still alive, he’d be old. Why wouldn’t he come forward? Why—”
“Cam!” J.D. warned. “You’re making your grandmother upset,” she added in a low voice that only his shifter hearing could pick up.
He blew out a breath. “Look, I didn’t mean to, but we must face the truth. It’s been a long—”
“Hello, hello!” The door burst open. “Your Highness, I—” Arabella stopped short, a look of false surprise on her face. “Oh my. Apologies, I didn’t realize you had company.”
“What the hell is she still doing here?” J.D. snarled, shooting up to her feet.
“J.D., calm yourself,” Cam urged, trying to tug her back down to the couch. Of course, his polar bear roared at him, vexed that their mate was upset by that horrible woman.
She slapped his hand away. “Calm down? You said she’d be sent away. That we’d never have to see her again!”
“Oh dear,” Natalia said. “I’m sorry. This is my fault.” The old woman shook her head. “Arabella has decided to stay.”
“And why the hell—heck would you do that?” J.D. snarled.
“Because I have my own invitation to the Christmas ball.” Arabella sauntered toward them, a smug smile on her face. “Well, my father, the Earl of Farthingdale does, but I RSVPed in his place, and since I was already in town, I decided to remain here. I’m staying in a suite one floor below.”
J.D.’s face turned red. She looked like she was trying really hard not to explode.
Cam had no doubt that Arabella had screamed and cried to her father until the earl somehow found a way to get an invitation. The old git could never say no to his spoiled daughter.
“Arabella,” he began as he stood up and put an arm around J.D. mustering as much coldness as he could. “This is a private moment.” His polar bear, too, chuffed at her. It was angry because Arabella had upset their mate. “It’s not proper for you to just enter Her Highness’s suite when you wish.” He made a mental note to tell Orson and speak with Natalia’s head of security. “If you have business with my grandmother, you can make an appointment with her social secretary.”
Arabella’s nostrils flared and her lips pursed, but she shrank back. “As you wish, Your Grace.” Her eyes looked J.D. up and down. “Nice outfit.”
It was a miracle he didn’t have to drag J.D. away as he could feel her cat ready to swipe its claws at Arabella.
When the door closed behind his former fiancé, Natalia spoke up. “Perhaps we should continue our tea? J.D., kotyonok, please have a seat. Have you had real scones and clotted cream? I grew to love them in England, and I insisted Cook learn to make them from scratch.”
J.D. took a deep breath and composed herself before sitting back down. “They look delicious.”
Cam sat stiffly as they continued their tea, with small talk this time. There was no more mention of lost princes and dragons. Though it wasn’t as intense as before, he could still feel his mate’s seething anger. She was obviously angry at the whole situation, and he was kicking himself for thinking that Arabella would just go away without any fuss.
However, one thing that did reduce his worry was his grandmother’s obvious acceptance of J.D. He smiled to himself at Natalia’s name for J.D. Kotyonok. Kitten. Natalia had always had great instincts.
Finally, it was time to say goodbye, and he and J.D. stood up. “It was lovely to see you, babushka.”
“Always, lyuba.” She turned to J.D. “And you, kotyonok. I know you must be very busy, but perhaps you can visit me again soon before the ball?”
“Of course,” she said. “And thank you … for the food and tea and everything.”
“Most welcome. And thank you for the gifts.”
He embraced Natalia and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll come by tomorrow after work.”
As soon as they left the suite, J.D.’s demeanor turned even more sullen. She was still mad at him, somehow, even though it wasn’t his fault Arabella was here. He ran through a million things in his head of what he could do or say to her, but nothing seemed right. His ribs felt like they were being squeezed in, and J.D.’s silence only fueled his own anxiety. What would happen now? And how was he going to make things up to her?
They drove back to town, and since they hadn’t talked about where they would go, he went in the direction of her house. In her current mood, he wasn’t going