Accidental Surrogate

Ella

I pace back and forth outside Gabriel’s chambers, absolutely beside myself over Phil!ppe’s fate. I have the worst feeling that Sinclair is going to fire or demote the guard because of my actions, and I’m already preparing a furious speech to deliver to my mate if he does so. I can’t hear a single word of their conversation because the King’s chambers are soundproofed – a luxury I decide Sinclair and I should definitely invest in when we return home.

The waiting is horrible, but eventually my faithful guard emerges, looking thoroughly dejected. I can’t stop myself from racing up to him with man energy. “Did he demote you? Is he still on the call –I’ll talk to him-“

“Woah,” He catches me by the shoulders. “It’s okay, Ella. He didn’t demote me, he just did a lot of yelling”

“Im so sorry.” I profess wringing my hands.

“Don’t be.” Phil!ppe says evenly, staring me straight in the eye so I can see the honesty in his expression. “You were right. Being someone’s guard is a really intimate relationship. You have to trust me with your very life, with all your secrets

He sighs, shaking his head. “Most people get to choose their guards but you didn’t pick me, you didn’t even know who I was when Dominic a.ssigned me to you.”

“So?” I protest, still feeling indignant on his behalf.

“So it’s right that I should have to prove myself to you.” He chuckles. “Trust has to be earned.”

Phil!ppe pauses, giving me an assessing look. “But I have to tell you that if it had gone on much longer. I don’t think I could’ve kept it up.. part of protecting you means looking out for your health and well-being even when you don’t want me to do it. You weren’t doing well and I’m glad Dominic got through to you. I don’t want to be in that position again.”

“I respect that.” I reply contritely. “And Ill try to do better.” I promise, wondering if my sudden urge to explain myself is actually to help him understand, or to make myself feel better. I have a terrible sense that it’s the latter, but I forge ahead anyway as we begin walking down the opulent corridor.”

These last few months have gone by in such a whirlwind. My entire life is different now and I’m still struggling to catch up.”

I didn’t know existed, and I’m in the middle of a war, and I might even have parents out there somewhere.” I know

his heels, pursing his l!ps. “Is that

even sure about all the words I just

was involved, but I think maybe we were so distracted by how amazing it all is that we

my arms around myself. “What orphan doesn’t have those

our safety. But they left us together so we wouldn’t have to

saying I have to find out where I came from – which is true. But in my brain finding

the first time since I was eight, I feel like there’s hope I

can motivate us without

why therapy is

I gr0an, thinking of my mate’s

“Not you too!”

self defense, “hey, I’m just

I deride, throwing my arms up. “That’s

later I’m back in the sitting room with Leon, Henry, and

in private for the therapy session following today’s ether trip – a fact the therapist was only too smug about- but

need any guidance from Leon to travel into the past. As soon as the walls come down in my mind, I’m taken even farther into my memories than

and for the first time ever,

tell me who the strange lady is, or why she’s here so late at night, but she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. The strange thing is that I find it hard to take in all of her