Nadine Book 7

26. Guilty

We spend quite a bit of time looking at everything. He gives me his ideas, and we change some stuff to make it easier to get around. Then someone knocks on the door.

We yell, "ENTER." at the same time and keep working.

Then there's a big crash. Marcus and Nikolas are in the room with us.

"Never lock the damn door."

"Coral was the last 1 out. I didn't even know it was locked. I wouldn't have shut it. You or Dipak can't use a door knob."

"What are you doing?"

"Working on the China inn. He gave me a bunch of ideas and I changed some stuff. I like it now."

"Have you started in on the spa stuff yet?"

"Not yet. Trying to get this done and then move to that."

"I was thinking, you remember the romance packages?"

"Yes."

"You should add those as a branch to the spa. Have just a little separate room for it." Marcus kisses my head. "I'll come and give you my ideas in a bit angel. I still have some work to do on the winery with Tre."

"Thank you."

"Sorry about the door."

"Don't worry about it. I'm used to it."

"Nikolas wants to talk to you."

Elek stands up. "I'll go help Johen. He's lost with the inn thing."

Marcus nods. "Yea, he is lost. Dipak is about done. I still need to find a damn mountain or 6." They leave together.

"You can sit down, Nikolas. I would say shut the door, but you broke it down to get in here."

"Sorry. Marcus helped though. He said you were locked in here with Elek. I damn near died."

"I am sorry for that. I had no idea the door was locked."

"Don't be sorry. You never have to be sorry for anything." He sits in the chair beside me. "I miss you and I have no idea how to move forward. I understand if you want nothing to do with me ever again."

"Maybe we can talk for a while."

"About what?"

"Everything." I shrug my shoulders. "The girl you were actually with. Or cheated on her with me. Or me with her. I don't know."

He shakes his head. "I never touched her. I never talked to her alone. She was another monster my dad made me tolerate. I would pretend to get along with her for formal stuff. Other than that, she would do whatever my dad or his mate wanted. Even the thought of kissing her made me sick. I never kissed any of them. And she was the 6th one in the last 30 or so years. I never touched any of them. I couldn't stand them. They were monsters, willing to do anything for the king monster. Everything I told you about me having s*x was the truth. I would use a human every few years. I never raped anyone. It was consensual. Please don't think that either."

"What do you think about keeping all the bedrooms separate in the China inn?"

"It would be nice to have privacy in the bedroom."

I sketch. "What did you think when you found the crown?"

"That I would finally be able to get my brothers out of there for good. I was more excited I got a kiss from you though. It felt like everything was turning around. We were going to be ok. And I was so excited to have you."

"How did you keep that vault hidden? And how long did you have it?"

"I made it right after I turned 400. Before that, I kept mom's paintings in a hidden exit route. I don't think my dad knew about that 1. How did you find it?"

"Hole in the wall behind my painting. I pulled the key out and found that address. I took the address to the table. I hid the key. When they gave me the address, I went there. I wanted to see what else you were hiding."

"Only the stuff I wanted to keep safe. And the records. And I didn't know how to do the business stuff. That has always been hard for me to figure out."

"It is hard. I couldn't imagine doing it alone." I show him the sketch of the family room I made. "2 bedrooms. 1 main area with the kitchen, bath, and sitting area."

"Almost, but not quite. The children's room shouldn't have a balcony." He alters my sketch. "I think that would work better."

"Do you think people will like this?"

"Yea, I do. It's more private."

"What made your dad act when he did?"

"He saw your mark on my neck. His mood changed completely after that. I knew it wasn't going to be long. I needed more time to tell you. I didn't know how. I figured we would all die anyway. I was trying to get my brothers out. Then my dad acted when Dipak was talking about the gold. I had to do what I could. My brothers lived and your people lived. That's all I cared about."

"How did the bond break? I didn't even feel it break. Elek drugged me, and I was unconscious when it broke, maybe."

He erases my pirate-themed little kid area. "It broke from your side. I figured you found out and it broke. The dragon must have done it while you were unconscious. That hurt like hell. I'm glad you didn't feel that snap."

"Why did you run with them?"

"I had to make sure my brothers got home. I had to make sure they made it out safe. I couldn't leave them. Once we got home, my dad came after me with his mate. But I was done. All I wanted was you. I didn't care what they said or threatened me with. I took a step towards him. I was done backing down. He turned around and ran away. Then the w***e followed him out. Corbin said that's when he realized they were afraid of us now. But it was too late for me. I had to go back to you. I had to at least try. Life isn't worth living if you're not with me."

I hand him my sketch of the adult room. "How early did you know I was your mate?"

He erases the bedroom wall and makes the bedroom bigger with a big bath in it. "Not until I found the crown. I knew you were amazing and beautiful the first time I saw you. I was so drawn to you. But I never dreamed that someone as perfect as you could be mated with me. Everything you did amazed me. All I wanted was to touch you, even for 2 seconds. The more time I spent with you, the more I couldn't live without you. I wanted to tell you about everything. But I couldn't risk tipping him off. I couldn't chance getting you hurt. I loved every second I had with you. Talking or eating. That first kiss on the beach I will never forget. I loved you so much even then. I hoped I was your mate earlier. But something inside me told me to stop being stupid. Perfect angels like you aren't going to get mated to a monster. I still feel like that. Like it was a mistake. My dad playing 1 last cruel joke. I don't even deserve a chance with someone like you. You're so good."

I jump over to his chair and straddle him. I give him a deep kiss. He grabs onto my hips so tightly. I can tell he needs me.

I kiss his marking spot, and he pulls me closer to him. I nibble his ear and whisper, "Mine."

He has tears in his eyes. He pushes my hair back and looks in my eyes. "All yours baby."

I give him another kiss.

Then I hear someone complain about the door. I jump back into my seat and pretend to be working on a sketch.

Dipak and Marcus are in the room.

Nikolas looks at me really weird.

Dipak nods. "She's guilty. I watched you do that woman. Which 1 of them have you been kissing this time?"

I point at Nikolas.

"I don't care. Which of the other idiots?"

I scratch my head.

"Elek?" I nod. "Did you have s*x with him?"

I give him a dirty look. "Of course not. No clothes came off."

"I'm running the soulmate test on him."

"No. Please no. Let me sneak around with him some more. I like doing that. I won't go too far. Don't ruin it."

"Fine, but no more than kissing. You test before anything real happens."

"Fine."

"And leave his damn clothes on."

"Ok."

Dipak shakes his head. "I swear." He turns to walk out.

Marcus grabs him and turns him back around. "Tobias?"

I "UGH." and put my head on the table.

Dipak yells, "WOMAN." He looks at Marcus. "How did you know that one?"

"He seems more relaxed. Not even that mad at Elek anymore. I knew something was different."

Dipak rolls his eyes. "Same questions."

"Same answers."

"Fine. No more shutting doors either."

I gesture to the big hole in the wall.

"Yea, it's going to stay like that. Nikolas, you can have your office back. Apartment too. You can figure out how you want to do that. I don't figure you'd want to leave your brothers over there alone constantly. I can always summon you for important meetings. I don't know, you figure it out. And remember she likes kissing princes, keep an eye on her. There are a couple roaming around the level."

Nikolas stares at me. I look anywhere else.

Dipak and Marcus leave.

Nikolas spins the sketch and starts the bigger slide area. I give him the biggest hug. Then I work on the older kids' club.

Elek comes in and points out the kid's outdoor play area. "That is amazing. Hell I want to play on it. They are going to love the twisty slides. I have an idea for the room. Johen is stuck on them. Have you started on those?"

"Yep." I hand him the 2 sketches.

"Oh hell, these are better than my idea. Can I show these to Johen?"

"Of course."

"I'll make sure they get back here." He walks out with them.

"I half expected him to try and kiss you."

"He did that in front of them once. I don't think he'll do it again. He flew halfway across the arena."

"Do you like him?"

"I do."

"Do you like Tobias?"

I stare at the table. I don't know him. He's sexy. I shrug my shoulders. "He seems nice." I start designing the big dining room. "What do you think about me taking your stuff?"

"You're my mate, it's yours. Even if it's mine, it's yours. So it doesn't make any difference."

"What about those businesses you had?"

"I had no idea what I was doing. I was trying. They are all over the place. I finally had a couple that were making decent money though."

"I'm keeping the wineries."

"Yea, those weren't making any money for me."

"They make me a lot of money."

"How?"

"I'm putting the wine in all the resorts and a couple of castles are ready to sign contracts for 130g a bottle. They only cost about 25g a bottle to make. So I make 100g a bottle even at the 130g line. The boys can resell for 200g and make some money too."

"I never thought about doing something like that."

"Tre said you're terrible at marketing." We laugh and he gives me another kiss.