Chapter 0136
“About Emory’s pregnancy?”
He nods. “We all want to make sure she and the baby are healthy.”
“Okay,” I agree. “How would I tell you? You’re usually busy.”
“You can ask a servant to send me a message, or you could come to my room.”
“That’s inappropriate.” Willow finally speaks again. “You can’t have her going to your room. She’s a child.”
He waggles his eyebrows at her. “How about you show up at my room then, Willow? Or is that too inappropriate for you? I know exactly what inappropriate things I’d like to be doing with you-”
Nellie loudly clears her throat. “Maybe you shouldn’t be saying such things around a child?”
Rainer gives an innocent smile that makes me think he uses that when he wants to get out of trouble. I’ve seen my brother Coit do the same thing back home.
Lighten up, Nels,” Rainer remarks. “Lola is too young to understand what I’m saying anyway.“.
I’m ten.” I tell him. “Emory already told me where babies come from.”
He erupts into a coughing fit. “That’s… that’s good to know, Lo. Um, how about we don’t tell your sister what you heard me say to Miss Willow over here?”
Willow hides her face behind her book. “Don’t drag me into this. You were the one being inappropriate.” “I’m not supposed to lie to Emory,” I point out. “But I could forget to mention it to her if you get me cake.” “Cake?” he repeats.
I nod. “Chocolate cake. The one with the raspberry filling that the cook bakes.”
He offers his hand, and we shake on it. “A deal’s a deal, little wolf.”
Willow smacks him on the arm with her book. “Don’t make deals with a child!”
“She made a deal with me,” he says. “I just agreed to it.”
“You’re the adult,” Willow whispers vehemently. “You’re supposed to say no.”
He winks at her. “I can’t help that I’m easily persuaded, which you should totally take advantage of, Willow. I will not fight you for anything if you just ask.”
Willow grimaces in disgust. “You’re filthy.”
“Not filthy enough yet. Just say the word, Wils. We can get filthy together.”
Nellie loudly clears her throat and gestures toward me by nodding vigorously. “Again, the child is right there.”
He points to me. “I know, I know. I’ll get you the cake.”
I giggle, amused at Rainer’s behavior and Willow’s annoyance at him. Curiously, I ask, “Do you like Willow? Is that why you tease her?”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0136
He leans closer to me and whispers loudly so everyone can hear, “I like her a lot, little wolf. I don’t think she likes me though.”
We look at Willow, and she hides behind her book again.
“Maybe she thinks you have a girlfriend,” I state. “Are you single?”
“I’m very, very single.”
“Why? Do you not want to be with anyone?”
With a more serious tone he explains, “It’s not that I don’t want to be with someone, but I’m really busy these days. King Kane is dealing with a lot, and he needs all the help he can get. Ruling a kingdom is a lot of work.”
“King Kane managed to fall in love with Emory while doing all that, so what’s stopping you?” I ask him.
I’m not fully comfortable with the king yet. He is always polite and nice, but I can’t look at him and not remember that bad day when my father almost sold me off to him. I can see how he takes care of Emory, and it makes it easier to not dislike him. And he’s having a baby with her, so in a way, he’s family now. I will have to learn to accept him eventually.
Is he part of the pack? I thought only wolf shifters could be pack members. I need to ask Emory.
Rainer rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably. “That’s a good point, Lo. The king has always been good at multitasking. I’m a one task at a time kind of guy.”
“Maybe you should tell the king you need more time off so you can get a girlfriend then.”
