Page 148 of The Devil’s Lair

We’re not even married, and he’s cheating on me already.

“God, Giles, I’ve missed you. Missed this.”

“We agreed we wouldn’t. Not until after the wedding.”

“I know, but I can’t wait until then.” He fumbles with Giles’ belt, then drops to his knees.

I jerk back, plastering myself to the farthest wall in this too-small closet. I can hear everything. The moans and groans, the begging not to stop. Even clamping my hands over my ears doesn’t drown out the noise. If anyone walks past, they’ll hear them.

And here was me thinking I was the risk taker.

“Good, so good, Luis.”

I grind my teeth. Fucking come already, you piece of shit. The temptation to burst out of this cupboard and confront them both gnaws at me, the devil on my shoulder goading me to just fucking do it.

But I can’t. I’m frozen into inaction.

Giles finishes, and there’s the clink of a belt being refastened. “That has to be the last time, Luis. It’s too risky.”

“I know. Lord forgive me, but how am I supposed to impregnate Saskia when I can’t bear the thought of touching her? I should call it off, tell my father the truth.”

I wince. This is worse than I thought. An affair before we’ve said our I dos is bad enough, but marrying a guy who can’t bear to touch me? How did I not see this before? I must’ve been blind, or Luis is a fucking great actor.

Either way, I’m screwed.

“You can’t,” Giles says. “The world might have advanced and accepted same sex marriages, but the monarchy hasn’t. The ripples will affect your entire family for generations. Your father may even be forced to abdicate and pass the throne onto his brother instead.”

“I know. You’re right. But this will be torture.”

“You can do it. Close your eyes and think of me. Once she’s pregnant with the second kid, your duty is done, and you won’t have to touch her ever again. Just like we planned.”

Planned? They fucking planned this? I clench my hands until my knuckles are white and my nails dig painfully into my palms. I’m a fucking pawn, a means to an end. A womb to bear the next heir and a spare. I thought Luis had genuine affection for me. We may not be love’s young dream, but that’s normal in the circles we move in. Like my brothers, I’d hoped that what begins as an arrangement could turn into something more.

Except it never will. It can’t. Luis is gay.

Giles is right about how this will be seen, though. It’ll cause a scandal that will be felt for years to come.

As furious as I am about how Luis has used me, I cannot do that to his family. I won’t. I’m a royalist, and I’m loyal to my country. One thing I do know; I cannot marry Luis now.

The wheels start spinning, my mind racing with how I can get out of this marriage without sharing what I know. Every avenue leads to a dead end. There is only one thing I can do, but it will mean the ripples are felt in my own family instead of Luis’s. But my family are far more inclined to forgive me than Luis’s will.

Let’s be clear. I’m not doing this for him. He’s an arsehole, and one day, I will confront him with what I know.

That day is not today.

“We should go.”

The sound of a door closing reaches me. I peer through the crack in the cupboard. Empty. They’ve left. I slip outside and reach into my handbag for my phone.

There’s only one person I can turn to, one person mad enough to help me knowing the bomb it’ll set off.

I put in the call. We’re connected on the third ring.

“Donovan,” I blurt. “I need you. You have to help me escape.”

Okay, breathe. I’m sure you’ll agree with me that Tobias and Rebecca’s story was some ride.

I appreciate you staying with me to the end. My everlasting gratitude goes to every reader who picks up one of my books. With each story, I try to exceed your expectations and provide you with a little escape from a world that seems determined to put us through more than any of us should have to bear. I hope The Devil’s Lair gave you a few hours of much deserved escapism.