With Everything I Am (The Three #2)(107)

Sonia hugged her back thinking she would like Maraleena which was something good in a world that looked pretty dreary and replied, “You’re welcome.”

Maraleena let her go and jumped up, quickly resuming work. “You better finish your breakfast. It’ll get cold and King Callum said you had to finish every bite.”

There it was. A reminder of her dreary world.

Sonia resumed her place in bed with her tray and she stared at the black patties.

“What’s this?” she asked, forking one up and showing it to Maraleena.

“Black sausage,” Maraleena answered after glancing at it and before zipping up another bag and setting it aside.

Something about her answer, though it probably wasn’t her answer, it was probably hysteria, caused Sonia to start giggling but she spoke through her laughter, “I can see that, Maraleena. It’s definitely black and it looks like a kind of sausage but what is it?”

Maraleena grinned at her again and said, “Black sausage, blood sausage, you know, sausage made out of blood.”

Sonia paled.

Maraleena laughed.

“It’s really good. Try it,” Maraleena coaxed.

Sonia gulped.

“Honestly, try it,” Maraleena prompted. “I only get the best in. You’ll love it. King Callum does.”

Of course Callum would love sausage made out of blood. He’d probably drink blood if he could.

Wanting to be a good queen and nice to Maraleena, wincing the whole time, Sonia nibbled at the patty.

It was delicious.

So she decided she hated it.

“Isn’t it lovely?” Maraleena asked with a smile in her voice, watching Sonia closely.

“Yes. Lovely,” Sonia agreed, made a comical face, Maraleena burst out laughing again and got back to work.

As she did so, Sonia forced down too much food that she didn’t want even though she hadn’t eaten in ages. Alternately, when she could get a word in edgewise, she chatted with Maraleena as the woman finished with two more suitcases.

It was while Sonia was gulping down the last bit of toast with a sip of coffee that Callum arrived.

Sonia looked at him and her heart leaped into her throat.

He was wearing the chocolate brown corduroy shirt she bought him for Christmas over jeans that fit him well and a pair of brown boots.

Since yesterday he’d had his hair trimmed but he’d also shaved off the beard.

Completely.

No stubble, nothing.

He was exactly the vision of her dream Callum. The vision she’d never seen in real life (except he was clothed).

She was so struck by the picture of him, he was sitting on the bed grinning at her before she realized it.

Then he was leaning in, evading her coffee mug which she was holding aloft and her tray, to brush her lips with his.

He pulled only an inch away before he murmured, “Morning, my little one.”

“Morning,” she replied but her voice sounded husky and low.

She cleared her throat.

His grin turned into a smile.

She wanted to conk him in the head with her coffee mug.

“Brilliant.” They both heard muttered from Maraleena and they both turned their heads to look at her.

She was clutching one of Sonia’s sweaters and watching them openly.

“You’re so cute and sweet together,” Maraleena noted, a big, happy grin on her face. “Brilliant. I love it.” Her eyes moved to focus on Callum. “Hi there, your grace, welcome home.”

“Hello, Mara,” Callum returned, shifting so he was sitting in bed beside Sonia. Close beside her, his legs straight out in front of him, his back to the headboard and he seized her mug of coffee from her fingers and then took a sip.

Sonia clenched her teeth together at the unwanted (she was telling herself) intimacy.

Maraleena continued folding sweaters like she was in a couple’s bedroom every day seeing to her chores while they lounged in bed.

“Well done with routing the rebels,” Maraleena threw out casually on another sunny smile in their direction.

“Thanks,” Callum replied on a half laugh.

“It’s celebration time,” Maraleena noted gleefully.

“It is that,” Callum murmured on another sip of coffee but his arm was pushing through the pillows at Sonia’s waist where it settled. His hand at her hip, finding the wolf charm through her nightgown and, as ever, he started fiddling with it.

Sonia tried not to look like she was seething while allowing herself, if only in her mind, to seethe.

“Can’t wait,” Maraleena muttered as she placed Sonia’s sweaters on a shelf in the wardrobe.

“Mara?” Callum called as he set the mug on the tray and then divested Sonia of it.

Maraleena turned to the bed with her brows raised.

“You want to do me a favor?” Callum asked, holding the tray out to her.

Maraleena’s eyes grew so bright they practically singed the room with their glow.

Then, for some reason, she burst out laughing though Sonia was thinking that Maraleena did that on a regular basis. She rushed forward, nabbed the tray and was out of the room before Sonia could make a peep.

The minute the door closed, Callum turned his body into hers, pulling her down into the bed so her head was on the pillows.

Then he kissed her, soft and sweet but also wet and lingeringly.