Page 10

Olivia

DESPITE CRYING MOST of the night and feeling tired, I also had puffy eyes. But I couldn’t miss my weekly medical appointment. It would only worry Rekna.

Forcing myself to have something to eat, the food sat heavy in my stomach. After a speedy shower I headed to the infirmary. When I entered, Rekna and Grace were in the middle of a conversation, so I waited.

There were two large hospitals within the city, but I wanted to have the baby here in the palace, and I was glad Rekna agreed.

They stopped talking and glanced over at me. The medic took one look at me, his mouth poised to speak, but instead, he closed it and glanced at Grace.

She rushed to my side, pulled up a chair, and gestured for me to sit.

Leaving my friend next to me, Rekna disappeared, saying, “I’ll be right back.”

“Are you okay? What’s happened?” Grace asked with a worried tone. Crouching down she took one of my hands and rubbed it between hers.

I hated my face showed everything I was feeling. A sigh escaped me as I pressed my lips before giving my reply. I caught Rekna out of the corner of my eye, pretending to be busy picking up, examining, and putting down instruments on one of the tables.

“Last night, Orin showed up and told Clor to stay away from me and stop bringing me to town.”

“He did what?” Grace blurted, looking shocked.

Tears brimmed my eyes and I couldn’t stop them. “Clor dropped by my apartment and told me. He said he can’t be my friend anymore. I went to Orin’s house to give him a piece of my mind.” I fought the lump in my throat that choked my ability to speak.

Grace tucked my hair behind my ear and pulled up a chair to sit opposite me. “Start at the beginning, sweetie.”

I wrung my hands in my lap and my voice broke. “He’s already got a mate, a partner, or whatever you want to call it.” Tears fell from my eyes despite feeling like I had none left to cry.

Grace’s face pinched. “Are you sure?”

After wiping my face, I rested my hands on my lap. “Of course I’m sure. She came out of his house for heaven's sake. I saw her!”

Grace shook her head, not impressed by the news. “I had no idea. I’m sorry, Liv.”

“I don’t know why it bothers me so much. We weren’t ever an item or anything.” I sniffed.

Her voice was soft. “It’s only natural for you to be hurt since you have feelings for him.”

I wish I didn’t.

Rekna cleared his throat, causing both Grace and I to shift our attention to him. I stood and my friend joined me.

“Let’s check out how the baby is doing,” Grace said sweetly. “We’ll grab a bite to eat after and we can chat.”

ONCE I LEFT THE INFIRMARY , I was reluctant to go back to my lonely apartment now that I had no one to hang out with aside from Grace. My mind wandered as I walked aimlessly through the palace halls, uninterested in the repetitive paintings and art I’d seen a million times already.

I was so distracted that I ran into a solid wall of muscle when I turned the corner. It startled me, causing me to make a high-pitched noise. My heart sped up when I saw Orin staring down at me with a pinched brow.

“Are you okay?” he asked before his eyes fell first to my full breasts, then my stomach, before returning to my eyes.

My traitorous body warmed as if he’d touched me. “Fine,” I snapped, filled with irritation. How dare he ask me how I am.

He had a shocked look and crossed his arms. “Are you sure? You seem upset.” His voice carried a hint of the same annoyed gruffness he had on the ship.

I snorted and shook my head in silence. Of course I’m upset. You have a mate and don’t want me.

There was a long, awkward pause.

“Has Clor spoken to you?” he asked.

“What if he has?” I snarled. Who does he think he is? I found myself glaring at him and feeling defensive, but unable to think straight or form complete sentences.

Orin’s lips were pursed. “I asked him not to take you to the market because it isn’t safe.”

I placed my hands on my hips and saw a brief twitch at the corners of his mouth. Is he amused right now? His response only provoked me further.

Before I knew it, I was jabbing my index finger into his chest. Casting a quick glance at it, he then turned his attention to me, his eyebrow quirked in curiosity.

“Look, you had no right to scare him away from me. He was one of my only friends here...It’s not up to you who I decide to spend time with.” My speaking halted as my words got stuck. I wished he would admit he felt something for me.

Clearing his throat, Orin couldn’t hide the hurt that flickered across his face. “I am concerned about your safety, as well as that of your youngling. The marketplace is currently unsafe.”

Is this the moment he admits our connection? I held my breath as I waited.

When he added nothing, I released the breath and scowled at him. My idiotic hormones insisted on picking a fight with the big bad warrior.

“Why do you care what happens to me?” You don’t want me.

I didn’t mention the mysterious woman I saw at his home. The thought of him acknowledging her as his mate terrified me. Guessing she was his mate was one thing. To find out she was indeed his mate would crush me.

In a rare gesture, Orin extended his hand and grazed my arm with his palm, leaving a tingling sensation behind. His mating marks on his biceps raised and began to have a bit of color.

Our skin sizzled where his hand touched me, leaving me in no doubt.

We were indeed fated mates. I’d learned a little about what the Alarans called their K’sha and I knew the bond was one of the strongest there was.

If he knew of our connection, why would he not make an effort to be with me? I thought that was how this worked?

The little voice in my head revealed the painful truth. He was already claimed by someone else.

“Olivia, I...” Dropping his hand, he glanced downward. His expression filled with regret.

My heart sank. I had to escape before my tears started. It was evident he didn’t want to acknowledge the connection between us. I put my hands in my hair shoving it off my face. Maybe he didn’t find me attractive? Stop it. Stop torturing yourself. He has someone else .

I was about to turn and run away, but he spoke again.

“Are you going to stay on Alara after you give birth?” Orin asked, meeting my eyes with his.

I was numb . Huh?“ I...I don’t know. I want to teach and the only way I can see that happening is if I go to a human colony,” I stammered, not sure where the words came from.

The guy hardly ever smiled or talked, and I had no clue what was going on in his head or why he would ask about my plans.

Orin eyed me before declaring, “I need to leave.” He left, taking what remained of my heart.

I needed to get it through my skull. Orin would never be mine.