The Palace (Chateau 4)

His hard gaze continued for a while. Then his eyes lightened. His energy changed.

And he smiled.

Instead of working in his office, he chose to spend time with me.

Our mornings were spent in bed, making love like we hadn’t done that all night long. Then he would take me to Paris. We would get lunch, do some sight-seeing, go shopping, stuff that regular couples did.

With his hand in mine, he led the way.

Giving me a life I’d never thought I could have.

He bought me anything I wanted, whether it was a scarf or diamond earrings. Whenever a man came too close to me, he literally gave them the death stare until they scurried off. If a woman hit on him, he acted like she didn’t exist.

I was the only thing that mattered to him.

His head never turned.

And I knew it wasn’t for show.

We returned to the palace, and Fender carried my shopping bags into the foyer before he set them down for Gilbert to retrieve.

Gilbert emerged when he arrived. The old Gilbert would be ready the second the guards notified him that Fender was at the gate, but it was wrong to compare them, despite the now-same name. “Dinner is almost ready. Will you be dining in your room this evening?”

“Yes.” Fender barely looked at him before he took the stairs.

I followed behind him, and we entered our bedroom.

He removed his watch and pulled his shirt over his head, standing shirtless near the bed.

“You don’t like Gilbert.”

He turned to me, undoing his jeans. “I don’t like anybody.”

“I know it’s hard, but you can’t compare him to…”

Fender didn’t talk about the first Gilbert, didn’t talk about anything really, but it was obvious it still haunted him. He’d lost someone he cared about, and it made him shut down in many ways. He ignored what I said and pulled off his shoes then stripped down to his boxers.

I let it be.

After he’d said he would release Raven, we hadn’t talked about it. I assumed he would make good on his word next time he went to the camp—which was probably any day now. I kicked off my shoes and got undressed, choosing to wear one of his t-shirts instead of my fancy clothes. We’d become fully domesticated now, like a couple that sat around in their pajamas when they were home.

He walked up to me, his gaze dark, like he had something to say.

I waited. I knew him better than anyone else, so I recognized all his subtle cues. I understood what he said without saying a word. I didn’t have to see his anger because I could absorb it through my skin. I didn’t even need to hear him say he loved me—because I could feel that too.

“I leave tonight.”

Like I received devastating news, I inhaled a deep breath. “Why do you always tell me at the last minute—”

“Because you hate it every time I leave.” His big hands cupped my face. “I hate it too.”

The last time he left, everything fell apart.

“I’d stay…but I can’t. I have work to do.” His eyes were full of apology. “I’ll bring you with me if that makes you more comfortable.”

I wanted to say yes. I wanted to be with him always. I wanted his massive size beside me every single night.

He watched my eyes, studying my reaction.

But that place was the source of my nightmares. The source of my pain. The very reason we shouldn’t be together. My sister would be removed from the camp, so it was best never to think of it again, to pretend it didn’t exist. I couldn’t pretend if I was there.

His hands slowly dropped from my face. “I understand.”

I hated to disappoint him, but I just couldn’t do it. “You’ll release my sister when you’re there?”

He nodded.

“And when she’s in Paris…can I see her?”

His look suddenly turned angry. Out of nowhere. Like an asteroid that appeared in the sky with no warning whatsoever. He stepped back, nostrils flaring, eyes closing, hands clenching. “No.”

In shock, all I could do was stare.

A knock sounded on the door, announcing Gilbert’s arrival.

As if the conversation was over, Fender turned away. “Enter.”

Gilbert let himself inside and carried the tray of food to the table.

My eyes never left Fender. “What do you mean, no?”

He turned back to me, surprise in his eyes, like he expected this conversation just to go away.

“You expect me to marry you but never see my sister? Who’s with your brother?”

His voice boomed like someone had cranked up the volume on a stereo. “I’m letting her go. Why isn’t that enough for you?” He turned on me, skin tinted red with rage, his eyes hostile.

Gilbert stilled at the table then quickly arranged the platters, trying to get out of there as quickly as possible.

My eyes narrowed on Fender’s face, all the love in my heart gone. “How do you expect me to be happy when I can’t see the only family I have left—”