Loved by a Beast - Miranda Bridges Page 0,13

I probably look like a sea walrus on a beach looking for a mate, but I get it done.

My husband steps further inside. “I told you I would not allow anything to harm you, so you should not be frightened.”

I wouldn’t be if you were actually here.

I blow out a stream of air to keep from arguing with him and then change the subject. “Tika is still with Yania, and she offered to keep her until the morning.”

Jaxar nods once before removing his loincloth. I want to roll my eyes at how fast he went back to his old habit, but I don’t care. It just amuses me how unaffected he is by his nakedness.

I twist my index finger in the fur bedding, keeping my gaze locked on him. “Where were you tonight?”

Instead of climbing into bed, he pours himself something to drink and then takes a long sip. At this point, I can’t tell if he’s avoiding the question or quenching his parched throat.

He better be fucking thirsty.

I press my lips together to keep from repeating the question. And doing it louder. As a Masse, Jaxar has a lot of responsibilities, and throughout our time together, I’ve always been understanding and patient. Well, as patient as I can be. But tonight I’m not in the mood.

“Jaxar?”

“I was having a discussion with some of the warriors.”

“And?” I prompt.

He takes another drink, his golden eyes gleaming at me above the rim of the cup. “And it took longer than expected.”

His answer is valid, and it’s nothing I haven’t heard before. And yet…something is off. I don’t know if I feel this way because he didn’t include me in his conversation with Ahknar or because he didn’t check on me once today even though I was alone. The other possibility is hormones. I need to ask Anwa if there’s such a thing as an anticrying leaf.

“What were you and Ahknar talking about earlier?” I ask, trying to keep my tone disinterested. “Is that what kept you busy?”

He waves a hand in dismissal. “It is none of your concern. I know you must be tired, so why don’t you rest?”

Okay, so either Jaxar is being a caring husband or he’s about to get murdered for being patronizing…

“Good night,” I say, my voice too light and airy. I totally overcompensated in order to keep my anger from spilling over to the point he could see it.

But then I kind of give myself away.

After punching my pillow a couple times while imagining Jaxar’s face, I lie down and close my eyes. This pregnancy is turning me into a shrew, and that’s not his fault. Which means that lashing out at him is not a good idea, since I still want to be married when the baby is born.

I don’t want to die, but delivering this infant is not sounding all that bad compared to how I feel now.

For a long while, Jaxar continues to drink, and I’m awake the entire time. When he finally comes to bed, my heart flutters at his nearness, and my body flares with awareness. However, he doesn’t pull me into his embrace like he always does.

I tell myself that he’s tired and I’m tired and that everything will be fine, but it doesn’t stop my eyes from welling with tears. Fucking faucet that I am.

Chapter 6

Tiny chirping, followed by Yania’s voice, wakes me.

I glance around, finding Jaxar already gone, and my stomach drops. Usually he wakes me to say goodbye, but it’s like we are two passing ships in the night. The unease I’ve been experiencing lately because of his strange behavior has got to stop. As soon as I’m alone with him, he and I are going to have a serious conversation. However, I refuse to let it bother me right now.

I’m already smiling before the two of them come inside, and after getting to a sitting position, I open my arms. Tika bounds across the room, her wings flapping crazily. Then she’s on the bed, and I’m holding her close.

“Tika, be gentle with your mother,” Yania admonishes with a frown. “She is carrying your brother or sister.”

My daughter’s ocher eyes meet mine, and the apology within has my heart squeezing in on itself. I give her a kiss on the cheek and then stroke her hair to console her. “It’s okay, little love, but you do need to be careful,” I say.

Tika nods and shifts so that she can lay her head on my stomach. I gesture to