Wyatt frowned. “Is this your man? I thought you were alone.” His voice deepened. “We had an understanding, Elea.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You demanded that I open my door to you. I never agreed to it, which is what makes you a menace to all women.” I gestured to the cart. “I pity your poor wife.”
Philippe strode to my side and wrapped his arm possessively around my waist. “Hello, darling. Sorry I’m late.” Before I could think, he planted a gentle kiss on my lips. “Do I need to kill this fool for you?”
In that moment, I couldn’t remember being happier to see anyone in my life.
Wyatt gulped. “Kill me? In front of my wife and children?”
Philippe chuckled. “That’s someone’s family, but not yours. Your brother’s perhaps?”
“But… I…”
“Don’t bother to deny it. As I approached, the little boy was pointing in the opposite direction and asking for his da. Clearly, it’s not you.” Philippe pursed his lips. “Or should I ask them if they belong to you? The lady seems like the type who won’t tolerate liars.”
I glanced over to the woman. Indeed, she was glaring at Wyatt. Clearly, she knew his ways as much as I did. All of a sudden, the morning was looking up. I leaned my head against Philippe’s chest. “Darling, how I’ve missed you.”
Philippe set his hand on the pommel of his sword and focused on Wyatt. “Here’s what happens next. You walk away and never speak to my woman again. In return, I won’t run you through with my blade. Do we have an agreement?”
Wyatt mumbled something unintelligible and rushed back to his cart. Within a matter of seconds, he was rolling away. What a beautiful sight.
I watched the wagon grow smaller down the road and wanted to cheer. “You handled that well.”
Philippe shrugged. “All in a day’s work of protecting my lady.”
I stepped away from Philippe’s embrace. “About that.”
“Please.” Philippe rolled his eyes. “Don’t give me some speech about how we don’t belong together. All I ask is the chance to prove something to you.” A mischievous light danced in his deep blue eyes.
“And what would that something be?”
“You’ve been spending months with the King of Gloom. I’ve been carefully waiting for my chance, and at last, it’s here. This is my opportunity to keep you company as you settle into your new life, and if possible, have a torrid love affair at the same time.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “This is your plan, eh?”
“Brilliant, isn’t it? You need a break from all the overblown seriousness with Genesis Rex. Mindless enjoyment… That’s what I recommend. I’m the perfect man for the job.”
The offer was tempting. The gods knew I could use the company. I worried my lower lip with my teeth, debating if this was a good idea.
Philippe stepped closer again. I was weakening and he knew it. “Besides,” he said smoothly. “I’ve already been you naked. We’re halfway there.” He offered me his arm.
“This is a farm, Philippe. Not a Royal mansion.”
“Oh, I might even do physical labor if required.”
“You? Actual work?”
“I’m quite strong. Although my best muscles don’t show in this outfit.” I knew he was referring to more than his velvet longcoat. Cheeky.
“That was terrible.” I still couldn’t help smiling, though. “Tell me, do your charms work on other women?”
“Inevitably. Still, why not find out for yourself?” He wagged his elbow in my direction.
I shifted my weight from foot to foot. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
Philippe lowered his voice. “In all seriousness, Elea. You need a friend. Let me make you smile.”
Those words made my decision clear. I did need a good smile from time to time. “All right.” I wrapped my hand around his forearm and together, we walked up the hill toward Braddock Farm. I gave Philippe’s arm a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for finding me, by the way.”
“I could say the same to you, you know.”
“You could?” Philippe seemed to be getting awfully serious, all of a sudden.
“That’s a conversation for another day. Come, let’s enjoy a pleasant stroll in the sunshine.”
I glanced about. Philippe was right. The sun had fully risen and burned off the last of the clouds. I’d been so concerned with Wyatt, I hadn’t even noticed. Now, the forest’s leaves gleamed like emeralds under a sapphire-blue sky. This was the life I remembered: my farm, a lovely landscape, and the chance to make something grow.
I was coming home. At last.
The story continues with Cherished,
Book 3 of the Beholder Series
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Like the work of Christina Bauer?
Try her Angelbound Origins Series
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Like Divergent and Buffy?
Try Dimension Drift by Christina Bauer
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Like Angelbound by Christina Bauer?
Try Becoming Alpha by Aileen Erin
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Interested in Dimension Drift?
Check out Cipher by Aileen Erin
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Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too. Christina lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
To find out more about Christina, her blogs, and her books, please visit www.monsterhousebooks.com
More Books By Christina Bauer
ANGELBOUND ORIGINS
About a part-demon girl who kicks ass, takes names, and falls in love
1. Angelbound
2. Scala
3. Acca
4. Thrax
5. Armageddon
ANGELBOUND OFFSPRING
The next generation of her story
1. Maxon
2. Portia
3. Mistress Dragon
BEHOLDER
An epic fantasy filled with romance and witchcraft
1. Cursed
2. Concealed
3. Cherished
4. Crowned
DIMENSION DRIFT
About a science genius who attends a Learning Squirrel High School… Her life goes downhill from there
1. Prequel 1
2. Prequel 2
3. Prequel 3
4. Dimension Drift
5. ECHO Academy
6. Corrosion Line
7. Drift Warrior
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