Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Aleena looked at him with wide eyes. Was he saying that he loved her? Or just talking about Kindred in general? Probably the latter, she thought.
“So…you couldn’t get mad like that at me? I mean, so angry you get bigger and your eyes go red?” she asked carefully.
Bear shook his head firmly.
“No—that’s only for males who are trying to hurt my woman. I could never go into Rage against you—only against a male who was hurting you.”
“Oh…all right.” Aleena felt a little better—but not much. He still hadn’t heard what she’d done—he was going to be very upset when he did. But she didn’t try to resist anymore and allowed him to help her into the tub. She sank down slowly into the steaming water and once it was up to her chin, she did relax…a little.
“Good girl,” Bear rumbled approvingly as he saw her lean back against the tub. “Now why don’t you start at the top and tell me everything that happened. Start from the beginning and I promise I won’t get mad.”
Aleena didn’t believe that for a moment, but she knew it was time to come clean. She couldn’t hold back any longer—she had to admit her sins.
“I was in the bad part of town so I could pawn my breast shield—the really nice golden one you got for me,” she admitted softly.
“Pawn it? Why?” He didn’t sound angry—only confused.
“To pay for my mother’s medical treatments,” Aleena said. “You see, I made a deal with my father. Well, really with his wife, my stepmother. She was supposed to pay for the treatments and in return, I was to marry you in Faleesha’s place.” She darted a look at his face. “Only…she didn’t pay.”
A look of understanding passed over Bear’s strong features.
“So that’s why I wound up with you instead of your sister at the Joining ceremony.”
“Yes.” Aleena was ashamed to admit she’d married him for money—he would surely think she was an opportunistic, greedy woman. But he had asked for the truth and she found herself unable to lie to him.
“And you say your stepmother didn’t pay for your mother’s treatments?” he asked.
Aleena shook her head.
“No, even though she swore that she would if I married you. She was afraid that you would hurt Faleesha—because all the Kindred are so big and they both were certain you’d be cruel to your wife, whoever it was. So I agreed to take my sister’s place and marry you. Only she didn’t keep her end of the bargain. So I had to find a way to pay for the treatments and that’s why I pawned the shield. I’m sorry, my Lord Husband,” she added quickly. “Please believe me—I never meant you any disrespect!”
“I didn’t think you did,” Bear rumbled, frowning. “This certainly explains a lot. So you needed money for your mother and you sacrificed yourself—even thinking that I would be cruel to you if you Joined with me?”
Aleena shrugged helplessly, the water lapping around her.
“I didn’t want her to die. But now she will anyway.” She felt tears start in her eyes again and tried to blink them away. “If she misses too many treatments, the disease in her blood will spread to her body and then it will be too late…I’ll lose her.”
This time she couldn’t stop the tears from coming. The idea of losing her mother, who she loved so dearly, was nearly unbearable. Her eyes burned and her chest hitched as the sobs overtook her. Goddess of Mercy, what was she going to do?
“Hey, baby, no…it’s all right. Everything is going to be all right.” Bear’s deep voice was soothing and his hand on her cheek as he turned her to face him was gentle.
“Nothing’s all right!” Aleena protested through her sobs. “My mother is going…going to die and you’ll probably dis…disavow me for pawning your gift! And for lying and saying I wanted…wanted to marry you when actually I was…was just trying to get…to get money for her treatments!”
“No, baby, I told you, I’m not going to do that,” he insisted. “And I’m not mad at you.”
Aleena could barely believe her ears.
“You…you’re not?” Her breath hitched in her chest and she looked up at him through watery eyes.
“No, not a bit,” he said firmly. He sounded so certain that she dared to study his face.
“Even though I married you for money?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“No. I just hope that in time you’ll come to like me for more than that.”
“I already have!” Aleena assured him quickly. “You’ve been so kind and gentle with me—our Joining night was nothing at all like what my stepmother said would happen.”
“Right—I’m not surprised,” he said dryly. “I’m happy to disappoint your expectations on that front, anyway.”
“So…you’re sure you’re not even angry that I got…got attacked? That man—he tried…tried to change the color of my eyes.”