Ruh’flor,you wanted the gems back from Hibsej, no?
I bite my lip and pull my mouth into my smile.
Yes. It was thoughtful of you to do that.
But...
I feel a prodding at my mind, and I frantically try to hide the image of the dolls.
He sees anyway... of course, he does.
Abashment at my gift floods through me, and I keep the gifts hidden in the folds of my gown. But Ra'Sa watches me.
My cheeks heat. What would he think about someone like me? My poor attempts to be a mother would've made anyone laugh.
Instead, his eyes soften.
“Wren, Thea,” he says. "Yourmamábrought you something too."
I feel Griselda sneer from the corner, but I slowly pull out the handmade toys. I wait for the disappointment and fear the flames creeping over my skin and causing my stomach to roil.
But then Wren hands the gem back to Ra’Sa and rushes over. Thea keeps her crystal, but approaches as well. Curious.
I hand them both one.
“One for you, with a blue dress because I know it is your favorite color,” I say to Wren.
She smiles and looks up at me. “I like red. Like you.”
My mouth parts, and my eyes burn. They… they don’t understand.
I look at Thea and say, “And green for you. As I know you love plants.”
Thea grins, takes the toy, and then immediately ties her gem around the neck of her dolly.
"Now she's got a necklace. Like a queen," she says.
“Like mamá,” Wren corrects.
Ra'Sa laughs, "That she does. And they are both beautiful.”
My throat aches, and I swallow thickly. Ra’Sa comes to my side and kneels down. As he does, he takes my hand.
Coco winds her way between us, pressing her face into the space where mine and Ra’Sa’s arms meet. She watches the girls, as does my mate, but I don't miss the disgruntled woman in the corner.
Griselda sucks her teeth. Too low for the girls to hear, then she stands up and approaches. "I didn’t realize you wereseducing him, too. Do you know no better way to improve yourself?"
Ra'Sa goes preternaturally still. His head turns slowly, like the predator he is perfectly capable of being.
"What did you say?" he grits out.
I squeeze his hand. He'd killed the guard for me, hell, I'd even seen him shut the men up when Eneko paraded me through the yards.
But this... to the woman who's made me feel small my entire life.
I should tell him to stop.
Griselda sticks her chin out. "This is between me and Melisa. She knows what she is. She's not even ashamed."