open at the sight of her belly. Holy shit. She was pregnant.
“My queen, I am sorry,” Galan said. “I do not know how she got into your private quarters.”
Motherfucking hell.
I stared wide-eyed at the queen, my sarcasm and usual smartass replies blanketed under the surety that I was about to have my head chopped off by Galan’s shiny sword.
“What are you doing in the king and queen’s private quarters, Ellis?” Galan’s hands tightened around my arms. “You must answer me immediately before -”
“Sadora?” The door swung open and – oh this just got fucking better and better – the king walked into the apartment. “Is Jovie awake from her nap? I will take her for a walk in the garden before… Galan?”
The king stared at me before turning his gaze to Galan. “Why did you bring the thief to my queen?”
There was a moment of silence. When Galan looked at me, I knew without a doubt that I had fucked him over big time. Regret and shame immediately coursed through me. It hadn’t been my intention to get Galan in trouble and I didn’t care if it cost me my head, I would make sure the king knew Galan had nothing to do with me being here.
“Answer me, Galan,” the king said.
I craned my neck to stare around Galan’s large body. “Your majesty, he didn’t -”
“I asked him to bring her to me,” Sabrina said. “I wanted to meet her.”
The king frowned at her. “Sabrina, that little female is not to be trusted.”
“I know, Quill,” Sabrina said. “But I remember how terribly bored I was when I first got here and was locked in my room all day. I figured she’d like to meet some new people.” She handed the toddler to him.
“Hi, Papa.”
“Hello, Jovie.” Quill kissed her cheek as he studied me and Galan. “Galan, if my sadora wishes to visit with the thief, I will allow it, but you must remain with her at all times. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Quill,” Galan said.
“Good.” Quill kissed the toddler’s cheek again. “Meena, would you like to go for a walk in the garden?”
She clapped her hands and screeched “garden” at the top of her lungs.
Sabrina laughed. “I think that’s a yes. Let me just change her first. Ellis, it was nice to meet you.”
“Um, it was nice to meet you too, uh, your highness.” I made a clumsy curtsy and then bowed to the king as Galan’s hand tightened on my arm.
Nodding to Quill, he marched me past the king and the princess and out the door. The minute the door closed behind us, I said, “Galan, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean -”
“Hold your tongue, human.”
There was no warmth in Galan’s voice at all. Feeling sick to my stomach, I followed meekly along as he led me through the maze of corridors until we were back at my room.
He pushed me inside and I said, “I really am sorry. I didn’t know who she was or -”
“How did you get out of your living quarters?” Galan’s tail was flicking back and forth so quickly it was a green blur.
“You left the door unlocked.”
Lying came automatically to me. I’d spent the last seven years rarely able to trust anyone and lying had kept me safe. I was extremely good at it, and my voice remained steady and my gaze didn’t shift from Galan’s face.
So, why did I immediately feel so fucking shitty about lying to him?
“Krono!” Galan ran a hand through his dark hair. “This is my fault. If you had hurt the queen or the princess…”
“I wouldn’t have hurt them,” I said. “You know me better than that. I’m not, like, a monster for God’s sake. C’mon, Galan.”
He stared at me and the disappointment in his gaze was worse than the anger. “You should not have left your living quarters, Ellis. If the king knew what really happened, you would be sent to Iron Gate immediately. Is that what you want? To sit in a prison cell alone until the war ends and you are returned to your planet?”
“No,” I said, “but it isn’t fair that you keep me locked up in my room and refuse to take me for a fucking walk just because you’re pissed that I hugged Sigan. I only get to leave this room twice a day and you took that away from me because you were having a tantrum.”
“I was not having a tantrum!” Galan shouted.
“Like hell you weren’t!” I shouted back.
His tail banged against the