Forced To Bear The Alpha's Son novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: The Offer

The note came in the bottom of my stew bowl.

It was folded small, and the kitchen girl who had carried the tray did not look at me when she set it down.

I read it standing at the window.

The border stone, at dusk. Come alone. I only wish to talk about the boy. O.C.

I carried it up to Matvei's room.

He was sitting against the pillows with his shoulder bound and a color back in his face. Anselm sat across from him with a chess board between them and neither of them was playing.

I put the note on the quilt.

Matvei read it twice.

"You promised me every plan," I said. "I'm not making one. I'm telling you what came."

"Who brought it?"

"The kitchen girl. The one with the braid."

Anselm swore softly. "She's been here two years."

"I'll deal with her," Matvei said.

"After," I said. "Right now you'll tell me what the Madam is going to say."

He was quiet for a moment.

"She'll offer you the door," he said.

"What door?"

"Tobin. And your own freedom, with no oath and no snow. Whatever it costs her." His voice was flat. "She'll make it sound like mercy."

"What does she want back?"

"You. Away from me." He looked at the quilt. "If I were her, that is what I would ask for."

I understood then what he was not saying.

He thought I would take it.

He lay in a bed he could not leave, with a hole in his shoulder, and he had already decided what I would do.

"Get up," I said.

"What?"

"You heard me. You're coming."

"Sorrel, I can barely stand."

"Anselm will carry the weight, and you'll walk the rest." I took his coat off the chair. "You'll stand in the trees where she can't see you. And you'll listen to me say it."

He stared at me.

He did get up.

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