Page 53 of Fallen Court

We’d been too busy fighting to get to that.

She waited until we were inside before she started another one. “What do you mean I can’t tell anyone?”

I’d give up more of my soul to steal a few extra minutes alone before we dealt with what waited outside my door, but something told me her patience was running a tad thin. “Just for now.” I started to reach for her but thought better of it. “I think it’s possible that someone is betraying us. Someone on the inside.”

She blinked as if I had suddenly spoken in tongues. “And you think that person is Ciara?”

“Of course not,” I hissed, hoping my sister wasn’t spying on us through the security cameras. “But she’s not great at keeping secrets, so until we know what we’re dealing with, I think it’s better if this stays between us.”

“And Roark,” she added flatly. I could tell what she thought about that. She looked at my hand. “At least you’re not wearing that signet ring anymore.”

“I never let him hear anything,” I promised her. Not that it mattered. At this point, I wasn’t sure she would ever let me touch her again. Not only did she think I was delusional, but she was more upset about the mating bond than I had expected. It was a lot of information to process, and all I could do was give her time.

Part of me wanted signet rings of our own. If only so I could figure out what she was thinking. We were mates, but she was still such a mystery sometimes. But I wouldn’t ask her to let me inside her head before she had decided if she would let me inside her heart.

The compartment seemed smaller with each floor the elevator ascended until it felt like there wasn’t enough room for the two of us. I was suffocating, and she was the air I needed to breathe. Cate grasped the handrail as we arrived on the top floor, her knuckles white. But when the doors opened, no one waited on the other side. Even my quarters were mercifully empty. I guessed my family’s sudden courtesy was a gesture more to her than me.

Cate hesitated when I led her to the door of my room, staring at the mammoth round bed covered in silky black sheets.

“You said you needed to sleep.” I stepped back, leaving the choice up to her.

Half of me expected that she would push past me and continue down the hall to her old room. But instead, she walked inside. I waited for her to ask me to join her.

She closed the door in my face instead.

No one bothered us during the night. I couldn’t decide if it was a miracle or torture. By the time dawn seeped through the windows of my living room, I was on my third glass of Scotch and no closer to answers. Cate had every right to be mad at me. I’d crossed a line. More than one, if I was being honest. She deserved the space to sort out her feelings.

That didn’t stop me from pacing in front of the bedroom door, hoping it would open.

It didn’t.

But knowing only a wall separated us was like an itch I couldn’t scratch. I was about to let myself in when Ciara barged into my quarters. Her eyes skimmed over my wrinkled clothing and the nearly empty glass in my hand. “I take it things went well.”

“There were complications.” I drained the last of the Scotch, washing down the sour words.

She huffed, some of last night’s smugness settling on her face. “I can come back.”

“No.” I rose to my feet. “You might as well call everyone for a meeting.” There was no point avoiding the others, and I needed an excuse to wake up Cate.

Ciara nodded, but halfway to the door, she stopped. “I’m glad she’s home.” She cleared her throat. “That you’re both home.”

I forced a smile. I wondered how long that feeling would last.

There was no answer when I knocked. Opening the door, I found the bed empty, and fear roared through my blood, settling when Cate peeked out from the chair perched by the fire. She groaned as she stood, hastily smoothing her dress. Judging by the circles rimming her eyes, she hadn’t slept much, either.

“You have about two minutes before my family ambushes us,” I warned her.

“I’ll change.” She sauntered past me to rummage through the wardrobe, frowning when she found only suits and slacks and guns.

“Hold on.” I slipped down the hall to the final bedroom. Her scent lingered in the space like she’d been here only yesterday, but she wouldn’t be needing this room anymore. Not if I had anything to say about it. I swiped an armful out of the top drawer of her dresser and snagged a few hangers from the closet.

Cate was wrapped in a towel when I returned, the red dress shriveling in the fireplace. I didn’t comment as I hung the dresses next to my suits. Then moved to make room in the sock drawer for her lacy underthings.

“Am I moving in?” she asked quietly.

A reminder that I was still in trouble.

“I thought you might need a few things in here.” I slid the drawer shut after hooking a pair of lacy panties on my thumb.