Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 117336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
But my mate will be hungry and tired. I have the food given to the staff and ask them to pack up a few things for me to bring Melina to eat instead. With a wrapped sandwich, a piece of fruit and a carafe of cool, fresh water tucked away, I head toward the clinic, nodding at the soldiers who flank me automatically. Sure enough, the lights at the clinic are still on, and when I head inside, I find my mate giving dribbles of water to a sick man with a greenish pallor to his skin.
She looks up at me and then flicks her gaze away, concentrating on her patient.
"Come, my wife," I say, stepping forward. As I do, I pick up a strange scent on my mate, that of another female. It feels vaguely familiar, but I can't place it. Not that it matters. All that matters is Melina getting some rest. "You look exhausted. Call your assistant to come and take over for you."
"Alma's busy," Melina snaps out. She won't look at me, just keeps giving sips of water to the sickly man in the cot. "I'll be staying here tonight. You go back home."
Go home? Without her? Nonsense. "You've done enough for these people for one day. I'll call in a few soldiers and—"
She turns to look at me, her gaze so accusing that I'm taken aback. "And you'll what? What if someone dies because your soldiers don't know how to take care of them? Am I supposed to be okay with that? As long as you get laid it's all right, is it?"
I frown at her. It isn't like Melina to attack me like this. Question me, yes. Attack me, no. Something's bothering her. "Tell me what's troubling you, my mate. Let me know so I can fix it. I don't like seeing you unhappy."
Melina ignores me for a long moment, continuing to give the man sips of water. When he stops drinking, she tucks the blankets close to his frail body and then gets to her feet. Her gaze lingers on me, then on the soldiers behind me. Her mouth purses and then she nods at the door at the back of the clinic. "Let's talk in my office, please."
I'd much rather she come home with me, so I can bathe her and rub her feet. I don't like how frazzled she looks today. How utterly defeated she seems. Melina is strong and capable. I don't like seeing her with a miserable expression on her face. It worries me. It makes me wonder how I can help. How I can make it better. Does she need more medication? I ponder this as I follow her into the back, waving my guards off. We've already scavenged all the nearest parts of the abandoned city. Perhaps it's time to send some of the men out farther, on a journey of several days. See what they can find and bring back. Melina needs so much and she asks for so little that surely I can manage this. I begin to make plans in my head, wondering how many men I should send out, and for how long. Do they go on foot? Do we send them out on the wheeled contraptions—bicycles—or will that just slow them down if one breaks? What—
The moment I step into her office, Melina shuts the door behind me, jarring me out of my distracted thoughts. "You and I need to have a heart to heart," she says, voice dangerously soft. "And I need there to be truth between us."
"Of course," I say automatically, frowning. Why would she think I wouldn't be truthful with her? "What's troubling you?"
She moves over to her desk, leans against it, and crosses her arms over her chest. It plumps her breasts magnificently against the neckline of her gown, and I'm drawn to that delicious expanse of glorious skin. "Anything you want to tell me?"
"You're magnificent."
That doesn't make her smile. "Anything else?"
My skin prickles with awareness. Has Gwen said something to her? Were the books not a warning but a way of her getting some sort of subtle revenge? Showing me how to act and then not giving me the time to do so? I keep my expression vague, in case I am wrong. "We're increasing the number of guards at the well to three at all times. We're not rationing it, but some of the people have proven to be unwilling to listen to authority, and I don't want anyone sabotaging it. Not after all the work we did to put it in. Is that what you're upset over, love? If you have ideas, I'm open to changing. Right now that just seems like the best solution—"
"Azar," she bites out. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"