“Always.”
I took a few more moments and went back to the dog, petting him when he felt horrible he’d hurt me too. I explained I was injured and should have warned him so he knew to go slow. We got back to it, and Neldor was seriously upset at what he learned. It wasn’t just about the demons, but the dust collectors and the abuse of the hobgoblins.
“You really didn’t believe me at all, did you?” I whispered, trying not to show the hurt I felt, but doing a poor job of it. “Why would I lie?” I turned away without waiting for an answer and went back into the house.
He grabbed my hand in the hallway to stop me. “I believed you. For one, I would have known if you were lying. But I did believe you. I swear it. This has been a lot, Tamsin. Too much. Your telepathy gave me images from that dog and that… That’s more powerful. You know that. I’m reeling on much and trying to process too much.”
That was fair and I nodded, acknowledged it.
But still made sure to pull my hand away.
I was better after a break and food, but it took us until lunch to handle all the packs, and breakfast had been pretty early. I was wiped, but there was something else I had to handle, and he had the time, according to the response I’d gotten to the text I’d sent that morning.
Except I couldn’t open a temp portal to sneak to see him.
Crap.
17
Craftsman offered, but then remembered how well the Vogels’ castle and mountains were warded, so shot it down. Instead, he opened the portal for me to go through the normal way at the family and super trusted friends entrance. It meant I had to go unarmed and leave my guards behind, but the place was crawling with Rothchilds, who I trusted, so I felt okay.
“Hey,” Hudson greeted.
“Hey.”
Wow, we were lame.
“You eat?” he tried, glancing around at all the people not even trying to hide they were watching.
“Not yet. You said lunch, right?”
“Yeah, I’ve asked the kitchen for a private lunch, if that’s okay?”
“Sounds great.” I moved up next to him and let him lead us to a smaller lounge-type room with a table that had a gorgeous view overlooking the mountains. There was a huge spread waiting for us that was overkill and showed how nervous he was.
I was too.
“How are you?” he asked when we were alone.
“Would you believe me if I said I was fine?” I chuckled darkly.
“No, not at all.” He moved around me and pulled out a chair for me with the best view of outside. “Anything I can do?”
“This is nice,” I answered as I sat. “It’s nice to get out of there. Thank you for letting me interrupt your day and fitting me in.”
“Of course, anytime.” He cleared his throat and sat after moving the serving carts closer. “I ordered options.”
“I can see that.” I wasn’t all that picky of an eater as long as it wasn’t spicy. We started with some huge Cobb salads and I was happy, which made him relax.
“So did things get better after I left?”
“No, no, it’s not getting better,” I admitted. “But I don’t want to talk about him or all of that. I know we’ll have to and what I learned, as it complicates things with us.”
“Not to me.”
I bit back a sigh. “Hudson, I can’t even wrap my mind around it, but I did hear what he said about my mother. That means… You know what that means I might have to do. And you’re next to rule—” I snapped my mouth shut when his gaze met mine.
“It doesn’t complicate things to me. I have siblings. It would be an issue if I was the only option, but I’m not. You are. But you’re not ready and I understand that. I’ll be here when you are. Please don’t worry about it though, Tamsin. It’s not an issue for me.”
I dropped my fork when his meaning sunk in. He’d give up the throne for me. Or his right to be king of the North American dragons next. As much as I wanted to let it go, put a pin in it for the moment, I couldn’t when he’d said something so big. “Why?”
He smiled softly. “You’re my mate. We’re not both dragons from two different areas. You’re the only heir to all light fairies in another world. I’m next in line, with several amazing other options that would take care of my people maybe better than I could, and we don’t rule like you would have to. We’re hidden here among humans and don’t—we’re not the president of North America or anything.”
I knew that… But still. “I can’t believe you can say that, and already. Hudson, I have no idea—I can’t even comprehend this yet, and Neldor wants to take it all over. He’s been very clear about that, and my place before him on my knees.” I winced the moment I said it, rage filling his eyes. “I threw him in the pool, filled it, and turned it to ice. I can handle him.”
“I don’t like the way he treats you.”
“I know, and it meant the world to me that you stood up for me like you did,” I whispered. “I can fight my own battles, but it was the first time I felt…”
“What?” he asked, giving me a confused look.
Except I didn’t know how to explain it. “I don’t know if I can put it into words. I want to say that I could matter as much as your family. You’re always doing whatever for them, like that meeting last year where you brought me, maneuvered me, there.
