The Summer King Bundle 3 Stories - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,170

“Everything in your power to make sure he marries Tatiana or another fae. That’s what you should be doing. But if you tell him what you overheard… I don’t know what he’ll do.” Pressing my lips together, I shook my head as I remembered him talking about his sister Scorcha. I tried to push away the image of him brushing the knots out of a little girl’s hair. I tried to forget how careful and gentle he was when he did it for me. I cleared my throat. “I have no idea what he’d do, but it won’t help to make sure the right thing is done. That much I do know.”

No one spoke.

Not even Tink. Not for a long time.

It was Tanner who finally did.

“You are doing the right thing,” he said. At his sides, his hands were opening and closing.

Finally! Finally, someone realized that I was doing the right thing. There was no relief, though. No joy. Just a heaviness that threatened to drag me to the ground and then through it.

“It gives me no pleasure to hide anything from my King, nor does knowing what you must be going through. But the future of our Court and of this world is paramount and trumps our needs and desires,” he continued. I felt myself nodding slowly. “We’ll keep your confidence, Brighton.”

Sitting down in the chair, all the energy went right out of me. “Thank you.”

His mouth tightened.

“Neither Faye nor Kalen will repeat a word of what was overheard or discussed here,” Tanner announced, and for the first time, I saw his mask of civility slip a little, revealing the deadly creature underneath as he looked to the two of them. “Do you understand me?”

Faye looked uncomfortable but she nodded. “I do.”

“I was right. I regret this.” Beside her, Kalen thrust a hand through his hair. “I don’t like this. He’s our King.”

“I’m not asking if you like it.” Authority bled into Tanner’s tone. “None of us do. But we must do things we don’t like to protect the future, no matter how distasteful we find them.” His hands stilled as his gaze met mine. “And I promise you that what you’re doing will not be in vain. I will do everything in my power to ensure that.”

I nodded again because I felt distasteful. I felt wrung out. I felt everything and nothing as Tanner bid us goodbye. The others followed, but Kalen stopped and whispered something in Tink’s ear. The brownie nodded solemnly. At any other time, I would’ve been curious to know what was said, but right then, I didn’t have the brain capacity for it.

Tink sat beside me. “So…”

Wearily, I looked over at him.

“That was awkward.”

I laughed, but it didn’t feel right. “Do you think they’ll keep silent?”

“I believe so.”

“And you?” I whispered.

“Of course. I don’t want you to throw away my packages.”

I smiled at that.

He leaned in, resting his forehead against mine. “You know what I think?”

I was half afraid to ask. “What?”

“I think you’ll make a good mom. After all, I’m one hell of a test run.”

* * * *

I spent the following two days with Fabian and Tink as my shadows. If I wanted to go out into the courtyard, they went with me. If I stayed in my room, they kept me company by either joining me on the bed to watch bad reality television or a movie in the living room area of the suite. I didn’t think I’d ever spent that much time in bed with one man before, let alone two. I knew they were there because Caden wasn’t, and I had a feeling they were with me at his request. Not that I believed they didn’t want to spend time with me, but it wasn’t like I was great to be around. I was the living embodiment of morose.

I hadn’t talked to Caden since I’d told him I didn’t love him, but I woke in the middle of the night, swearing that his scent was in the room. Often, when I was in the courtyard with Fabian and Tink, a shivery wave of awareness broke out along the back of my neck and over my skin. I’d turn, fully expecting to find Caden there, looking at me in that intense way of his. But he was never there, just like when I woke in the night—the room was empty.

I couldn’t make sense of how I felt. I didn’t know what to think or feel. A stupid part of