Seven

Diana

Eddie joined us as we headed inside. His cryptic words from earlier played on repeat in my head. Every step I took felt heavier, like the ground wanted to swallow me whole. I couldn’t shake the fear that Asher might look at me too closely, see through this ridiculous lie, and realize I was nothing more than a desperate fraud.

If I didn’t keep my head down, I might trip over my lies, and Asher would think I came here to deceive him on purpose. Worse, he might not even care to hear my side of the story before sentencing me to death. The last thing I wanted was my only mate to become my executioner.

This was a stupid risk I had no business taking, and now I was about to pay for it. Asher’s gaze landed on me. His smile lingered, but I didn’t return it. It wasn’t mine to earn.

“I love you, Lila,” he said through the mate bond. His voice in my mind made my heart stutter. It was the first time I’d heard him through the link, and it hit me hard.

Asher reached out to hold me. The tenderness in his gaze made me want to melt into the floor. This moment felt stolen. I rubbed the back of my neck, hoping the motion would ease my distress.

“We’ll work through this, darling. Nothing can tear us apart.”

I grew restless when Eddie joined us. What was his plan here? Was he the one who would eventually help me escape, or was he a two-faced snake pretending loyalty to Asher while playing his own selfish game? His intentions were so murky.

But who was I to judge anyone’s motives? I was the furthest thing from perfect.

“The boys' nanny is taking them to Tafa Tafa for the weekend. Do you mind?”

My brows shot up. Why did he need my permission? Then I remembered I was supposed to be their mom. How hilarious. The imposter mom giving travel permissions like a pro.

Asher’s gaze stayed on me. He waited for my response, and I managed a slight nod.

“I don’t want them to see their mother try to leave them again,” Asher said.

I lowered my gaze and watched as he walked away. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived because now I was alone with Eddie. The man oozed bad intentions, and I didn’t know whether to trust him or brace for whatever trouble he had in store.

My ex-husband had always praised me for being an excellent judge of character. What a joke. I couldn’t even tell that he was screwing the maid right under my nose, but somehow, every cell in my body screamed that this Eddie guy was dangerous. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I knew.

Or maybe I was wrong.

Any lingering doubt shattered when Eddie moved toward me. His steps were calculated and predatory, like a lion stalking its prey. My knees pressed together as a chill ran up my spine. He circled me like I was on the menu. I hated how powerless I felt in his presence.

“Don’t forget what I said, Lila,” he murmured, dragging the name like he was testing me. “It’s all for your good. One word, and you're dead.”

My stomach churned as his words settled like stones in my gut. Eddie was the kind of person who took advantage of the weak and manipulated situations to his benefit. I didn’t know him well enough to fight back, so I plastered on a fake smile and nodded instead of showing the fear eating me alive.

That small act caught him off guard.

---

I didn’t see Asher again that night. I stayed in his wife’s room and tossed and turned despite the bed’s luxurious comfort. It was a struggle to find relief.

If I truly wanted out, I wouldn’t have let the guards bring me in here in the first place. I wouldn’t have stayed silent the moment I laid eyes on Asher. But I had, and now I was trapped in my own mess.

Sleep claimed me eventually, though I couldn’t pinpoint when. Morning arrived with sunlight spilling into the room and a soft knock on the door. I quickly grabbed one of Lila’s silk robes and tied it around me before answering.

A servant entered, balancing a tray with breakfast. “Good morning, Your Majesty. The king asked us to serve you in bed since you barely ate last night.”

I blinked at her, staring at her young, innocent face. She reminded me of Tessa, that silly girl who ruined my marriage. But there was no reason to hate this one. Unlike Marcus, Asher didn't seem to be the kind of male who would cast me aside—not with the mate bond anchoring us.

“Thank you,” I muttered.

The servant froze. Her gaze snapped to mine as if she hadn’t expected me to speak, let alone thank her.

“Where’s the king?” I asked, unable to help myself.

Her smile softened. “Sparring with his Beta, Your Majesty. They should return soon.”

I nodded, though my mind wandered. Why was Asher so close to Eddie? Maybe, like me, Asher was destined to trust the wrong people and get thrown under the bus by those closest to him.

That thought ruined my mood, so I pushed it away and focused on finishing my breakfast. Afterward, I freshened up and decided to snoop around—because, at this point, sneaking around quickly became my favorite new hobby.

With the boys gone and the servants busy elsewhere, I had free reign to explore the house. I limited myself to the top floor, though, feeling a creeping suspicion that someone might be watching me. I returned to the room after a while.

Inside, I dug through Lila’s dresser. Perfumes, skincare products, and meaningless trinkets filled the drawers, but nothing revealing. Then my hand hit something metallic. A safe box is tucked neatly in the third drawer.

The fingerprint-locked device mocked me as I tried to shake it, hoping to guess what was inside. I pressed my thumb to the scanner and tried several random combinations, but nothing worked. Frustrated, I muttered a curse and shoved it back into the drawer.

The bond stirred. It pulled at me, and I knew Asher was nearby. I rushed to change into a pastel-colored gown—thankfully, Lila and I shared similar sizes, though I had bigger boobs.

When Asher walked in, his beauty hit me hard. Or maybe it was the mate bond messing with my head, amplifying every feature, making him look more godlike with every passing second.

“Did you sleep well, love?”

I nodded. My breath caught as his hand gave mine a light squeeze. His touch sent a jolt through me, a spark that made me shiver.

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” he admitted.

Was his sleeplessness because of me?

“I couldn't stop thinking about what those bastards must have done to you,” he murmured. “But I swear, Lila, I’ll make them pay. Every single one of them. They’ll regret the day they crossed me.”