traverse. Just the mention of it made her hackles rise. She rolled her shoulders.

Gahrye glanced at her, but answered Shaw reluctantly. "We're finding little things," he said vaguely. "But nothing significant yet."

Shaw nodded. "That's usually how it goes until you find a nugget. Then that text will lead you to another, which leads to another. I'm sure you'll get there. Don't give up."

"I won't," Gahrye said, flatly.

Kalle looked at him, and Elia made a mental note to mention the big-eyed staring to her, as well.

Elia shifted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortable—until she realized what she felt was desire. She could scent it on Kalle and it was triggering her own.

Oh dear lord, how embarrassing. Gahrye would smell it on her and he might think she was interested in him—or worse, Shaw.

Elia choked on her toast at the thought.

"Elia?" Gahrye asked quietly.

"You'll need to be careful eating. In your state, you don't want to take any risks," Shaw said, as if he were some kind of expert on pregnancy?

Elia stared at him, her teeth clenched. "I assure you, I am taking no risks at all," she snarled.

Gahrye's scent threaded with an alert warning, while Shaw chuckled.

"Well, we both know that's not true. Coming here at all is a big risk, and yet, here you are!"

Elia sucked in a breath. "You think I came here for shits and giggles?"

Gahrye was staring a warning at her. She heard him loud and clear. But this guy was getting on her nerves.

"No, no. Of course not!" Shaw said, putting his hands up, palms towards her. "I only meant, you can't be too worried about the babe if you're willing to take the traverse with it."

"The traverse cannot touch my child," Elia spat. "And I assure you, it was only the direst need and brought me here."

Shaw bobbed his head side to side. "Yes, yes, of course. Forgive me. I did not mean anything by it. We are, of course, thrilled that you are here. I hope you are able to make yourself available for an interview about the voices yourself, soon?"

Something in her chest twisted tight and Elia stifled a shudder. "I will not be speaking the voices," she replied through her teeth.

Shaw froze, frowning. "You cannot be serious?"

"Deadly," she said.

*****

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