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.

at all I didn’t do anything wrong to begin with, and he’d never hurt me. But still, I don’t

calmly, I reach for the baby and gather him close to

ever admit it to myself? I want to go. I’m

between Calvin and I and I’m dying to know what it is. I want very much to go to this dinner and find out

ready to tear this man apart for asking me to dinner – especially because Sinclair thinks that he’s into me or

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. If you want me to go, and to see what I can do to make a connection with Atalaxia, or if I can learn anything new from him, I’ll do it. But if you want me to stay?” I shrug. “I’ll stay.” He growls

moves his thumb to my mouth, tracing the line

think on it,” he

there to think about?” I ask softly, genuinely

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 baby in my arms. “First you tell me that you’d prefer I didn’t kill the enemies, now you’re telling me not to be nice? Honestly, Dominic, mixed messages over here – ” “How about,” he murmurs, moving his hand from my face and slipping it to my shoulder and then down my back, “you just stay in bed, all the time? Then no foreign princes will ever hit on you, and I’ll get a great deal more peace I

to him, eagerly giving into it, letting him know that I’m his-his-hisThe kiss deepens and I’m a little frantic suddenly, wondering how to simultaneously get the baby to his crib while continuing to kiss my mate, because no part of me wants to break away any time

little

“What!?” I say, aghast.

where he went…” I pout up at my mate, disappointed. ” Fine,” I say, my voice a little mean. ” But you owe me, all right?” Sinclair laughs,