She was so ugly now. What would a child think of her? What could she even tell her child? She would be bringing an innocent baby into a world of ugliness. Of vile deceit and murder. Their mother was a product of that and she was disgusting. She’d helped murder four men and then her actions had caused the death of her grandfather. She’d been so selfish she hadn’t considered what Paolo would do if she stripped him of all chances to inherit his kingdom.

“Siena.” The name was spoken softly. A reprimand.

Startled, her gaze flew up to see Elijah standing right behind her. He looked handsome. No, more than handsome, gorgeous, in a rough masculine way, of course. Sheer beauty. His skin was a deep olive, his eyes alive with passion and focus. She didn’t understand how he could even look at her patchwork of a body.

She froze, unable to move. Unable to cover up. He had come in so silently and she’d been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard him. Deep inside where no one could hear her, she screamed and screamed.

6

“SIENA, the lacerations will heal over time,” Elijah said gently, his hand settling on the nape of her neck.

Gentle. So gentle. So at odds with his personality. When he touched her like that, she could almost believe he cared. As it was, she stood frozen, shocked that he could see her nearly naked body. Her breasts were bare, she hadn’t worn a bra because she couldn’t stand anything tight against her back. She had worn panties, although the material hurt against her hip. She was grateful she had done that much—she’d been tempted to go without.

A slow flush began somewhere in her sex and began to move upward toward her face. Instead of covering her breasts with her hands as she should have, she moved her palm over the bandage on her face. It was difficult enough to face him, but to have him see her like this—so exposed—so vulnerable—was the absolute worst.

Elijah reached around her to capture her wrist. “Don’t, baby. Don’t hide from me or anyone else. You’re beautiful and you’ll always be beautiful, even if these scars didn’t fade, which they will. You’re shivering. The fireplace is going in the bedroom and I’ll get one of my shirts for you to wear.”

He didn’t move. He stood directly behind her. She could see his head and shoulders above her own in the mirror. “Stop looking at the lacerations, Siena; look at you. Your beautiful body. You take my breath away, you’re so beautiful.”