Chapter 16: Whose King?

(LOCKE)

Corrine picks up a book that has been lying on the ground. “Two more handfuls. It has to be seven inches deep.”

“How do I measure?” I look at her.

She immediately hands me a ruler, and I stare at it. “Have you been carrying that around?”

“Yes?” she answers cautiously.

I give her one last look before proceeding to dig the hole.

“You have to make it even.” She’s looking over my shoulder, and I get my hackles up.

“Let me do what I’m doing.”

“But you’re not doing it right,” she complains.

I look over my shoulder at her, incredulous. “I’m on the ground, digging you a hole, and all you can do is criticize?”

She flushes. “Well, no. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then just shut up and let me do this.”

She stops nitpicking, but I can feel the anxiety pouring out of her from behind me. All I’m doing is digging in the dirt, yet it’s the most stressful thing I’ve done all day. It almost feels like she can’t wait to yank me away and start doing it herself.

My brows knit together when I feel her breath on my neck. Lifting my head, I nearly slam it into her chin.

“That’s enough,” I snap. “Go over there.”

“But—”

“Go.”

She scurries over to where I’m pointing. Clutching the book to her chest, she shoots me hateful looks.

So the queen sulks. I’m beginning to wonder where the meek woman I first met has gone. She’s gaining confidence day by day. Is it because she feels safe here now? Is that it? Or is it something else?

As I scoop out more mud and try to meet my mate’s expectations, I wonder what I’m doing. This is the same woman I swore to ignore and stash in a corner of the castle, isn’t she? Why am I out here digging a hole in my garden for her?

I have better ways to waste my time.

However, no matter how much I try to convince myself, it doesn’t stick. A few minutes later, I find myself saying, “See? It’s done.” When she doesn’t move, I sigh. “You can come over now.”

She practically races toward me and begins to inspect my creation. Much to my surprise and utter indignation, she takes the ruler from me and measures the hole.

“If you don’t put that thing down, Corrine…” I begin, threateningly.

She quickly drops it. “It’s fine. Now, you just have to dig six more holes around the tree.”

When she gives me an expectant look, I scowl at her. “Six more holes? Does it look like I have the time for that? Get the gardeners to do it!”

“But you did it perfectly.” She looks anxious. “They’ll ruin it.”

It would take a bigger man than me to admit that her words have my wolf huffing in pride. However, I get to my feet. “No. I’m not here to waste time, and you’re coming inside with me.”

She studies me. “I can do it myself.”

The idea of her staying out here and digging holes has me grinding my teeth. “Fine. Just go sit somewhere.”

To my surprise, she actually listens. It takes me an hour to dig all the holes. Finally, I watch her plant the seeds and splash some water on them before covering them with the dirt.

“We can’t give them too much water. We’re just supposed to water them once and then see if they grow.”

“What’re you going to do with the plants if they do grow?” I ask, wiping my hands on my trousers.

She gives me a hesitant look. “I was thinking the farmers could grow them, and the vegetables could be sold. It would help utilize these lands that are wasting away. This is a very popular vegetable among the wolves in the human world. I’m sure the wolves on this side of the Veil would also enjoy them.”

“How do you know they’re popular on the other side of the Veil?”

“I visited the wolf kingdom in the human world once, in place of Princess Ravenna. The king was very kind to me. He noticed my interest in all kinds of different subjects and gave me a large selection of books to read.”

My brows lift. “Are you talking about Erik?” She nods.

“You seem to like him.”

She looks down at the botany book in her hands. “I like learning. The only books I was allowed to read in the castle all belonged to Princess Ravenna. King Erik let me read about things that I actually found interesting.”

A sudden wave of jealousy makes me scowl at the book. “Are you in touch with him?”

She looks taken aback at my question. “Why would I be?”

Her innocent question makes me realize that she didn’t understand what Erik was trying to do when he presented her with those books. He saw what she liked and then gave her a gift of it.

It was a declaration of his intention to court her, if I’m not mistaken. The poor bastard must have been baffled when she never reached out to him after her visit. I don’t know whether to feel pity for the poor fellow or annoyed that he managed to get her attention.

Dodging Corrine’s query, I ask her, “Did you like visiting the human world?” I don’t know why I’m so curious about her trip there. It’s bothering me.

She nods, and I see her smile slightly. “My last day there, King Erik took me to a beach.” Her face lights up at the memory, and I find myself staring at her, at the way the corners of her eyes crease. “We went at night, and the water glowed. I later found out that it was a special form of algae. I’ve never seen such a thing in the East’s waters.”

“We have something like that here, if not better,” I scoff. I don’t know why I feel the need to one-up Erik, but the idea of Corrine being impressed by that king doesn’t sit well with me. “I’ll take you in a few days. Now, go inside. It’s too cold for you.”

She hesitates. “You should take Bella.”

I blink. “Bella?” I stare at Corrine, bewildered. “Why the hell would I take Bella?”

My mate looks anxious. “She would appreciate it more.”

My eyes narrow into tiny slits. “Why would she appreciate it more than you would? And why the hell should I care what she appreciates?”

I see the flicker of doubt on her face. “Because she’s your lover?”

For a moment, I just gape at her, the idea so ludicrous that I don’t know what to make of it. “Bella, my lover? Are you drunk?” I demand. “Where the hell would you get such an idea?”

When she doesn’t answer, I take a deep breath, and my voice becomes dangerously soft. “Was it from her?”

She simply presses her lips together. My face goes slack.

I am going to kill that woman.

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