"So," I started hesitantly, "you're saying I should play mind games."

"No," she replied. "I'm saying you should find your way to get his attention. This may be honesty. It may be emotion, as long as that, too, is honest. Ulfr is also not a man who would countenance games, as you call them. Manipulation is not the key to a man like Ulfr."

Definitely getting back on track.

And I knew it because Apollo had often made it clear he wanted more from me and the more he wanted was me to share myself with him in more than time and s.e.x.

So I whispered, "Right."

She nodded but carried on.

"He is also not a man who wastes time. He knows better than most how precious it is. And if given time because one is wasting it, he could make a decision that would be sad..." she paused, staring me direct in the eyes, "for him, for you and for his children."

"Giving up on me," I guessed, my voice quiet, my heart beating hard.

Then she got so on track, she was a freaking monorail.

"It's crucial, not only building something with someone, but maintaining it, to show you care about the things they care about," she told me. "It is also crucial for you to demonstrate that you will handle their needs with care, just as they do the same for you. Apollo Ulfr would strike no one as a needy man. That does not mean he's not a man who has needs."

She was right. Because he was so strong, so imposing, it didn't hit me.

Apollo had needs.

He needed to protect his children and me against whatever was happening out there. And he was driven to do more, and that would be make us all happy, give us a good life, even when times were uncertain. And he needed to do what he had to do to keep his people-the people of his House, his soldiers, h.e.l.l, all of the people of Lunwyn and the entirety of two freaking continents-safe.

And he didn't need to be f.u.c.king around with my issues because his were a whole lot more important than me figuring out I didn't want a career in prost.i.tution and couldn't start a pizza delivery service.

In other words, I'd f.u.c.ked up.

s.h.i.t, I'd f.u.c.ked up!

And I had to sort it out.

Immediately.

So I stood and announced, "I have to go to the main house."

Smiling, Cristiana stood with me. "You do, indeed."

I sucked in a huge breath and gave her a shaky smile.

When I did that but didn't move, she noted, "You're not making haste to Karsvall."

"Right," I said and jumped to it, moving swiftly to the door. But I stopped in it and turned. "Thanks, honey," I whispered.

"Go, Miss Maddie," she replied.

I nodded and ran to the hooks by the front door. I grabbed one of my cloaks and threw it on. I opened the trunk under it and nabbed some gloves and pulled those on too.

Then I was out the door.

I had no horse of my own in the stables so I had no choice but to walk to the main house. I did this as swiftly as I could, following the snowed over (as there hadn't been any of late) trail Apollo and the men's horses had made.

It still was a fifteen minute walk and even with my fur-lined cloak and gloves, I was frozen through by the time I hit the front door of Karsvall.

I stood there not knowing what to do.

Should I knock?

And what if the kids saw me?

Then it hit me it was early afternoon, after lunch and outdoor activities. They should be at their studies. So at least that was safe.

Talking to Apollo, that was another story.

I lifted my hand, not knowing whether to go for the doork.n.o.b or rap on it, when it was opened.

Achilles was standing there.

"Hey," I greeted.

"Maddie," he replied, his eyes openly studying me but he didn't hesitate to reach out, wrap his fingers around my elbow and pull me out of the cold. "It's been a long time since I've seen you," he noted, closing the door.

"Uh...yeah," I replied, looking nervously into the house and seeing nothing but Apollo's fabulous decor.

"You've been well?" Achilles inquired and I turned back to him.

"Yes...no. That is, yes-ish but I would say no more," I replied and his head tipped to the side.

I could get he was confused at my answer but I didn't have time for this. I had just spent fifteen minutes walking, time that ate away at my courage. I had to get down to this and p.r.o.nto.

"Listen honey," I went on, moving closer to him. "I'd love to visit but I need to speak with Apollo."

"Is anything amiss?" he asked.

"No, but yes," I answered.

His lips curved up as he murmured, "She speaks in riddles."

"I need to talk to Apollo," I repeated on a whisper.

His eyes moved over my face and it was Achilles that got closer and his voice got lower when he said, "I'm sorry, Maddie, but he's away to the Drakkar seat."

My heart thumped so hard it hurt.

"Away? You mean, he's gone?"

"No. Not yet, but he's preparing to go and will be leaving soon and with haste. He has a long journey and must make it in time for the gale."

s.h.i.t!

"I really need to talk with him, Achilles."

He hesitated a moment and I had to give it to him, his voice was kind when he lowered the boom.

"He would not welcome this talk, little bug."

s.h.i.t!

Apollo had spoken to Achilles or he'd also been in a dark mood and Achilles, not a dim bulb by a long shot, had read it.

"I still need to do it," I declared with more bravado than bravery.

He held my eyes an excruciatingly long moment before he nodded. "Then he's in his room. Do you know where that is?"

I had not officially been shown there but during my tour I'd hit the master's bedchamber. I knew it was that because it was mammoth, richly appointed (and since everything else was seriously appointed, that room being richly appointed was saying something) and awesome.

It also smelled like his cologne and, well, him.

"I do," I told Achilles.

"Then go," he urged.

I smiled a shaky smile and took off toward the wide, carved wooden staircase.

I went as fast as I could go because with every step I was losing the nerve to take the next one.

What if he was still p.i.s.sed and was an a.s.shole again?

What if in the last four days he'd figured out I wasn't worth it?

What if I got there and screwed everything up, said something stupid and damaged what was already broken to the point it couldn't be repaired?

These thoughts a.s.sailed me as I made it to his rooms and saw the door open.

Without knocking, I ran in.

His rooms were decorated in cream, jade and browns, mostly the latter two. He also had a small anteroom that I couldn't imagine he used much mostly because it contained nothing but a handsome round table with a carved support that had four clawed feet. This sat next to a coffee-brown leather chaise lounge overhung with a floor lamp.

I moved through, turned right to face where his ma.s.sive bedroom was and stopped dead.

Apollo was prowling through the room, swinging his cloak over his shoulder, his head down so he could watch his hand catch the strap under his arm. His tall, powerful body in motion, that cloak flying out behind him, his thick chocolate brown wool turtleneck and matching breeches, I forgot what a commanding presence he had and my mouth went dry.

His head came up and he stopped too.

That was when my heart stopped.

Because without a flash, not even a flicker, he gave me nothing. His eyes settled on me and they were blank, his beautiful face carved from stone.

There was no warmth. There was also no anger. Definitely no tenderness.

There was nothing.

I was too late.

"Now is not a good time, Madeleine," he stated, holding my eyes as he started walking again, buckling his cloak on his chest. "I'm away on an important errand and need to leave immediately."

He pa.s.sed me and I turned with him at the same time I forced my lips to move.

"What I have to say is important," I told him.

He again stopped and turned to me. "Then say it. And quickly."

It was a lot less attractive, him being bossy and arrogant when he was looking at me with his beautiful eyes void of emotion.

No. Not attractive.

It was crushing.

"I...well, I thought you'd want to know, I'm, um...not pregnant."

c.r.a.p!

That wasn't what I wanted to say!

"Excellent," he returned, his voice cold and he again moved as if he was going to leave.

"Wait!" I cried, taking a step toward him but I halted when he again turned to me.

When I got his eyes, the words clogged in my throat and he finally gave me something.

Remote impatience.

"Madeleine, as I told you, I need to leave immediately." He swept me top to toe with a glance and finished, "If you have concerns about my absence, you've nothing to fear while I'm away. You'll be protected. Most of my men have returned and the property is heavily guarded. And Lavinia is en route. She will ensure that the witch I've engaged has made certain no enchantments can be cast on the house or the grounds."

"I...that's good," I stammered. "Thank you. But, Apollo,-I took a tentative step toward him- "we have to talk."

"If you have something to discuss with me, you can do it when I return in three weeks."

Three weeks! He was going to be gone for three weeks?

"Now I must go," he finished.

He gave me his back and started to the door.

Without even a good-bye.

I closed my eyes and looked to the floor, my throat closing.