Chapter 42: Keep Your Distance

(CORRINE)

It takes me three days to recover.

Maya is a constant presence in my home, refusing to leave me by myself. “What if you fall over in the bathroom or something else happens to you? Jerry told me your insides are still healing. No, I’m not going anywhere.”

Maya and Jerry are not the only ones keeping an eye on me. Locke has stationed himself outside my house, in the large park across the road. He doesn’t try to come inside like I expected he would, though. It’s more like he’s watching over us.

“Hmm. I thought he would force his way in, like last time,” Maya muses over breakfast. “By the way, he’s the one who kicked that hole in your door. How’d you get it fixed so fast?”

I shrug. “I have a contact. They replaced the whole thing last night while you were in the shower.”

Maya studies me, eating her muesli. “Is it just me, or are you a little too calm about your ex stalking you like this? I’d be blowing a gasket and calling the police. And then there’s all the meat he keeps dropping off at your doorstep. Those are expensive brands.”

“I’m more surprised he knows the brands,” I mutter. “And there’s nothing the police can do. He is a king, after all. And no matter what Erik says, he’s not going to let anything happen to Locke.”

“A king,” Maya blinks. “You’re royalty, huh? I always wondered how you had such elegant table manners. Now I know.”

“I’m royalty by association, I guess.” I sip my coffee. “Anyway, it’s better he’s out there than in here. I don’t want to see him.”

Maya waggles her fork in the air. “You’re going to have to at some point. Why not just nip it in the bud?”

“Because he’s not going to let me nip anything in any bud,” I say irritably. “I don’t think Locke knows what the word ’no’ means.” I glance at her. “In any case, I have to go to the palace today. Shouldn’t you be getting to work?”

Maya makes a face. “Don’t remind me. I’m going to start looking for a new job.”

Surprised, I set down my cup and stare at her. “I thought you just got a promotion with a pay raise?”

“I’m a researcher, Corrine. I like to get my hands dirty. I like to discover and solve things, not sit behind a desk writing reports. That’s what the new promotion means. I’ve talked to my boss about going back to my old position, but he won’t hear it. At this rate, I’m going to end up smacking him in the face with my resignation letter. The whole reason he doesn’t want me in the lab is that his wife and I don’t get along. Hustling me to another department using a promotion is just another way to cover up her many mistakes in the lab.”

“Sounds like you need a vacation.”

“I need a new job, with fewer people breathing down my neck,” she complains. Maya lowers her head to the kitchen table. “Why can’t I get what I want? I just want to work. I like my work. Why won’t they let me work?”

I roll up my newspaper and reach across the table to pat her head with it. “There, there. Life sucks.”

“It does,” she moans.

“Let’s get some ice cream after work and watch that reality show you’ve been recording here.”

Her head pops up, guilt in her eyes. “You know about that?”

“Finn isn’t good at keeping secrets. And since you’ve been having him save the episodes for you, it hasn’t exactly escaped my notice.”

Maya gives me a wry grin. “Sorry.”

“Have some more coffee and cheer up. I’ll help you look for a new job if you want.”

I pour her another cup, and she rests her cheek on her palm. “I can’t decide whose life sucks more right now. Although, considering you nearly got killed, practically disemboweled, and your ex is back in your life like a stalker, I think you’re winning.”

“Thanks,” I say dryly. “That’s very reassuring. Go get Finn dressed, will you? We have to leave in an hour.”

“Why do I have to do it?” she protests.

“You just have to make sure he doesn’t put on something ridiculous, Maya. And because you deleted the interview I wanted to watch.”

My friend grimaces before draining her coffee and heading up the steps, grumbling, “Interview, my ass. I bet it was corn.”

I chuckle. “It could have been. It’s my word against yours, isn’t it?”

She mutters something else under her breath, and I ignore it. As long as she makes sure Finn doesn’t put his underwear on his head like one of those ridiculous superheroes he’s so fond of, I don’t care what she says.

As I move toward the sink, I wince at the ache in my belly. I’ve healed, but not entirely.

Glancing out the kitchen window, I know today isn’t going to be easy by any means.

Locke may be giving me space right now, but for how long?

***

I’m proven right when I exit the house and see Locke waiting in the driveway for me.

“Corrine—”

“Get in the car, Finn,” I order. Without another word to Locke, I make sure my son is safely buckled up and then drive off.

Did I really think that would be enough to get rid of him? Imagine my irritation when I see Locke reach the palace entrance just before we do.

As soon as I exit the car, he approaches me. My jaw tenses, and I pick Finn up in my arms.

“Mom!” My son never protests being carried. It’s still his favorite mode of transportation. But when he sees Locke, his face turns bright red, and he begins wriggling in my arms. “Mom, put me down!”

“Let the boy get down, Corrine,” Locke says disapprovingly. “He’s seven. Stop treating him like an infant.”

I bristle. “He’s my son. If I want to carry him, that’s up to me. Stay out of it.”

But Locke has never been one to listen. He plucks Finn out of my arms and sets him down on the ground. Before I can pick the boy up again, he moves away from me.

“Mom, stop. I don’t want to be carried. I can walk.”

“But—”

He gives me an awkward look, whispering, “You’re embarrassing me!” I stare at him, stunned. Embarrassing him? In front of whom?

Locke gives him an approving look. “See? You don’t have to coddle the child. When I was his age, my mother didn’t hold my finger and walk me around. I could carry a sword like any other soldier.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “If I were you, I would shut up right now. My son isn’t going to pick up a sword or learn how to fight.” I’ve already noticed the glitter of interest in Finn’s eyes, and when he looks up at me, I can see the argument forming in his head. “Don’t even think about it.”

It’s annoying enough that ever since the night Locke brought me home, Finn has been talking nonstop about him. Fortunately, Locke did not tell him who he is. If he had, I would have my hands full with the little troublemaker that I gave birth to.

But my son is no fool. He’s going to find out, and when he does, it’s not going to be pretty.

I’m not happy with this turn of events. It seems that I’m losing control of the situation. I want minimum interaction between Finn and Locke, but even I know that’s not going to be possible.

I glare at the man. “Why are you here?”

He shrugs. “Just waiting for you.”

“Well, next time, don’t,” I say tightly. “I’m here to see Erik.”

The way Locke’s eyes darken in anger makes me want to sneer at him. It feels good to get some shots in. Because of him, everything is going haywire. My perfectly organized life is falling apart.

As Finn runs ahead of us, Locke falls into step beside me. He still towers over me, and I hate that I have to look up at him. “You’re going to have to provide proper education to the boy.”

“First of all,” I say coolly, “his name is Finn. And second, he’s getting a good education in the human world.”

“Is he going to learn how to be an heir and how to rule a kingdom from the humans?” Locke gives me a look, and the arrogance in his eyes makes me want to smack him.

“No, because he doesn’t need to learn any of those things,” I reply shortly. “He’s going to learn how to be a decent person and get a job away from the wolf society.”

Locke scoffs. “If you think I’m going to let you provide my son with an inadequate education, you’re mistaken.”

I turn to face him abruptly. My voice is cold. “If you think you’re going to bring him back to the Northern Kingdom to educate him, you’d better kill me first. Because the only way you’re getting him there is over my dead body.”

He clenches his teeth, and I see the struggle of emotion behind his eyes. “I’m not going to kill you, Corrine. And I’m not going to hurt our child.”

“Oh, yes.” I begin walking again, my voice sarcastic. “I should believe that because you’re so trustworthy, right?”

I don’t care if my words are harsh. He doesn’t know a fraction of the pain that I’ve been through. Even now, being around him is hard. My wolf is conflicted. It can sense its mate, but it is also wary of the pain associated with him.

“You will come back with me, as well, Corrine,” Locke says confidently. “The North is your home. But I want you to go willingly.”

“Sure.” I tilt my head back and search the sky. “Do you see pigs flying?

Because I don’t.”

He frowns at me and follows my gaze. “What pigs?”

Irritation floods me, and I mutter, “Never mind. I’m here to work.” I don’t have time to talk to you.”

He falls silent and accompanies me to the palace entrance, but every couple of steps, I see him looking around for the flying pigs I mentioned.

It would be funny if I weren’t so angry. Willingly, my ass.

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