“There you are,” Olivier said. He walked into the barn and swept her into his arms. She wiggled out of his hold.
“Are you okay? Are you feeling all right? How are the babies?”
“The babies are fine,” Phuong said. “I’ve got to go.”
49
Shopping Trip
Olivier
Olivier turned to Gahariet after Phuong basically ran away from them.
“What just happened?”
“She’s worrying about something,” Gahariet said.
“Do you think it’s about our dad and the Yore king? Did she find out that he helped to speed up the Yore king’s decline?”
“We shouldn’t tell her. It’s ancient history. Most Yore believe we wouldn’t be in power if we’d had more mercy.”
Olivier was quiet for a moment before saying, “She’s different.”
“She’s ours. She’ll be fine. Just give her some time.”
The two of them fell into silence as they walked back to the castle.
* * *
Phuong was finally well. A week after the meeting in the barn, she was basically a new woman. Even though she was healthy and even more powerful, she wasn’t talking much.
She was pushing Olivier and Gahariet away emotionally, and Olivier didn’t like it at all.
Oh, sure, sexually, she was wilder than ever. The three of them slept in the same bed every night.
But instead of accepting their energy and sending hers to them, she was draining them. Olivier couldn’t help but wonder if she meant to store the energy somehow.
Olivier was walking down stairs when he saw Xuan sitting on a chair near the door. He was alone.
“Where’s Phuong?”
“She went shopping.”
“Alone?”
“Yeah. She can take care of herself.”
“She’s pregnant.”
“So?” Xuan asked. “She’s fine.”
Olivier bit back a curse. He didn’t want to get into a fight with his mate’s brother, especially since they were close.
“I have to find her.”
“Be my guest.”
Olivier went running for the levi-car to go to the market.