Vaaden Warriors 1: Rheul by Jessica Coulter Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

happen. that I would never do that."
    She sniffled. "I know. I know that, I really do. But I just can't stop worrying all the time."
    "What can I do?"
    "Please don't go back to Moira. I... I missed you."
    I grinned. "If you want me in your bed, then I won't go back to Moira."
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    She nodded.
    "I do, however, have to walk her back to her rooms at the harem," I told her. "I can't leave her on her own. It isn't safe."
    "Do you care for her?"
    Her question was so quiet I almost missed it. "Yes, I do."
    I wasn't going to lie to her. I really did care for Moira, just not on the same level that I cared for Darcy. However, I wasn't about to tell Darcy that. Not right then, anyway. Not after everything she'd put me through. I knew it wasn't her fault, her mind had been poisoned by the slaves in the cells, but it didn't change the way things were. But if she was ready for me to come back, then maybe things would work out, maybe our week apart had given her the time she'd needed to think.
    "I have to go. After I get Moira back to the harem, I'll come back."
    "Promise?"
    I smiled at her. "I promise."
    She let go and stood, letting me stand. I felt her gaze on me as I walked out of the bedroom and ushered Moira out of the apartment. I only hoped that the Darcy I'd just left behind would be the same Darcy that I'd come back to. I just never knew with her.
    "Moira, I'm really sorry," I told her as we walked into her rooms at the harem.
    "It's okay, Rheul. I knew our time would come to an end, and I'm glad that things are going to work out with Darcy."
    "Actually, I meant the way she acted with you."
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    "Oh." She smiled. "That's actually a good thing. It means she cares."
    "She does?"
    Moira nodded. "She wouldn't have been jealous if she didn't care. So whatever is going on with her, at least you know she cares about you. Maybe you can work through whatever problems she's having."
    I kissed her cheek. "I can never thank you enough, Moira.
    And I will keep my promise to you. In the meantime, you have a nice week-long break."
    She smiled. "I'll enjoy it while I can. But if things don't go well with Darcy, you know you're always welcome here."
    She blushed and I hugged her. She really was the sweetest thing. I was going to miss her.
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    57

Chapter Five

When I returned to the apartment, I found Darcy curled up in the bed. She lifted her head when I walked in, and I smiled at her.
    "Moira is back at the harem, and you have me to yourself.
    Now, do you want to tell me what's been going on?"
    "I don't really know."
    "Darcy, don't start this again."
    My jaw clenched. I couldn't take this again. I'd thought things were going to be better, but now she was clamming up once more.
    "No, I mean I really don't know. I just... That night, it was amazing, but then as I was lying there with you, I don't know what happened. I was content one minute, and the next I started to worry."
    "About what?"
    "That you would get tired of me, get rid of me. That I would displease you, and you would punish me. I think on some level I know you won't do those things, but there's always this fear inside of me that things could change."
    "Darcy, what do I have to do for you to realize that none of those things is going to happen? I nearly died because you weren't ready yet and I refused to force myself on you!"
    I knew I was practically yelling at her, but I was beyond irritated. She was being irrational. I didn't know what else to do to get through to her. Obviously, I couldn't show her, and telling her that she had nothing to worry about hadn't done 58

    any good. What else could I do? I couldn't live the rest of my life with her like this, never knowing from one day to the next what to expect from her. Would she be the sweet, loving woman I'd made love to that night, or the worried, anxious woman she'd changed into right after? It was like being with two different women, and it would drive me crazy.
    She flinched. "I know. I'm sorry."
    "I