Free Saven Disclosure (The Saven Series Book 2) by Siobhan Davis Page A

much I love you.”
    I reach out and clasp his other hand in mine. He promptly laces our fingers together. The dark-haired guard—the one who looked at me warily earlier—pierces me with a sly, menacing look over his shoulder that screams his intent. He doesn’t like me or trust me, and he sure as hell doesn’t like listening to Logan professing how much he cares. I shudder involuntarily.
    “Do they have to follow you everywhere? ” I silently ask.
    “Pretty much. Once we’re Eterno connected, you’ll be assigned your own bodyguard twenty-four-seven.”
    I sit ramrod straight. “You’re not serious?”
    A concentrated groove indents his forehead. “Deadly. You’ll be a Saven princess, Sadie, and that comes with all the regular protections and perks.”
    A sick feeling swarms my stomach. “Like what?”
    “In addition to a bodyguard, you’ll be appointed a personal maid, your own chef, stylist, dressmaker, physician, and—”
    I cut him off dead, aghast at the thoughts of my own entourage. “I get the picture.” I look sideways, hoping to deflect the rising panic from reaching my face. “I’ll be expected to live full time on Saven?”
    “Yes, though you’ll accompany me on certain political trips and events, and we will, of course, come back to Earth so you can meet up with your friends.”
    His fingers brush my chin as he tilts my head so we’re eye to eye. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but it won’t happen for some time. Remember, we have to identify a way of safely bonding without risk to you. When that happens, all that matters is that we’ll be together, forever.”
    “Of course, I want that with you. But everything else?” I drag my lip in between my teeth. “It sounds like I’ll be trading one cage for another.”
    Logan sucks in a sharp gasp. Not attempting to hide his hurt expression, he peers at me with blatant concern. I don’t offer any words of comfort for there are none. I don’t know if I can do this. If I want to do this. I want to be with him, so, so much, but all that other stuff?
    I don’t want that.
    I never imagined that love could be so complicated and come with so many conditions.
    The rest of lunch passes by in strained conversation. Logan’s wounded look does nothing to diminish my guilty conscience, but I’m not sorry I was honest. It seems I have a lot more to think about.
    Before I know it, we are back at Government Buildings, imminent separation on the horizon. Logan sticks his head into the VP’s office, but he’s on a call. He motions for him to wait outside. Sitting down on the couch, Logan lures me into his lap, and I readily yield. I cling to him and these last precious moments. “I have something for you.” He wrests a square black velvet-covered box from his pocket and places it in my palm. “Open it.”
    I pop the lid and gasp. Gently grasping the double heart pendant, I lift it out of the box and examine it more closely. Two interconnecting diamond-studded hearts rest at the bottom of a delicate silver chain. Turning it over, I notice our initials engraved on the back, and my heart surges with happiness. It’s the most exquisite thing I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I can’t believe he bought it for me. “You don’t like it?” Worry lines dot his brow.
    “No,” I admit, watching as the curves in his forehead hollow out. “I love it. It’s perfect. Thank you so much.” I enfold myself around him like an octopus. Emotion brims in my chest, threatening to overflow. Say it. Tell him you love him . But the words stubbornly refuse to come out.
    “Consider it an early birthday present,” he says, as his fingers explore my hair.
    I ease back a little, a puzzled expression on my face. “My birthday is like five weeks away.”
    His expression is pained once more. “I’m aware of that fact, but I don’t know if I’ll be around to see you on the day.”
    “Oh. I see.” Some of the euphoria dissipates. “Well, thank you for being so