I had waited for a moment after the bedroom doors to the king's chambers had been shut. Just long enough to ensure that my mate was truly gone and would not be returning, claiming to have forgotten something or anything of the sort. And only when I was sure of it did I open my eyes.
Thanks to years of perfecting faking deep slumber when I wished not to be woken too early by anyone, I was able to convince him that I had truly been sleeping while he watched and waited. Until he gave up.
I was as a thief, scheming as I sought to avoid him completely. One would even call me ungrateful for attempting this after how he’d taken care of me. But while I had relished being wrapped up in his arms, being taken care of by him, I wasn't quite ready to face him yet. Not after what had gone on on his be
