But I know that spite won’t help either of us, no matter how angry I am over his actions. And besides, he’s an Alpha; they’re practically hardwired to try and hold onto what’s ‘theirs‘, and hearing his fated mate say that she had other lovers might just piss him off royally.
Even if it didn’t make him do that, though, I know I have to tell him the truth. Because it’s the right thing to do.
Finally, I shake my head. “No. I never dated anyone. Miles has never seen me be romantic with a man, so it’s confusing for him.”
I almost wonder if Arthur will use this knowledge against me in some way–maybe use it as a way to convince me to get back with him, tell me that if I haven’t found someone else in five years, I never will and we should just be together.
But to my surprise, he doesn’t. Rather, he just nods and busies himself with tidying the sink area.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you had, you know,” he says calmly.
I blink, stunned. “Really?”
He shrugs. “The thought of my mate being with another man doesn’t fill me with joy. But I also know now that I hurt you, and we were broken up. You had every right to take another lover.”
Arthur pauses, then adds, “Besides, you’re a beautiful young woman. Surely you had a lot of men vying for your attention.”
I hold back a laugh. “Believe it or not, most men aren’t interested in single mothers. Especially not humans.”
Arthur doesn’t react to that, although I can see the faint tick in his jaw as if the thought pains him.
I swallow and ask, “What about you? Have you… seen anyone in the past five years?”
His
eyes flick to mine, and there’s a moment of hesitation. I wonder if he’s having the same thoughts I had— trying to decide whether to tell me the truth or not.
After a few seconds, he shakes his head. “No. Selina has been my only partner. Not that it counts. We never treated our arrangement as a romantic one.”
I want to tell him that that doesn’t necessarily mean they might not have had sex–plenty of people have sex without romance involved–but I don’t. Instead, the mention of her makes me recall Augustine’s fear earlier, the way she thought I was Selina and said, “I’m not falling for your tricks again!”
Again.
As if Selina has harassed her in the past.
I still think it was just a dementia episode, but even so, Augustine’s fears had to be based in some kind of reality. “Selina,” I say, trying my best to ignore the way the feeling of her name on my tongue makes me want to throw up, “does she visit often?”
Arthur glances at me. “You’re bothered by her visit earlier today.”
“I’m just curious, that’s all.”
He pauses, then his jaw hardens. “She visits about once a week for various reasons. Although, I wish she would visit less than that.”
With that, Arthur turns on his heel and leaves the room, his shoulders tense. I stare after him, somewhat
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Chapter 65
surprised. This isn’t the first time he’s implied a dislike for Selina, and he certainly made no attempt to hide it just now.
At first, I almost feel relieved to know that he doesn’t like her. But really, it just makes me pity him in a not–so
nice way.
Is the political gain he receives from marrying into Selina’s family really more important than his own life, his own desires? Than our love? Our family?
And if he’s really willing to marry someone he so clearly dislikes just for an extra modicum of political power, then what other lengths will he go to in order to get that power?
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