Accidental Surrogate

Ella Gets a Note Ella I snatch the note out of my mate’s hand, muttering “he’s not my prince,” but no one really acknowledges the words as I tear the envelope open and eagerly read the short letter inside. When I see what it says, my eyebrows arch almost to my hairline.

“What is it?” Cora asks, leaning eagerly forward.

“He wants to…go to dinner,” I say, frowning a little.

“Dinner,” Sinclair says, frowning and sliding his hands into his pockets. ” Why on earth would he want that? We have three more dinners with the Atalaxians scheduled over the next few nights, he could go to any one of those “No, Dominic,” I say softly, looking up at him. “The note is only addressed to me.” My mate goes still as my words, and their implications, sink in. And then his face goes dark.

“Okay!” Roger says in too-cheerful tones, wrapping his hands around Cora’s arms as he stands up, dragging her with him. “Time for us to go! It’s been a pleasure, Dom – we’ll see you later – ” “What?” Cora gasps, fumbling to her feet and looking between Roger and me.

“No, I want to stay!” “Nope!” he says, moving her hastily for the door. “We’re out of here!” “Roger, I’m in pajamas – ” “If you don’t kill anyone, Cora, no one will care what you’re wearing -” My eyes follow my protesting sister as Roger pulls her from the room, shutting the door behind them. And then my eyes snap up to my mate who glowers silently down at me, the only sounds in the room our little baby happily cooing next to us.

“You know I didn’t do this, Dominic,” I say, my voice stern as I slowly start to shake my head at him.

“I didn’t say you did, Ella,” he snaps, his voice a low snarl. But he’s pissed – I can tell by the stiffness of his shoulders, the tense set of every single one of his muscles.

I didn’t do anything wrong to begin with, and he’d never hurt me. But still, I don’t want him to lose his temper, not when

calmly, I reach for the baby and gather him close

calm. Because… I mean, honestly? Even if I only ever admit it to myself? I want to go. I’m not only eager to make a

some kind of connection between Calvin and I and I’m dying to know what it

apart for asking me to dinner – especially because Sinclair thinks that he’s into me

well. But then he looses his breath and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close to him as he softly raises a hand to my cheek. “What do you want to do?” But I shake my head, not letting him get out of it that easily. “I am your Queen, Dominic,” I say quietly. “I am done taking things into my own hands for now.

Sinclair moves his thumb to my mouth, tracing the line

think on it,”

about?” I

scent, apparently relishing it, “of ripping him to shreds for daring to ask you out on a date.” I burst out laughing here, earning a little smile from my mate. “Dominic,” I say, shaking my head at him, “it’s not a date -” “Then why didn’t he invite me?” “Because every time you talk to him you get all growly!” I say, laughing. ” I’m nice to him, which is beneficial for international relations!” “Well,” Sinclair murmurs, snapping his teeth at me a little, “maybe you should be a little less nice to him.” I shake my head up at him, stepping closer to that my body lines as flush as it can against his with the

suddenly, wondering how to simultaneously get

panting a little as he looks down

“What!?” I say, aghast.

mate, disappointed. ” Fine,” I say, my voice a little mean. ” But you owe me, all right?” Sinclair laughs, taking my chin possessively between his fingers and shaking his head at me. “Tonight, trouble. I’ll make it