Page 109 of Deviant Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 5)

“At home, being a pussy.”

“He didn’t come with you?” I ask, needing to hear confirmation as I continue scanning my room as if he’s going to pop out of nowhere.

“No, Em. It’s just me.”

My eyes narrow at him. “Why?”

“Because I needed to see you.”

“But how? How did you find me?”

He blows out a breath and falls down on the edge of my bed, waiting for me to join him.

After picking up my hot water bottle and pressing it to my belly, I do, crawling up until I’m sitting against the headboard with my arms wrapped around my legs.

“I followed your dad and uncle.”

“But he’ll track you, Seb. He’ll follow you.”

“Em, I’m not an idiot. No one can track me right now.” He stands and shows me his empty pockets. “No phone. I paid an Uber driver a lot of money to follow them out here. No one knows where I am.”

“What about Stella? She’ll be going out of her mind.”

“Yeah, she will,” he agrees but shrugs like it doesn’t matter. “But she’ll be happier to know that you’re okay.”

“Fuck, Seb. I—” A sharp cramp stops my words and I press my palm against my belly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Girl shit,” I tell him, knowing that it’ll most likely put him off asking any other questions.

He waits for a beat before speaking again, I’m assuming to make sure that I’m okay.

“I wish he’d have told me. I wish you’d have told me.” Guilt washes through me.

“I know, I’m sorry. I told him he should, but he was adamant that he wanted to wait.” I shrug because I should have fought harder for Seb to know the truth.

“I just…” He shakes his head. “I can’t believe we’re related.”

“Trust me,” I say with a laugh. “I know.”

“Shut up. I’m awesome and you damn well know it.”

“Well, yeah. Me too, so…”

I startle when he rests his hand on my foot.

“Everything’s going to be okay, Em.” His warmth and support, although surprising, are very welcome.

I’ve always been lacking family. Mum is an only child and Cruz has never settled down. I’ve always been kinda lonely and jealous of the kids at school who had brothers and sisters and cousins to hang out with when I barely had a half-decent friend. But sitting here with Seb after he’s blown off the rest of his life just to come and make sure I’m okay? Well, it makes my chest all warm and fuzzy.

“I made the driver stop to get you something,” he says, getting off the bed and walking over to a bag by the window. “You don’t have to use it, but I figured you might want to at some point depending on how long you’re planning on staying here.” He pulls two brand new phones from the bag.

“They’re not tracked, I fucking swear to you. I haven’t even opened them.” He holds them up, showing me the cellophane to prove it.

“One for you, and one for us.”

“Seb,” I sigh, emotion crawling up my throat at his thoughtfulness. “Who knew you could be so sweet?”