Free Hidden Heart by Amy Patrick

me.”
                  “But now I know. And instead of banishing you, Lad left me with you, told you to take care of me. Why? It doesn’t make sense. Why would he choose you?”
                  Nox’s intense gaze revealed the answer before his words did. “Because he knew I would. He knew I’d do anything for you.”
    For a moment, the two of us held blazing eye contact. I was having difficulty finding my breath.
    Suddenly uncomfortable, I pushed away from the table and stood, knocking my water glass over in the process. “Oh, my gosh—I’m so sorry.”
    Nox jumped from his seat and lifted his plate to remove it from the pathway of the approaching tabletop flood. As soon as he picked up the dishware, the breeze caught a piece of paper that had been tucked underneath and blew it across the table toward me. Instinctively, I grabbed it to keep it from blowing off the patio onto the beach.
    I barely had my fingers on it before Nox snatched the paper from my hands. “Thanks. I’ve got it,” he said in a breathless rush.
    “What is it? A letter?”
    I couldn’t see it well, but there appeared to be several paragraphs of handwriting on the page.
    An uncharacteristic blush colored his face in the light of the deck lamps. He folded the paper several times and stuffed it into the pocket of his shorts. “It’s nothing. Just a new song I’m working on.”
    “Let me see it,” I ordered sweetly.
    The blush deepened. Interesting.
    “Nah—it’s not very good—needs a lot of work. So, you finished with dinner? I can get somebody out here to clean this up and bring you a new plate. Or dessert if you want.”
    “Actually, I’ve had enough, and it’s been a long day. Thank you. It was delicious.”
    There was an awkward pause. It was time for some humility. “So… you were right. Trying to get to Emmy on my own was useless. You already know I need your help, but I can make it official, if you want me to grovel.”
    “Yes. I’ll help you. It’s why I’m here.” He lifted his hands to the sides, indicating our luxurious surroundings, as if to say why else?
    “So then… I guess that means I’m staying here… as one of your ‘fan pod members.’ Where should I sleep?”
    There was a new gleam in his eye that alarmed me for a moment, and I caught a hint of a suggestion from his mind— with me —but it was quickly whisked away, like smoke from a match that’s been blown out. I wasn’t even sure if it was something I’d picked up from his thoughts or if I’d imagined it.
    He coughed and cleared his throat. “The other… the girls who’ve been recruited have their own quarters on the other side of the house, but you can keep your own room, the one where you slept last night.”
    I narrowed my eyes at him. “Where’s your room?”
    “Next door to that one.”
    “Then I’ll stay in the harem.”
    We were both laughing as I preceded Nox into the kitchen from the deck, but the sound was drowned out by loud squealing. When Nox came in immediately behind me, the squeals turned to screams.
    “Oh my God—it’s him!”
    “There’s Nox!”
                  “You sure about that decision?” he muttered close behind my ear. “I don’t know about you, but I’d prefer to stay as far away from that as possible.”
                  “Ladies, ladies—gather round. It’s not time to meet Nox yet. Please, stay together.”
    A tall, gorgeous woman in her early twenties with cascading dark curls spoke sternly to the new pod recruits. Then she glanced over at me. Clearly taking me for an escapee who’d gotten far too close to her master, she pointed at me and ordered, “You! Get back with the group. Stop bothering Mr. Knight.”
                  With one last peek back over my shoulder at Nox’s face, I stepped forward to join my fellow pod sisters.

Chapter Nine
Fangirl Hell
     
     
     
     
     
    “Oh my God, he is so beautiful. Did you see those