Page 75 of His Retribution

But that would be weird and make everyone questionmyrather fractured mind.

I cannot help that I’m filled with so much joy over hearing her words, the same words and feelings she had centuries ago, her nickname for Henrich. All of it is just too much and not enough all at once.

"I get it.” Cora giggles. "It's fine. I'm just giving you shit. Ask whatever you need to, test me however you see fit."

Gods, I can't stand it.

I want to kiss her so badly, kiss her and hold her, do all the things we used to do in secret but no longer need to hide.

I highly doubt now is the time though.

It's important to see where her head is at, how she is coping with things and I'm sure if I were to kiss her now that would only make things harder.

Pun absolutely intended.

Her gaze turns to me as one thin dark brow lifts. "Am I going to have to endure Henny's interrogation with you sitting on me the whole time?"

I simply nod and smile so wide my face will probably get stuck like that.

“Fine." She rolls her eyes with a smile. "But if you get a boner you’ll need to go sit in the chair. I can't have any more distractions than I already do with you shirtless and your jeans undone while you straddle my lap."

She just had to say that.

Minx.

Thankfully, Henrich interrupts by clearing his throat. "Let's start simply. Can you tell me your name?"

"Which one?"

He frowns. "You've had multiple?"

"Sort of. Do you want the names I've used as aliases or my real name?"

"Your real name,” I blurt, which earns me a scowl from Henrich but he nods in agreement.

"Cora Eliza Toth."

And there goes my heart, fluttering like crazy at hearing the most beautiful words in all the languages of all the world.

“Good." Henrich smiles. “And do you remember your parents?"

My light scowls as she always did at the mention of her parents. "Josef and Anastasia Toth."

"Did you have siblings?"

“No." Then she smirks. "One of me was more than they could handle."

"Do you recall their occupations?"

"Josef was a nobleman, advisor to the human king. Anastasia had no valuable skills and was totally content sitting on her ass at court trying to get into the queen's favor. She was lazy and vain and hated damn near everything about me."

“Excellent." Henrich looks to me and I nod. "And what was it that your mother hated about you?"

Cora sighs. "She hated that I was a tomboy. I spoke my mind, got into fights. Didn't like that I dressed functionally versus frilly. Anastasia practically despised the fact that I insisted on being educated in more ways than maintaining a household. She wanted me to be submissive, the perfect wife for someone well off, to know my place as a mindless woman only meant to make her husband look good and give him heirs."

All things that made me love her more, especially knowing that despite her desire for knowledge, her zest for life and adventure, my Cora also wanted to find true love and have children. She wanted the best of both worlds and I was, still am, happy to give her all of that and more.

"And do you recall your relationship with your father?"