Chapter 12
“I’ll only need you on nights I go out with Zane, anyway,” Eva said. “That’s not too much even for a half–blood like you, right, Tessa?”
I almost nodded, but then I bit my lip and shook my head.
“Are you seriously trying to tell me no?” Eva growled.
“No,” I said, “But I want to see my mother. You promised if I did this, I’d see my mother.”
Eva snorted. “You’ve done well, but you haven’t done enough to earn a visit yet.”
How much would be enough? I didn’t dare ask. But I wasn’t going to drop it, either.
“I want to know my mother is safe, at least,” I said. “I’ll do what you want, but I want to see proof she’s even alive.”
Eva scowled and crossed her arms. I braced myself for a slap, but it didn’t come. Instead she just huffed a sigh.
“Fine,” Eva said. “I guess you have been behaving yourself. The next time we have to switch, I’ll show you a picture of your mother.”
“A current picture?” I asked.
“Yes. I’ll even have, I don’t know, something with the date on it. Her medical chart or whatever.”
“When do I get it?” I dared to ask.
I didn’t know why Eva was being so cooperative but I wasn’t willing to waste the opportunity.
“I told you, next time we switch. I don’t have a picture now.” Eva rolled her eyes. “What, you think I keep pictures of some human vegetable in my phone? Why would I do that?”
“I guess you
”
uldn’t,” I said. “Will it be soon?”
“I don’t know, probably. Zane and I have to be subtle. We can’t go out every night or someone would catch us.”
I almost asked why she wanted to date Zane when she had Leo. She was the Alpha Daughter and she was married to a hero who wasn’t even all that injured anymore. Why would she want the little brother when she was already guaranteed the role of Luna?
Before I could be stupid enough to answer a question like that, Eva’s phone rang.
“Hello? Oh, hi Zane. No, not anything important. Just dealing with a servant. What
did
you
need?” Eva paused to listen for a moment.
—
I tried not to perk up too obviously. If Zane was calling to ask her for a date, I’d be with Leo again that night. And I’d get a picture of my mother, finally.
To my shock, though, Eva said, “No, I’m not really feeling up to going out tonight. No, no I’m fine. I’m just a little tired. You know how busy I am. Yes, of course. Next time, I promise. Uh huh. You know it.”
She hung up the phone.
“You’re not going out with Zane?” I asked, stunned.
“Don’t look so disappointed. You had Leo last night, it’s my turn,” Eva said.
“I thought you didn’t like Leo?” I was confused.
sweet. I figure I’ll give him a chance.” Eva shrugged. “He’s not so bad now that all those awful scars have healed. He’s actually kind of
“Oh.” I didn’t know why her answer upset me. Sure, I wanted that picture of my mom, but the less I had to pretend to be Eva the fewer chances there were for me to get caught.
“Don’t worry, I’m not giving up my time with Zane, either. You’ll get plenty of chances later to earn time with your stupid mom.” Eva shrugged. “Go get your work done. I don’t want you slacking off just because you’ve got a pup. You’re not special, you’re just pregnant.”
I nodded and hurried out of the room. I had plenty of cleaning to do. I had to rush because even simple tasks felt like they took twice as long as they had before I got pregnant.
I’d just gathered my supplies and headed down the hall when I bumped into someone. Warm arms steadied me and I dropped everything.
I looked up and realized I’d just run straight into Leo.
