1
“You’re running out of time, Chase.”
Chase closed his eyes and sighed. “I know, Richard.”
“Have you asked her?”
“Every time I do, she gets upset.”
“You have to figure out how to talk to her about things.”
Chase snapped his eyes open and glared at the older man. “I’m trying to do so many things at once right now, it feels like my commander told me to run a 5k while cleaning my rifle.”
Richard leaned back in his leather office chair and tapped his fingers on his desk. “Have you tried being upfront with her?”
“She knows she needs to go to a Gathering before I can ask her to marry me.”
“Does she know why it needs to be sooner than later?”
Chase shook his head. “I don’t want to pressure her.”
Richard stared at him for a long moment. “Let me ask you this—how do you think she would feel if you didn’t pressure her to go, and you lost your chance to get married?”
Chase opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it again. He sighed. “She’d be crushed.”
The older man raised his eyebrows. “Then you know what you need to do.”
Damian Sinclair glanced up without raising his head. Lia, his sister, stood in the doorway of his study, rubbing her fingers on the hem of her t-shirt. “What?”
“Fa—” She shook her head. “My father is here.”
“Why?”
“He says he brings a gift.” Lia paused. “He has a girl with him.”
Damian arched a brow.
“He said you were expecting her.”
He stood and Lia jumped to the side as he brushed past. In the entryway, a filthy young woman waited, wrapped in a black winter coat. Her hair was matted against her head and her face was so dirty, he wasn’t certain of the coloring. Her blue eyes were pretty but expressionless.
Albert Sinclair, Damian’s biological father, appeared from the sitting room that adjoined the foyer. “Damian. I have good news.” He pushed the girl forward none too gently. “She’s ready at last.”
“I would assume so, otherwise you wouldn’t have brought her.” He studied the girl and wrinkled his nose. “She’s foul.”
“We didn’t want to risk touching her.”
“Has she ever been washed?”
“We thought the less interaction, the better, my lord.”
Damian studied her face. “Does she have a name?”
“Alana.”
“Lia!” Damian snapped. Lia appeared at his side. “Take her downstairs and wash her.”
Albert held out a key. “This is for her belt.”
“Belt?”
Albert shrugged. “She was caged, but I didn’t want to risk the men being tempted by her. She’s worn a chastity belt for years.”
Damian passed the key to Lia and the two women disappeared down the stairs. He turned back to Albert. “Does she talk?”
“Minimally. Khyan put her in a type of waking sleep, so she functions, but doesn’t know what’s going on. Terric should be able to remove that once you’re ready.”
Damian nodded. “I’ll have him do that before the meeting tonight. It’s no fun if they don’t react.”
“Are you going to impregnate her tonight?”
“No. It’s too early. Tonight, she’ll become my slave and I’ll have something to play with while I complete the preparations for the Spring Gathering.”
“She’s not as powerful as Sabrina, is she?”
“No, but that’s not what she’s for. Her purpose is to carry the baby to sacrifice.”
“Seems a waste to just use her for that.”
Damian shrugged. “I can use her for whatever I want for a few weeks.” He frowned. “Especially since Sabrina isn’t returning my calls.”
2
Chase wiped his mouth with his napkin and set it on the table in front of him. “Do you know what tonight is?”
Sabrina tilted her head. “Tuesday?”
Chase laughed. “Yes, it’s Tuesday, but I meant the date.”
She pursed her lips and shook her head, her dark hair dancing across her shoulders.
“It’s the one-month anniversary of our first date.”
Her jade-green eyes widened as she gasped. “It is? Has that much time really passed?”
“It is.” His heart leaped at the smile that spread across her face.
“It’s all gone so fast.”
“In a good way or a bad way?”
“Good, of course!” She gave him that dimpled smile he’d grown so fond of. “This has been the best month of my entire life.”
Chase beamed. “Mine too.”
“You’re not just saying that?”
“Why would I do that?”
“To be nice.”
He chuckled. “Well, I do try to be extra nice to you.” He stood and pulled her to her feet and into his arms. “But I’m not just being nice. I have had the best time this past month getting to know you.” He leaned down to kiss her gently on the mouth and then cupped her cheek. “I love you.” He’d never said that to a woman before.
Her eyes both softened and lit up all at once. “I love you, too.” Her tone was the one he’d come to recognize as when she was feeling shy, but safe. His heart raced every time he heard it.
He couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face. He kissed her again and pulled away. “I have something for you.”
She giggled. “We’re still reading The Lord of the Rings!”
“It’s not a book.”
When he’d presented her with a copy of her favorite childhood book, The Last Unicorn, after their first date, they’d started a tradition of reading to each other almost every night. Well, he did most of the reading. Sabrina said she loved listening to his voice, and he loved her nestled against his chest as they shared the fictional adventure that had inspired her bravery. When they finished, she’d asked to read his childhood favorite next. They were about done with the first part, The Fellowship of the Ring, now.
They walked into his expansive living room and he retrieved a small white box with a gold cord tied around it from the bookshelf and handed it to her.
“This is definitely not a book.” She bit her lip, staring at the box.
“It’s not an engagement ring, either.”
She blew out a breath and smiled. Though they’d spent countless hours together the last few weeks, she wasn’t ready for “the question.” Especially since she hadn’t been to a Gathering yet.
She untied the cord and pulled out a white velvet box. Lifting the lid revealed a pair of diamond solitaire earrings that sparkled in the firelight. She gasped. “Oh, Chase, they’re beautiful! Thank you!”
He took the box from her and fidgeted with the clasps. “I wanted to get you something you could wear even while you’re dancing.” He handed her one at a time and showed her how to lock them in place.
She grinned as she turned them in her earlobes. “I feel like a princess.” She stood taller and lifted her chin, eyes sparkling.