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.

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

reach for the baby and gather him close to my chest before standing up and moving to my mate’s

do you want me to do?” I ask, my voice perfectly 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

know what it is. I want very much to go to

ready to tear this man apart

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 a little, his arm tightening, and even

thumb to my mouth, tracing the line of my

me think on it,” he

about?” I ask softly, genuinely

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

I open my mouth 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 soon But Sinclair

panting a little as he

“What!?” I say, aghast.

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 up to you tenfold.” I sigh but step away, disappointed but knowing that it’s necessary to be