Chapter 9 #2
Amos blew out a long breath and rested his forehead on the top of her head. “Thank you.”
He released her, and she stepped far away before facing him. For the first time in three years, he really took her in. Seeing her in person, instead of through Roland, felt like something holy.
“You’re beautiful,” he rasped, moving closer.
Clover backpeddled, her face showcasing every emotion he felt through their bond. He let himself feel freely, wanting her to know how much she meant to him and how sorry he was.
“I didn’t tell you about Jennifer, because I wanted to tell you in person. I’d planned to tell you this week.”
She scoffed. “Exactly how long did you not tell me?
“When my father asked for the name of my mate, I made up a name. The odds of someone having the name Jennifer and being born on my birthday were nearly impossible.”
“Obviously not,” Clover snapped. “You’ve had a fake mate since we were thirteen and didn’t tell me?”
The hurt she felt was worse than her anger, and he despised himself for it.
“I wanted to tell you in person. I knew you’d have questions,” he explained.
“I thought about how I would feel if I received a letter telling me you had a fake boyfriend, and I knew I’d go crazy waiting to hear back. I didn’t want that for you.”
She sniffled and looked away. “In the first few months we wrote, we promised to be honest. You lied.”
“I didn’t,” he insisted. “I was always going to tell you.”
“A lie by omission is still a lie,” she shot back. “I’ll give you an example of honesty: I have never been more humiliated and—” Her voice broke. “—and heartbroken than what I was today.”
He swore softly under his breath and closed the distance between them, scooping her into his arms. Her anger receded, but the sense of betrayal still lingered as she cried into his chest.
“Never again,” he promised. “I’ll tell you everything that happens to me from here on out.” Her tear-stained face turned up, and her blue eyes blazed against the red rims. “I was going to ask you to stay here,” he confessed. “I want you here with me.”
“How would that work with Jennifer?” The mention of the other girl's name had her lip trembling.
“She’s known from the beginning we’ll never be anything romantic, and she’s fine with that. Her home life was awful, and her being my fake mate helped us both. Her father couldn’t marry her off against her will, and my father wouldn’t look into my true mate.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She stepped back and wiped at her cheeks. “I mean if everyone thinks she’s your mate now, where does that leave us?”
He frowned. “What do you mean? You’re my mate, we just have to keep it secret.”
Her face fell with disappointment and resolve. There was no way around that now that Jennifer had been announced until Amos took the throne, and they both knew it.
She sniffled. “What about Amelia? We can’t leave her unprotected at the orphanage.”
“Amelia’s always had protection at the orphanage,” he said before he could catch himself, and by her expression, he knew he’d fucked up.
Clover’s face had gone unnaturally blank, and the bond went cold. “What do you mean Amelia’s always been protected?”
“Clover…”
“What did you mean, Amos?” she demanded, her voice rising. “And don’t lie to me.”
They stared at one another as she waited for him to blow up the rest of their relationship. If she’d been upset about a lie by omission, she’d never forgive him for this.
“Let’s go back to your house, and we’ll talk about it there.” Where her family could back him up. They’d all agreed it was a good idea.
Voice barely a whisper, she said, “Tell me.”
A weight settled on his shoulders, and he begged every god in the heavens to not let this be their end.
“Every house mother at the orphanage since Amelia was placed there has been one of Queen Charlotte’s most trusted warriors.
” Clover gasped and stepped back. “So is the school teacher,” he added quietly.
Tears slithered down his mate’s face, her lips parted and eyes wide. The bond was on fire, and he needed to hold her, to make her understand.
“Why did you send me?” She already knew, but she needed him to say it. He couldn’t, knowing it would put the final nail in the coffin. “Why?” she screamed, a sob ripping from her chest.
“I needed you far away from my father,” he whispered. “Ruth said you’d never go if you thought it was for your own protection.”
“Ruth?” His mate broke in front of him, her shoulders shaking, head down. “Did everyone know?”
Words wouldn’t form, and Amos could only nod like a coward.
Clover backed further into the cave. “I don’t ever want to see you again.”
“No,” he pleaded. “We can get through this. It was for your safety. Don’t you see? I can’t lose you.”
“You and my family took away my choice,” she sneered. “It was my choice to make. Who the fuck are you to manipulate me?”
“I’m your mate!” he roared. “I watched my mother die, and I have a sister who would be murdered if she stepped foot into our kingdom. She doesn’t even know I exist. Almost everyone I love has been taken from me. I couldn’t let them take you too.”
“You think you’re the only one who lost someone to this fucked up kingdom?
I watched my mother be raped and killed.
” Clover sucked in a sharp breath. “She didn’t fight back.
I didn’t tell you that. She didn’t even try to fight him off.
Your mother didn’t get the chance to fight, and Amelia is too naive to survive our world, but I’m not.
I can fight. I can defend myself, and you took my decision to stay and fight away from me. ”
Uncaring about his pride, he hit his knees. “I’m sorry. You’ll never know how sorry I am. I didn’t think of it like that, but I see now. Don’t leave me, Clover. I’m begging you to not leave me.” His own tears fell. “I don’t know who I’ll be without you.”
She backed up more and whistled. “Don’t write me letters. Don’t send gifts. Don’t even think about me anymore. We’re done. Marry Jennifer for all I care.”
A whooshing sound filled the air and a black dragon landed gracefully behind her.
Amos’ eyes widened and he climbed to his feet, running after her. “Clover, no!”
Without a backward glance, she climbed onto the dragon’s back and disappeared into the den.