He inhaled heavily, his breath coming out shakily as he tried damn hard not to laugh at me.
I scowled, lifting the pictures and marriage certificate from the table. “Well, I’m so thrilled you think what happened earlier was humorous.” I lightly shoved him out of the way so I was standing in front of the tent flap, and murmured quietly, “Permit Ezra Zeller.” The wall flashed solid gold for a moment, then went back to shimmering gold against the white fabric. I brushed the tent flap aside, stepping into my bedroom, and motioned grandly for him to cross the threshold. “Your annoying Highness may now enter.”
“Thank you, your smartass Highness.” He stepped into my room, his gaze instantly scanning, analyzing everything he saw. He didn’t move any further until he had finished, then he made his way directly to Isa’s crib, not commenting on the sterile surroundings. I blinked when he paused in placing Isa in her crib and reached inside. Without glancing in my direction he held his arm out…with a buzzing bee printed bra dangling from his index finger. I quickly strode over and snatched it from his hand, muttering curses quietly under my breath as I tossed it into the bathroom, letting the tent flap close to hide its untidiness…and possibly more undergarments he could make fun of.
I watched as he kissed her cheek before placing her in the crib, earning a few happy babbles from her, and I froze. Staring. Because right here, right now, in the present day and time as he bent over the crib covering his daughter with her blanket and softly speaking to her…I saw the man I had watched onscreen. There was not an ounce of hardness on his face as he gazed down at her, completely letting down his guard — well, if he hadn’t strategically placed his body to protect himself from me — as he ran his fingers over her hair and spoke to her in such a soothing tone it threatened to make me sleepy.
I knew I was marveling, but I had not thought that man existed anymore, but of course, he did for Isa. His daughter. Just as I came alive with merely a thought of her. Anyone who couldn’t unconditionally love their child, an innocent baby, was a true monster. Though it was still a shock to my system seeing that love in him, the man who had just a week ago called himself heartless…and yes, he was when he needed to be, but not with her.
So there went my idea for going behind his back and filing for a divorce. There was a decent possibility that if I filed, the loopholes in Law One would be revoked, and we would be spelled for separation again, which I wouldn’t mind but…Isa. No, I couldn’t do that to her. She deserved to know this man who had already loved her unreservedly.
I jerked realizing King Zeller was staring at me from where he was bent over her. I flared my nostrils, not really knowing how long he had been watching me as I zoned out, but I stated the truth softly, “I won’t divorce you.”
One eyebrow rose. “I know. Just as I won’t divorce you for the same reasoning.” His head dipped, and I saw his predator peek out, his eyes glowing dimly as he stared. In the softest voice, he stated, “Earlier I said that I wouldn’t be nice if you ever attempted to permanently take her away from me, but the truth is, I will kill you.”
Truth.
I shrugged. “I know that.” And I let my eyes glow, let my wolf ride my voice. “And just the same, I’ll kill you if you do anything to take her away from me.”
Truth.
King Zeller’s lush lips lifted, and I saw the briefest flash of fang. “What a pair we are.”
I snorted, walking to my bed and flopping down on it, staring up at the ceiling. “We don’t trust each other. We have no reason to. We met only a week ago because I was trespassing not only into King Shadow, but into your home. And then there’s the tiny part where you,” my hand flittered, “tortured me.” I chuckled quietly, the action getting a smidge easier, if still sounding unused. “It wasn’t exactly the prime setting for starting our dysfunctional family.”
“Family,” King Zeller murmured in a soft tone, testing the word on his tongue. “I never would have guessed this was what I was mind raped for.” He stood for a few moments by Isa’s crib, then moved so he was standing where my knees hung over the bed.
I lifted my eyebrows, staring up at him. “Remember what I said before you entered.” My eyes went back to the ceiling, so I didn’t see temptation staring me in the face. “I may have had a temporary moment of insanity by starting that kiss earlier,” I paused, then stated begrudgingly, “which was fucking hot as hell,” I sighed heavily, “but it doesn’t mean we’re going to travel down the same path we did before. We’re both changed from this past year. That man and woman on those videos may be able to love their child, but when it comes to others…” I sighed, not bothering to finish.