“S-Someone…?” Penelope’s voice was small, so quiet that it came back the other direction and hung right on the edge of sounding dangerous. “You already have someone?”
Tobias debated for a moment about what to say to this, then said, “Yes.”
“But, you’re...you’re not marked or mated to them?” she asked; the answer was obvious, because he didn’t smell like a marked and mated man.
“No.” he said, realizing he’d been caught out in a lie. Well, it was a half-truth. “My charge, Princess Francesca. She’s...she’s the most important person in my life. I don’t have room in my heart for you.”
Penelope laughed. It was a strained, hysterical sound that cut through the air like a crack of thunder. She laughed so hard that she started choking from lack of air. He had no idea what was so funny about wha
