Chapter Twelve
James drove back to the castle in a foul mood. Although he could hear them this time all they talked about was nonsense. Did they know he was out there? They must have spotted his car on their way here.
He found it odd that Nana wanted to stay with Conor’s parents. Why didn’t Nana convince Sarah to stay at the castle? She had this way to get people to do what she wanted. He knew she had given Sarah a room, but the only time she used it was when Nana had that big party.
He had to figure out a way to make her see that Conor was using her. James knew he had to separate them so Sarah would see he was the one she should mate with. If he didn’t, he would lose everything. How, was the problem. Conor was always sniffing around. Somehow, he had to get rid of him. Once he was out of the picture things should go his way.
James knew he wouldn’t get much sleep until he came up with a plan his father approved of.
***
Sarah learned a lot as she continued through the files that afternoon. Some of the workers were third and fourth-generation workers. Their ties with Nana were strong and she didn’t see anything that would cause any of them to try to poison her grandmother.
She rubbed her head as Conor drove back to his parents' house that evening. “I thought I’d enjoy reading instead of staring at a computer screen for a long time, but that made my head hurt.”
“You want me to swing by the doctor first?” His voice was laced with concern.
“No.” She rested her head on the headrest. “It will fade. I used to get these when I crunched for an exam.”
By the time they had reached his parents' home, she was feeling better. Sarah plastered a smile on her face and walked into Conor’s childhood home before him.
***
“Sarah? Are you okay?” asked Nana.
“I’m fine.” She smiled as she placed her hand on her grandma’s. “I just went through too many handwritten files.”
“You sure? You seem different.”
“Promise.” A cool drink was placed in front of her. She smiled at Conor. His hand brushed her cheek before he claimed his chair.
“Oh my goodness, you two mated!”
“Relax, Nana.” Sarah took a quick sip. “We haven’t done anything.”
“You sure?” she tilted her head and studied them.
“Um, yes?” Sarah looked over at Conor. “Right?”
“We’d know. There are visual signs to prove we mated.”
“The mark?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Our scents would combine into one scent.”
“You will also behave differently,” said Nana.
Siobhan came into the house and paused as she caught the last part of Nana’s comment. “You talking about their mating?”
“Mum, we haven’t mated.”
“Um-hum, you two better check each other for your marks. Bet you’ll find them.” She set the basket brimming with vegetables from the field on the counter near the sink. When they didn’t move she gave them a look. “I’m not kidding. Go look. Prove we’re crazy.”
Conor took Sarah’s hand and brought her to their room. “I don’t remember doing the ritual, do you?”
“I don’t know. Everything has been moving so fast.” She kicked off her shoes and reached for the hem of her dress. “What is the mark supposed to look like?”
“Like a tattoo. My parents' look like crescent moons.” He checked her back first. When she turned to face him, he frowned. “Oooh. That’s new.”
“What?” she looked down but couldn’t see what he saw.
Conor pulled his shirt off. She crossed her arms over her breasts.
“What?” he asked.
“You still have clothes on. Off with all of it.”
“You know if I take these off, we won’t be leaving the room any time soon.”
She gave him a knowing smile. “That was the right thing to say.”
He slipped his pants down and stepped out of them. He held his arms out wide and turned around in a circle.
“Wait.” She stepped up to him and placed her hand on his left shoulder. “I don’t remember this either.”
“Does it remind you of a heart with an arrow?”
“Yeah. I thought of cupid’s heart when I saw it.” She traced it with her fingers. “How did this happen?”
“I don’t know.” He turned so he could look at her. “The night of your party I wanted to say the words to the ritual, but I thought I said them in my head. I knew we weren’t ready to mate then, but my desire for you had my desire to mate at an all-time high. Maybe what I thought was in my head I said out loud.”
“I must have repeated the words. You couldn’t have done this on your own.” She took a deep breath and looked at him. “We’re mated. I know this wasn’t what you wanted. Can it be reversed?”
“Do you want to reverse this?”
“I…” She couldn’t look him in the eyes. “No. I already said I wanted to mate with you, but I don’t want to force you into anything.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Here’s the thing. I said I didn’t want to force anyone to give up everything to follow me. I never said I didn’t want to mate, especially with you.”
Joy shot through her. “Don’t we need to seal them?”
“Yes.” He turned his back to her. “You need to fill it with your DNA.”
Sarah pressed several wet kisses against it then she touched it once again. “You know people are going to figure out we’re mates. We might be able to hide it from people. I did a little research on the mating ritual and found a passage that says they can be hidden.”
“We hide the mark when we’re around humans.” Conor turned around. “A simple touch will do it.”
“I used the wrong word.” She looked at her mate and felt a thrill fill her. “The book I read was in an old language. It’s more like a pause. Something parents could use on two destined for each other until they came of age. This was when alphas would mate their children to other packs. They say the words with each other so no one else can get in the way of the mating, but the children were so young they hadn’t learned to shift yet. Once they were old enough the mated children could reactivate their mating. I think that was what my other grandma was talking about.”
“You mean the ritual you would have gone through with Michael?” He knelt in front of her and pressed his mouth against the mark just below her right breast.
“I think so.” Sarah sighed as Conor closed his mouth over her nipple. Once again, he was going to rock her world and she couldn’t wait.
***
Nana was ready to go home the next morning.
“You are safer here,” said Conor.
“I can’t be away from the factory much longer, and I don’t want to give James full run of the castle for too long.”
“And I don’t want him to try something else,” said Sarah. “Please, Nana. Conor and I can go back to the castle and keep an eye on him.”
“He could try the same thing on you.” She took her granddaughter's hand in hers.
“We know the risks.” Sarah placed her other hand on top of their clasped hands. “James thinks he knows everything, but we have allies that he doesn’t, and he needs me right now. He can’t get his paws on anything without me.”
“What are you thinking, Sarah?” asked Conor. The tone of his voice showed his displeasure with her.
“We make James think Nana has already turned everything over to me. We’re also going to make him aware that we’re searching for the culprit who poisoned you. I have the information I need to scare him. Which reminds me.” She took out the paper Nana had given her last night and handed it back. “I just hope he understands that if he doesn’t stop, he has lost everything.”
***
Conor wasn’t happy with what Sarah said. She hadn’t discussed this with him before she blurted it out in front of Nana so he had no time to talk her out of it. If she planned on putting herself in danger to stop James, he was going to make her aware that she couldn’t do that. He wouldn’t let her put herself in harm’s way.
Sarah must have noticed something because she kept looking over at him. “You’re mad.”
“Mad doesn’t cover how I feel right now.” He pulled the car over. “You have no right to put yourself in danger like that.”
“What do you mean?” She turned in her seat to stare at him. “The weight is on my shoulders. My stupid cousin believes he should be in control because he has a damn penis, but my pack doesn’t recognize the hierarchy of a normal pack. Why is it so hard for you men to realize we women are worthy of leading too? Look at Catherine. She is Max’s third, and Alicia, she’s the one in charge of the Tears, not a man. I am just as smart and strong as any of you. I can do this.”
“I didn’t say you weren’t capable. I am your mate. Any time you want to put yourself in jeopardy you must ask my permission.”
“Must?” Anger laced her voice. “Would you ask mine?”
He stared at her. She was right. He wouldn’t ask her permission. He wouldn’t want to worry her. Conor turned and steered the car back onto the road. “I have to be honest. It wouldn’t even cross my mind to ask your permission. I’m the alpha. I’m supposed to make all the final decisions.”
“Don’t you realize that I’m just as alpha as you? I’m the future leader of this pack. Not you. You will be the alpha of our pack once Nana decides to step down, but you won’t have final say. You are mating into mine, not the other way around.”
“Can we talk about this once we’re back at the castle?” Conor looked over at her for a second before looking back at the road. “I keep forgetting you’re new to our world.”
“Oh, we can wait. I need to calm down anyway, but we’re not done, and being “new” to this world has nothing to do with it.”
***
James was surprised to see Sarah. He wondered why she and Conor had come to the castle. Were they staying the night?
They walked into the house silent. Sarah wouldn’t even look at Conor. Was there trouble in paradise? James smiled. If there was that could work in his favor.
“I didn’t expect you to come back this evening.” Sarah shot him a look filled with such anger he took a step back. “I thought you were staying at Conor’s parents' place.”
“We decided to change it up a little.” She headed to the main stairs.
“I was going to have a little snack, um, would you two like to join me?”
“No.” Sarah turned to face him. “Go to bed, James.”
She sounded just like Nana, but she couldn’t tell him what to do.
“And if you think I can’t tell you what to do, I’m now in charge and can kick you right on out of here if you argue with me.” She continued her climb.
He looked at Conor, who nodded. That wasn’t what he wanted. Now he had to go through her. The only way he could gain control now was to mate with her and Conor was in his way.
***
Sarah sat on the bed and rubbed her head. Her parents taught her to stand up for herself. Never let a man take over to where she felt like a second-class citizen. Now she found herself in a world that seemed to thrive on that attitude.
She watched Conor as he closed the door. When he turned to face her, she wondered if arguing with him yet again was smart.
“You still have to have the last word, don’t you?” He stepped toward her. “I want to keep you safe, and you just want to piss me off.”
“That’s not true, Conor.” She sighed. “I wasn’t raised the way you were. My parents taught me to be strong. Not to let a man try to dominate me because I could get hurt if I did.”
“I would never hurt you.” He looked like she had slapped him. She had to explain why she said what she did.
“Are you familiar with the human problem of wife beating?” At his nod, she continued, “One of my father’s high school friends married her high school sweetheart. No one knew he was a beater until it was too late. His friend never told a soul. She always had an excuse for the bruises and black eyes. Dad was mad at himself, after she was killed by the bastard, for not noticing the signs.”
“In our world, we are the protectors,” said Conor. “We might be pushy and dominating but we would never harm our mates. You mean too much to me, but I can’t help but want to discipline you so you know that all I want to do is protect you.”
“You want to spank me again.” A spark entered her eyes.
“I do.”
“And if I said no?” She sounded breathless.
“I can smell your desire.” He gave her a toothy smile. “You liked it the last time.”
Her desire mixed with nervousness.
Conor didn’t want her frightened of him. The last time was so spontaneous she didn’t have time to think about it. Now he had to break down the defenses her father helped her build because of his friend's abuse. Sarah seemed frozen in place.
“I think the first thing I need to do is relax you.” Conor offered his hand to her. After a slight hesitation, she took it. He gently pulled her toward him. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her for a few moments. He heard her heart slow as the fear flowed out of her. A soft sigh escaped her when she had relaxed. Her head rested against his chest showing him how much she trusted him.
He eased her dress off her shoulders. She stepped away to allow the dress to slide down her body. Conor quickly undressed before taking her back into his arms. Brushing his hands against her back he continued to relax her. They moved toward the bed. Conor lay down first, then he urged Sarah to lie on top of him. He went back to stroking her back. In a quick move, he smacked her on one butt cheek, then went back to stroking her back.
She pushed her upper body up to glare at him.
“Did that hurt?” That wasn’t his goal. He continued to brush his hands against her back.
“More like stung.” She relaxed once again as he continued to move his hands across her back.
He kept moving his hands, not giving her a chance to anticipate his moves. Another quick slap made her rise up, but he could see the beginning of her becoming aroused by her spanking.
“Must you?”
“Does it still sting?”
“A little.” Her voice was softer.
He did it one more time, again on the opposite cheek. This time though she growled her pleasure.
Conor flipped them over, so she was beneath him. Desire swirled in her eyes. He captured her lips with his as he drove into her, and howled when her muscles clamped down on him. He started moving inside her, setting a strong pace for them. Sarah moved with him, her muscles tightening every time he hit just the right spot. It wasn’t long before they were racing. Sarah grasped at his back.
“Please, Conor. Rock my world.”
He couldn’t hold back after those words. He moved faster. Conor heard her breath catch in her throat just before she sailed through her climax. He hit his seconds later. It took him a few seconds before he could move to take her in his arms so they could curl up together.
“Okay, so maybe I do like being spanked every once in a while. I have only one question.”
“You want to know when I’m going to spank you again?”
She was quiet for a moment. “I was wondering when I get to spank you.”
***
Sarah sat at the dining room table that they always sat at for meals. Without Nana it seemed very big and lonely. The household staff had breakfast waiting and already had filled her cup with coffee. Conor sat next to her.
Every time she looked at him, she remembered last night, and a slight blush filled her cheeks. Every time he looked at her, he gave her a toothy smile. They had come up with a plan last night. One they weren’t sure about.
Sarah had to do more research before they could move forward because they had to hide the fact they had mated first. She had contacted Catherine and Alicia and asked them to join her for lunch at one of Conor’s restaurants before she would ask them to the O’Malley home. The one place she felt was safe.
“Are you sure about this?” Conor pitched his voice so no one could hear their conversation.
“If anyone is going to know it will be those two. We’re going to take this one step at a time.” She took a sip of her coffee. “I’ll work in the factory until I’m supposed to meet with them.”
“I’ll go and explain to Max what your crazy scheme is.”
***
Alicia was the first to arrive. After a quick hug, she took the seat to Sarah’s right. When Catherine arrived it was another round of hugs.
“You made it sound urgent,” said Catherine as she took the other chair.
“It’s not that bad.” Sarah looked to be sure no one was close. “I have a few questions and don’t have the time to do the research. You two are a walking history book and might be able to save me time.”
Catherine laughed. “Oh, you’re good. What is it you want?” She tilted her head as she studied Sarah. “You and Conor mated, didn’t you?”
“Wow.” She shook her head. “That didn’t take long and it’s the reason I’ve asked you two here today. My other grandmother commented on a ceremony that could have bonded me to Michael when we were young. Then I read an obscure passage that said there is a way to sort of pause the mating.”
“Why?”
“Look how fast you figured it out.” She looked at Alicia. “I’m amazed you didn’t say it first.”
“I was waiting to see if Catherine would say something.” Alicia paused as the waitress set glasses of water in front of them.
“I’ll be back for your orders.”
“No need. We know what we want,” said Sarah. This was one of Conor’s restaurants. “Three house specials, please. I’d like coffee with cream.”
“Very good. Ladies?”
“The same,” said Catherine and Alicia.
“It’s nice when you know the owner of the restaurant,” commented Alicia. “What is the house special?”
“One of Conor’s new creations. You’re going to love it.”
“Let’s get back to your request,” said Catherine.
“We need to catch James in the act.” Sarah pitched her voice. “That won’t happen if he figures out we’ve already mated. If I read the information right this ritual will hide that fact.”
“Why is that such a big deal?” asked Alicia. “Are you afraid that James will try to kill Conor?”
She nodded. “I know Conor wants to protect me and not have it the other way around, but I read our covenant. If my mate dies at an early age, I’m allowed to take a courtesan so the pack would have an alpha.”
“And James could force you into that.”
Sarah gave them another nod. “Nana said he never asked to read the covenant, but maybe his father has a copy of it. I don’t want to give him anything to work with and using this ritual would keep his attention on me.”
“How does Conor feel about this?”
“Oh, he hates it.” She smiled. “But he couldn’t come up with a better plan. He has the lovely job of telling Max our plan.”
“You know our men will try to keep you out of harm’s way.” Alicia sat back. “Especially now that Conor has involved Max.”
“We figured that, but we also knew we couldn’t keep Max out of the loop. He has done so much for me and Conor.” Sarah noticed her friends smiling at her. “What?”
“Nothing. Must say you are a quick learner. That was the perfect way for a mate to speak for her mate.”
The waitress came over with their food which stopped their conversation.
Sarah was grateful. Her friends were getting ready to start asking questions she wasn’t sure she wanted to answer. She knew she would have to answer these questions to get what she needed to hide their mating, but she was nervous about how she should answer anything she felt was a little too personal.
The ladies oohed and asked over the meal.
“Conor outdid himself,” said Alicia as she sat back from her empty plate. She pitched her voice for her next question. “Did you help him with it?”
“I only wrote down what he used.” She gave them a knowing smile. “But I was the first one to have this meal and he did appreciate my feedback.”
“Are we waiting for the men to show up here?”
“My mate’s home is a safe place to have this conversation.” She didn’t want to use Conor’s name in her normal voice in the restaurant.
Alicia nodded.
Their waitress came back to their table. “We have a wonderful dessert.”
The three women smiled. They would never pass up any dessert that was made in Conor’s restaurant.
***
Sarah felt like she was walking to the gallows. No one so far liked her idea and Max could shoot it down and she would be right back where she started. She didn’t see any other way to catch James with his hand in the cookie jar so to speak. If Max could come up with something better she would be grateful.
She walked in the door and found Siobhan fluttering around Max, making sure he had everything he needed. He looked up at her and smiled.
She heard his voice softly tell her thank you for rescuing me.
Alicia laughed as she swept by Sarah to give her mate a quick kiss before she went to Siobhan’s side to help her prepare snacks for everyone.
Conor stood as she approached him. He wrapped his arms around her, giving her the support she needed.
“So am I in trouble or the smartest woman on the planet?” she asked.
Max and Alicia laughed. Catherine sucked in her breath.
“I’m thinking Catherine would have never tried to antagonize you, which wasn’t what I was going for. I just tend to speak then think about how I could have said it better.”
“You’re being honest and there is nothing wrong with that.” Max gestured for her and Conor to sit beside him. Catherine went to Alicia to help with the snacks as well. “Conor said you want to find a ritual that will mask the fact you two have mated, correct?”
“Yes, sir. I need to keep James focused on me so we can predict what his next move will be. If he figures out that Conor and I have mated he could do something unpredictable.” She looked at Conor for a moment. “I don’t know James well enough to know how he would handle our mating.”
“James normally isn’t the most ingenious werewolf,” said Max. “But wouldn’t it be easier if I just send Conor away on a mission for me? You two just mated. I doubt James would pay attention to anything as long as Conor is absent.”
“Your mate and your second realized it right away. So did Nana and Siobhan.”
“We notice things differently than the men. They can sense danger quicker than we can. We can catch nuances faster than men.” Alicia came and sat next to her mate. “It’s a polite way to say men notice things they want to notice, and women notice everything else.”
Sarah waited to see how Max planned on disciplining Alicia for those comments. Their conversation was private, but she didn’t miss the smile Alicia gave her mate. Looked like she liked the way he disciplined her as well.
She knew she couldn’t go against Max’s suggestion but how could they be so sure that it would work? It would take Conor out of harm’s way. He would never go against Max, and that was her main goal.
***
“I don’t want you to be alone here.” He pitched his voice so only she would hear him.
“I know, and I wish you could stay and keep me safe, but we know if you stay, James will try to get rid of you. If he thinks Max has sent you away indefinitely then he’ll think the way is clear to try to take over.” She touched his arm. “I want you to take Nana’s crest with you.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. Sarah spotted James as she slipped the crest into her hand. She schooled her features and picked up her coffee with one hand.
James slowed his steps when he grew close. “Morning.”
Sarah didn’t look up. She released a sigh instead. “Must you leave now?”
“Max needs me to do this,” said Conor.
“But I need you too right now.” She glared at Conor. “You didn’t even try to get out of it.”
“If Max asks something of you, you do it. You know all he has done for me. I can’t say no.” Conor placed his hand on top of the one with the family seal. “I shouldn’t be gone for very long.”
Sarah nodded. She pulled her hand back and placed it in her lap. “I just find this new world I have been thrust into hard to understand at times.”
“You’re learning quickly. Soon it will be second nature.” Conor stood and placed a kiss against her temple. “I’ll be back as fast as I can.”
Sarah nodded again. She hoped James fell for this.
***
James watched them. Was this an act? He didn’t know Max, but he had heard that if Max asks something of you you do it. It could be the one chance to get close to the man. Being part of his circle of friends could launch you into the elite of the werewolf world. Conor turned and walked out of the room. Sarah stared after him. A single tear sliding down her cheek had him wondering if maybe it was real. She wiped it off and got another cup of coffee.
He filled a plate and sat. One of the servers brought him a cup of tea. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” She didn’t turn to face him. “I’m going to the factory. I’ve informed the staff, so you’ll have to fend for yourself the rest of the day.”
“Excuse me?”
“Did I stutter?” she turned to look at him. “The staff has been given the day off. You do know how to use a stove, don’t you?”
“I’ll go out to lunch then.”
She swept past him and climbed the stairs to her room.
James stared at the stairs after she had turned the corner. This was not the same woman he met in the states. Where the hell did she get that backbone? He thought he’d be able to take over easily because she didn’t know what to do and he could come to her rescue. She won’t fall for that now. Once again, he’d have to rethink the plan.
***
“I didn’t want to leave her there, but she is right.” Conor sat at his mum’s kitchen table. “James wouldn’t hurt her. In essence, she’s his golden goose.”
“The moment he realizes she lied about having control he will react,” said Nana who sat at the table as well.
“I know. I told her the same thing. She did take one precaution.” He held out his hand and revealed Nana’s crest. “She slipped it to me just before I left.”
“What now?”
“I go to Max and pretend to leave on a mission.”
“And you remember the way?” asked Nana. She pitched her voice so only he could hear her.
He knew she was talking about the old stairs in the castle. Conor looked at her and gave her a bright smile.
***
Sarah walked into the factory and found everyone busy at work. Those who saw her, stopped and acknowledged her. The shift leader came into the office once she sat at the desk.
“You okay?”
“What?”
“News travels fast around here.”
“Ah.” She drummed her fingers on the desk. “Max sent Conor on a mission.”
“One you weren’t happy with. I know you’re new to our world, but you need to show that you trust Max and your first reaction was just an automatic reaction to having Conor pulled from your side.”
“Did Nana ask you to keep an eye on me while she was visiting the O’Malleys?”
He closed the door before approaching the desk she sat at. “Nana doesn’t like you being here by yourself. Consider me someone you can lean on while Conor is away.”
“I appreciate that, Thomas.” She wasn't really sure how to react to that. “The first thing I need you to do is open the door.”
He gave her a questioning look but did as she asked.
“Thanks for worrying about me and Conor. Sometimes my human upbringing gets in the way and I say stupid things. I’ve apologized to Max. Thank goodness he understood.” She turned on the computer. “I want to convert all the paper records to computer ones. Bring the company into the computer world. Nana has grudgingly agreed.”
“All of them? That is a tall order. Nana never saw a need so you’re starting from scratch.” He hesitated for a moment. “I can assign someone to help you if you need it.”
“No need. I’m quite savvy when it comes to computer programs. I use them every day in my job in the states.” She got up and walked to the first filing cabinet, pulling out a stack of files to bring back to the desk. “It will help me keep my mind busy so I won’t miss Conor as much.”
***
Sarah worked in the office during the day. Some nights Conor would sneak into the castle, and they would shift and go running. He questioned her every time they met and she understood the alpha fear. He wasn’t with her so had no clue what was happening to her. Something he hated. She promised him she had been working on transferring the employee files and did her best at avoiding James. She didn’t want a confrontation until they were ready.
The information on the families fascinated her. So many were sixth and seventh-generation employees that once she entered the data on one, she already had the data on those from an earlier time.
She listed them by pack, then family. A lot from her new pack worked for the factory. They were the ones who helped build the company and were proud to still be a part of it. Sarah learned so much about her pack as she copied the files. She felt she knew these people.
Nana had also kept a work diary marking births, deaths, matings, and any celebration she felt should be recorded. Sarah read the diary at night to help relax her. She missed Conor. His absence made her grouchy and it showed.
The door to the office opened and there was the one person she didn’t want to see. James.
“I’m a little busy, James. What do you need?”
“I thought you’d like to meet a few members of our pack. My father is coming to dinner and is bringing our seer.”
“Seer?” Sarah sat back.
“You know what a seer is, don’t you?”
“Yes, I’ve just never met one before.” She frowned, not liking his condescending attitude.
“Well, here’s your chance.”
Now he had her worrying about what he was up to.
***
Conor had parked his car and shifted so he could get closer to the castle. He wished he could just walk in the front door like he wanted to, but they needed James to show his hand. Until he did, they had to wait and watch. Sarah was supposed to meet him in a few hours but he couldn’t stop himself from spying on the castle to feel better about being separated from her.
He saw a strange car pull up to the main doors. James came out of those doors to greet whoever was visiting. The man turned and Conor recognized him. It was James’s father, but he didn’t recognize the woman. He ran back to where he had his clothes and shifted. After he dressed and headed back to his car, he called his father. “I have a question that I’m hoping you can answer.”
“What do you need, son?”
“James’ father came to the castle with a woman. Blonde hair–”
“Flowy dress? Lots of bracelets?”
“Yeah.” Good his dad did know who she was.
“That sounds like their seer.”
“Why would he bring a seer in?”
“She’s not mated to James’ father so she’s probably there to evaluate Sarah.”
“Why?” Conor looked back toward the castle.
“Why would you bring a seer to meet a single female? To see if she is mate material and a good match for James.”
“That’s my mate you’re talking about.”
“I know, but no one in that castle knows that. As far as everyone else is concerned you two have talked about it, but nothing else has been done. If the seer thinks your relationship isn’t that strong it will give James hope.”
“I have to get her out of there.”