Page 128 of Rejected By the Shifter King

I jerk my hand away, but of course, it’s too late. The damage has been done, my lies have been exposed, and when he cups my chin to force me to meet his gaze—

“A woman should always be honest with her mate, Samira. Truth is what enables me to take care of you the way you need me to.”

He makessucha good point that I can only lower my head and make my confession in a small voice.

“I’m sorry for being so silly.”

“Silly isn’t bad, but being dishonest is.”

Ouch.

“Shall we start over?”

I bob my head without looking up.

“Are you bothered by the sight of another woman talking to me?”

More head bobbing.

“Why?”

I gulp, gulp, and gulp, mostly because I know preternatural hearing allows people nearby to hear his softly spoken question, and that includes the same Caro female who’s still in the dining hall.

“Samira?”

The thought of having to put my feelings into words makes me feel like fainting, but since Idoowe him the truth this time—

“Because I’m jealous—”

“Wrong.”

My confused gaze flies up to him. “But I really was—”

“You were bothered because you forgot one of the most important things about being my mate.”

Huh?

“You belong to me—”

I think I’m going to swoon.

“And I belong to you.”

Okay, you know what? Iamgoing to swoon, and I feel like swooning even more when I let my knees crumble without warning, but my alpha being thesuperswift Leopard King that he is—

“Samira...”

Hexius catches me in time,natch.But he also says my name in part-exasperation and part-chastisement as he swings me up in his arms, and the sound has me quickly wrapping my arms around his neck in an effort to muffle my laughter.

“Do not take such risks again.”

Oh, please do be still, my silly heart.

The gentle reproof in his tone makes me realize he really wasseriouslyworried, and sure, I know we humans are like fragile glass compared to preters, but has he forgotten what my job is?

When I belatedly notice how all eyes are on us, I start wriggling to be released, but this only makes Hexius tighten his hold as he carries me out of the dining hall. Throughout it, he also hasn’t stopped talking, berating me over my supposed foolishness, albeit in a low and calm voice. I think this is the most he’s spoken since coming back to my life, and the Leopard King being so worried over me, a woman who risks her life for a living—isn’t it the cutest thing ever?

Memories of today’s class come back to my mind.