CHAPTER 139: WHEN THE EYES CARESS

I want to be reasonable and tell myself that there was a solid reason why he was keeping secrets from me. But the other side of me was on alert, determined to strip off any he’d under shade, especially when I knew it involved me.

His conversation with Damon kept playing in my mind. Although I listened briefly, it had a lot of tension, which I couldn’t fully question given how strained their relationship was. What I couldn’t understand was why Damon was entertained in our chambers in the first place.

"Ahem! Alpha, princess..."

I flinched and turned to Ravyn, coming up the stairs. My cheeks burned in embarrassment. I was thankful my gown covered us, but that didn’t stop me from spiraling.

"H-Hi Ravyn..." I stuttered.

"Hi princess," she replied, giving me a knowing smirk, and I just wanted the earth to sink and swallow me whole.

"I see you are... healthy."

I buried my face in Drevon’s neck.

"What is it?" Drevon asked coolly, not once ashamed.

"I bring important news, you’re needed in court with urgency."

"I said I’m not to be disturbed."

"Yes... But this is worthy for you to be disturbed."

Whatever Ravyn was talking about must be important.

Drevon nudge his head like a silent message, and I heard Ravyn’s departing footsteps.

"I think you should attend court."

"You only just recovered, I don’t want to leave you alone."

I’m aware Osha was on her day off, and Ravyn seemed like she would attend court, too.

I pecked him on the lips and said. "Don’t take too long then."

"I won’t."

~•~

My eyes were closed and my chin up to allow the cool breeze to caress my face. Winter was close. I opened my eyes to the tulips in front of me, I reached for them and plucked one, holding it in my palm like it was something delicate.

It’s been a while since I decided on my fate using these petals. I smiled, recalling the times I did, but it never worked in my favour anyway.

I thought of the time I used it on Drevon and how I cheated him. At least the last time I used it would be an unforgettable memory; I couldn’t stop myself from giggling.

But I was tempted to use it again. After Drevon left to attend to the urgency, I was reminded of the plight I was in. The coming of the Fates.

Drevon had assured me that everything would be okay, but I was still trapped in that illusion that something bad was coming... it wasn’t just the fear of not becoming his queen but something else that warned me.

Come what may... I held onto Drevon’s declaration to leave all this behind. I have had little time to think about it because of my illness, but it was beginning to sound like a great idea.

I leveled my gaze on the flower, the coldness in my flesh intensified, and soon after, ice flared to the tulip and froze it entirely.

What just happened?

The sudden clang of metal pulled my attention to the aisle of tulips leading to the gazebo. Damon stood at the entrance, but the order of knights lining the pathway refused to let him through.

I moved my eyes back to the tulip, but no ice was in sight. Did I hallucinate?

"I came to see you, Lou. But it seems I’m not welcome."

I let the flower fall from my hand, and I faced Damon.

"Tell them to stand down or it might get bloody."

I have known Damon long enough to know he was quickly prone to violence. I was not in the mood to witness a brawl between Lycans or put Drevon’s knights through that.

"Let him through."

The knights backed away.

"Leave the aisle, guard the entrance."

They did as I commanded without question, marching to the entrance. Damon watched, impressed by the display before striding down the aisle. The closer he got, the slower he walked, his eyes taking me gently like he hadn’t seen me before.

Did I have something on my face?

After two minutes of his unwavering attention, I realized it might not be the case of having a stain on my face, but his unhidden awe of my appearance.

The desire burned in his eyes, and if they had the power to melt my entire body, they would.

He walked up the stairs leisurely, coming close but maintaining a good space just to take in all of me.

I hadn’t worn anything heavy or any makeup, just a simple gown, my hair let down, and simple diamonds for earrings.

"You reek of Drevon," he said as if he knew what transpired. "Of course, given you share his mark, you feel his desires added to yours. Explains why you both can’t keep your hands off each other."

He didn’t sound too pleased, and I wondered.

"What do you want, Damon?"

"Is it wrong for me to come check on you after your bedridden state?"

He was speaking in that manner again, speaking in a way that was far from what I expected. I could almost feel how concerned he was about me. Damon was concerned about me? I never thought that could ever happen, given his desire to use me to get to his brother and his strangling tendencies.

"There you have it... You’ve seen me, I’m better. What else do you want to confirm?"

"Why so cold, Lou?" He stepped closer to me. "Even when I saved your life."

I narrowed my eyes in confusion. "Saved my life?"

"Tell me, pretty Lou, aren’t you curious about the secret Drevon’s keeping from you? You can ask me and I can tell you all you need to know."

"What’s the price?" I asked, trying to ignore the way my body reacted with him close by.

His scent flooded my nose and numbed my mind. Wine. Now I’m convinced this was purely his fragrance and not the fact that he had drunk before coming here.

"Price? What will I do with that? I think you deserve to know the truth."

"Why so moral? Stop it, it’s revolting..."

"Revolting?" he murmured, stretching his hand to me.

I wanted to step away, but my body was already numbed to his scent. His hand halted just at my cheek, and after what seemed like a minute, like he was waiting for me to push him away... he brushed the back of his hand against my cheek.

I shivered at how warm he felt, scaring away the coldness in my body. His hand dropped to my chest, coiling, almost like he wanted to claw out my heart and see if his name was written there.