Chapter 14 Chapter 14
LENORE
“Where are you headed, witch?” came a voice from behind.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood and I whirled around to see the first prince standing a couple of feet away from me, leaning against one of the statues at the beginning of the drive. He was wearing a loose linen shirt which had the top buttons undone and drawstring trousers that hung low on his hips.
My heart leapt into my throat and I quickly dropped into a curtsy before drawing my brows together. Witch?
“Good evening, Your Highness,” I said, forcing the words out evenly.
“Where are you headed?”
Telling the man I’d been gifted to that I was running away was definitely not a good idea.
“Nowhere. I was just… looking around, Your Highness. Forgive me.” I bowed my head deeper.
“Why?” The sound of gravel crunching under his shoes as he came closer made me swallow. “Have you done something requiring forgiveness?”
“No, Your Highness.” My voice shook a bit and I swallowed again while he circled me. “But it’s wise to ask for forgiveness before it’s demanded.”
Aimee had said that once when I asked why she always apologized to her father, even when she hadn’t done anything to offend him.
The prince hmmed, still circling me. “You’re good with words.”
They’re all I have right now. “Not as good as Your Highness, I’m sure.”
I desperately hoped nothing would set him off, but that thought disappeared when a laugh suddenly escaped him, and for a moment, the melodic sound filled my chest with warmth. What—
“Raise your head,” he said, stopping in front of me, and I stiffened. My throat was still sore and I didn’t want a reenactment of the day before yesterday.
“If Your Highness doesn’t mind, I’d rather stay as I am.”
Please, please leave me alone.
He suddenly dropped to a squat, tilting his head beneath mine to catch my eyes, and I flinched, stumbling back. Before I could either catch myself or fall, he swiftly stood upright and caught me, pulling me back until my body was flush against his.
This was the man that had tried to kill me just because I ran into him two days ago. I shouldn’t be this close to him and I certainly shouldn’t be thinking of how beautiful his steel blue eyes were, how tempting his lips looked, how utterly captivating he was.
But here we were and that was all I could think about right now.
Have I gone mad?
The prince’s lips curved into a small frown and it almost looked like he was… pouting? “I must have made quite the impression.”
“You did. Around my throat,” I blurted out before processing what I’d said and once I did, my eyes widened.
Oh my God!
“Your Highness, I’m so sorry—”
“Come with me for a moment.”
Before I could say anything else, he suddenly picked me up and took off. Wind whipped around me, and for a couple of seconds, my surroundings blurred as everything rushed past in a dizzying blur. When he finally stopped, I was lightheaded and breathless, and a quick glance around revealed we were standing on the edge of a tall building’s roof.
I tensed, instinctively wanting to move away, but I was still in the prince’s arms. Oh God… Is he going to throw me off?
“Your Highness, I shouldn’t have said that. Please forgive me,” I said in a rush and he raised a brow before setting me on my feet. Now I was standing between him and the ledge.
Oh God, oh God, oh God. I started to hyperventilate, panic creeping up my spine.
“Why were you in my dream?” he finally said.
“In your…” I drew my brows together. “Huh?”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I don’t like having my mind toyed with.” He moved closer to me, and though I wanted to move away from him, I didn’t want to fall.
“Your Highness, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I was breathing too hard now, and I could hear blood rushing in my ears.
“Shh.” He lifted his hand and I flinched, thinking he was going to wrap it around my neck, but he gently brushed a finger across my cheek instead. “What are you, Lenore?”
My name rolled off his tongue like he was tasting it… It sounded far too intimate. Heat rushed to my face.
“Your Highness—”
He crushed his lips to mine, catching me off guard, while his palm found the back of my neck, locking me in place and making my heart go into overdrive.
Huh?!
I stayed frozen for a beat, confused, but then he groaned and something flickered in my chest. I could sense his need and desperation, and the shock I felt disappeared almost instantly as every inch of me exploded with longing.
His kiss was gentle one second and full of commanding power the next, and my arms locked themselves around his neck like a lifeline as he pushed his tongue past my lips to claim my mouth, moving in as if he had every right.
This was nothing like I’d expected a kiss to be. This was consuming… overwhelming. My pulse was pounding so hard I felt like I might faint, but I tried to keep up with him before abruptly snapping back to my senses.
What am I doing?!
As if he’d had the same thought, he tore his lips from mine. I tried to move away from him, my breath coming in quick gasps, but he kept his grip on me. Then he leaned his forehead against mine while my mind reeled, struggling to process the fact that his lips had just been on mine.
“Lenore, Lenore, Lenore,” he muttered before a small, humorless laugh escaped him. I could only stare at him, speechless.
When he opened his eyes, they were glowing, and though he was smiling, he didn’t seem happy.
“Off you go.” With a sudden shove, he pushed me off the ledge.