Accidental Surrogate

Chapter 165 – Kindred Spirits

3rd Person

When Cora walked into the palace’s opulent dining room, she expected to find the table packed with people. Ever since they’d arrived in Vanara, Gabriel had been entertaining different statesmen and potential allies for the war, in addition to their own party. However this night the dining room was almost entirely empty. Not only were Gabriel and his coterie of powerful friends absent, but so were Ella, Sinclair and Henry. Only Roger sat at the long, shining table, a glass of amber liquid in his hand.

“Where is everyone?” Cora asked, standing frozen in the doorway.

“The King had a prior engagement – some charity gala for the hospital.” Roger answered, not looking the least bit surprised to see the lovely human. “Dad was exhausted and decided to take supper in his rooms, but I don’t have any idea about Dom and Ella.”

“Oh.” Cora replied simply, relieved by the thought that her sister would probably arrive any moment. After he’d badgered her with personal questions on their excursion into the capital, the last thing Cora wanted was to be alone with Roger all evening long. She didn’t like the way he looked at her, the way his eyes darkened and his attention lingered with unnerving focus. He made her feel as if she were a particularly scrumptious rabbit bound for his hungry wolf belly, but only after he’d chased and taunted her to exhaustion.

She gingerly crossed to the table, painfully aware of the way his eyes followed her every move. She sat down and made a show of spreading her napkin over her lap, refusing to look at the wolf seated across from her.” So, how was your day?” She asked, striving for some semblance of small talk to kill the time.

When Roger didn’t respond, Cora finally dragged her eyes from her empty plate to look up at him. When her gaze finally reached his face, he offered her a knowing smirk. “Oh, so you can look at me.” He teased, “I was beginning to worry.”

She narrowed her eyes, not caring for being called out when she was only responding to his behavior. Still, not one for confrontations, she muttered a sulky, “sorry.”

“Are you?” Roger inquired slyly, “because you look annoyed.”

to be polite.” Cora replied, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. She glanced to the door for the dozenth time, willing Ella and

flashing his fangs. “I hope not for my sake – I’d much rather have

sort to offer up her opinions to people whose reactions she could not predict. She didn’t mind sharing complaints or venting with Ella, who she knew would always love her unconditionally, but this man was another matter entirely. It wasn’t that she was afraid of him per se, but she certainly couldn’t foresee how he would respond to her criticism – and that was a dangerous thing, especially knowing how violent some men could

their struggles might be different, Cora was far from unscathed by their difficult upbringing. He decided to give her a push.” Come on, what’s the worst that could happen?” He

recovered rather quickly. She crossed her arms over her chest, unintentionally pressing her breasts together, and notched her pert chin upward. “You know, I think

practically family – in-laws for all intents and purposes. If you can’t be honest with

curls over her shoulder. She couldn’t believe the gall of the man, he

his own words, the way he’d been looking at her lately was

you’ve

intent on interrogating her deep personal feelings? “Why do you keep asking me these things?” She exclaimed, staring at her lap. “I’m just trying

ducking his head to

at him

with cool detachment. “Why shouldn’t I? Because you’re human, or because you don’t think you

skipped a beat. “I see a kindred spirit in you. I see someone who landed in many of the same circumstances I did, but rather than letting them define you or pollute your heart, you found a way

scoff. ‘You don’t know me as well

seat. Now that he’d captured Cora’s gaze, he was determined not to break it, hoping his wolf’s

world, and as much as I’d like to say otherwise, my relationship with my sister defined me every bit as much as yours did with Dominic. I got where I am in my career because Ella shielded me from things that would have destroyed me and gave me the space to find my own ambitions, the freedom to dedicate myself to my school work without any ghosts hanging over my head.” Cora’s mouth flattened into a hard line. “I stood on her shoulders my entire childhood and I show my gratitude

the head I am, it’s that I can’t even take a compliment. Because while you might tell me I’m clever and beautiful, all I can think is that I’ll never be as