1 blink, not sure what to say. I don''t know if I have the heat to tell her right now that we''re... not.


    But Augustine goes on, "Ever since you left, it became awfully quiet up there. I miss hearing the musicte at night. And the sound of you twoughing."


    My heart wrenches painfully at the reminder. When we were together, Arthur and I used to dancete at night to the music ying on the record yer. It was always after dur nightly drink, and he would twirl me around the living room until my face hurt fromughing.


    I miss those days. I miss that we can''t just fall back into them.


    But I steel my heart, refusing to forget what has happened between us. Arthur chose political power over love, and didn''t consult me before he made his arrangement with Selina five years ago. Furthermore, he''s acted like I''m a gold digger on numerous asions, lied to me, and has resorted to arrest to get me toe back.


    I can''t forgive that.


    Over the following week, I visit Augustine every day just as promised. She meets Miles, who warms up to her slowly but surely, and the week goes by without a hitch. Iplete my paintings for the exhibition, and to my surprise, Ezra doesn''t seem to tell Arthur about thewyer troubles.


    Eventually, the day before the eventes, and I realize that I sent all of my more formal outfits back to Bo''Arrocan when we were supposed to leave Ordan. I only have my practical everyday clothes, and it''s a ck tie event, so I''ll need something nice.


    I consider snooping through my old shared closet with Arthur, figuring my old dresses are still there. But I can''t bring myself to go into our old bedroom, so I decide to head to a nearby thrift store to look for something inexpensive to wear. My new card came in the mail, so I can actually buy something now.


    It''s pouring rain, but I head out anyway, allowing Ezra to give me a ride. He waits in the car while I head into the shop, and I begin to peruse the dresses, picking out a few that might suit me for the event.


    I''m not shopping for long, though, before someone notices me.


    me by the fitting rooms. "I know you. You''re the President''s human mate,


    "Hey," a woman says, walking up to aren''t you?”


    I open my mouth, suddenly feeling my throat go dry. "You must be mistaken," I finally manage.


    The woman narrows her eyes. "No, I definitely recognize your face." She turns to another woman nearby, who I''m assuming is her friend. "Hey, Patty, look at this. It''s the President''s human mistress, isn''t it?"


    The other woman sidles up to me, her eyes flicking to the dresses in my hands. "No, that can''t be her. The President wouldn''t make his mate shop in a thrift store. He''s so rich, he can afford to spoil his wife and his mistresses."


    They both turn to me then. "Doesn''t he provide for you?" the first woman asks.


    I don''t answer. Instead, muttering some feeble excuse, I shove my dresses on the end of a nearby rack and hurry out of the store. Tears prick my eyes, the type of thick, hot tears that aren''t easily blinked away.


    Mistress.


    Even if his marriage to Selina is just political, that''s all the public will ever see me as. The human mistress who isn''t even worthy of being provided for. And if I did let him provide for me, I''m sure they''d take issue with that,


    too.


    I climb into the car, instructing Ezra to drive away without an exnation. He stares at me for a moment, confused, before he puts the car in drive and peels away from the curb.


    Today''s Bonus Offer