Chapter 40

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Chapter 41

Kent's POV

The morning had quietly passed. Lilith had been busy entertaining her tea party, and I was left to my thoughts. I happened to be meandering through the manor, my mind consumed by this distracting ache in my chest. The house was quiet; only the padded footsteps of the servants performing their duties broke the stillness. But I couldn't escape this nagging sensation that something was happening, something over which I had no control.

I hadn't seen her since breakfast—Lilith, that is—and I couldn't stop thinking about her. The face, the expression when she looked at me the night before, was pretty much stuck in my mind. At the same time, something was between us, something blocking my view, an invisible wall I just could not climb. It was there when she spoke and I replied, when we stood close enough that the air between us was charged with something unsaid.

I came out into the open inner court, a fresh morning scent mingling with the faraway trill of birds. I needed to clear my head, purge my mind of last night's disturbing encounter with her and that strange, sizzling attachment there was between them. Yet, even as I tried to concentrate on the beauty of the simple day, my mind would work its way back to her.

I pushed open the large gates of the manor, stepping outside. The beautiful and quiet grounds stretched before me but were still so filled with that unbearable tension. Without even thinking, my feet carried me toward the main road, past the gardens, and down the path toward the small town nearby.

The village was a place I knew well, a place where I might find some respite from the manor's demands and the mantel of responsibility weighing heavy on my shoulders. Yet, today, I felt more lost than ever. I needed to sort out my feelings, but there was something more pressing-something urging me toward an encounter I hadn't anticipated.

The further I went into the heart of town, the more my mind flickered back to Lilith. Her smile, her eyes. What was happening with me? Wasn't I falling for her? Impossible, it couldn't be. I was her protector, her friend. I couldn't let myself think about her being anything else. But the feelings. they just would not go away. Instead, they grew stronger the more I saw her, the more I spoke with her.

I took a deep breath, shaking my head clear of the thoughts, but rounding a corner, I froze.

Finn.

He was standing in front of a small bakery, his eyes fixed on me as though waiting for something. His expression gentled at the sight of me, but there was something calculating in his eyes that set my teeth on edge. I'd met Finn before, of course-he was Lilith's friend from childhood, the one who'd come to visit her on occasion. But today, he looked. different. There was something in the air between us, something taut and heavy.

He took a few steps toward me, his hands tucked behind his back, as if trying to be nonchalant. "Kent," he said, his voice even, though with a sharp edge buried there. "I didn't expect to see you here. Out for a walk, are we?

I frowned, my eyes narrowing. "I could ask you the same thing," I said coolly, my gaze sweeping over him. He was dressed in fine clothes, the kind of attire that marked someone used to wealth and privilege. But there was an underlying restlessness in his posture-an energy that didn't quite match his outward calm.

"I was just passing through," Finn said, his smile tight but friendly. "I guess we both like it quiet in the town."

I nodded, but the tension in the air didn't ease. Finn being here wasn't a coincidence. There was no way he didn't know where I was, and no way he didn't realize what was going on between Lilith and me. Or perhaps, he didn't care. Perhaps he was confident enough in his place in her life to think he could play this game without consequence.

"You seem. far from the manor," I said, my tone clipped. "Is all well with Lilith?"

The mention of her name made his eyes flicker briefly, but his smile never wavered. "Lilith is fine. In fact, she's as charming as ever. You know how she can be," he said, his voice almost too smooth. "But tell me, Kent, how is *your* life going? Everything in order?"

I arched a brow, the slight challenge in his words escaping me. "I'm fine," I said, moving closer to him, stance unyielding. "But, Finn, I must say, you're spending quite a bit of time with her lately. Isn't she getting enough company at the manor?

His eyes flashed, and for the first time, his smile faltered. "You seem a bit territorial, Kent," he said, his voice low. "Is it because of her? Do you have some sort of claim on her?"

The question felt like a punch, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I straightened my back and looked him dead in the eye-my voice cold. "I have no claim on her. But I do care about her, and I don't think you're here for mere social calls."

Finn's face had turned dark, his features set in a hard mask as he moved a step closer. "I'm here because I care about her too. More than you might think," he said, his voice dropping to a low menace.

I felt my pulse quicken, the air thickening between us. I knew what he was doing because he was trying to provoke me. He wanted me to react-wanted to see if he could get under my skin. But I wasn't about to give him that satisfaction.

"I'm not interested in playing games, Finn," I said, keeping my voice steady. "And neither is Lilith. You'd do well to remember that."

He said nothing for a moment, his eyes bent in my search. Then, his lips tugged upwards in a slow smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You think you're the only one who's interested in her?" he repeated softly. "You think you have some kind of. monopoly on her affections?

I fisted my hands as the anger increased in my chest. "I don't care what you think. You should leave, Finn. If you know what's good for you."

His smile broadened, but it held no humor. "Careful, Kent. You wouldn't want to make an enemy out of me," he said with a voice like silk-smooth, but laced with a hidden threat.

I could feel the weight of his words settling over me like a storm cloud, but I didn't back down. "I don't fear threats. And I don't fear you.

For a long moment, the two of us stood there, neither one of us willing to blink. It was a strange kind of stand-off—silent, charged with an undercurrent of tension. Finally Finn gave a short nod, as if he'd reached some silent conclusion.

"Very well," he said, his voice returning to its more casual tone. "I'll let you have your. peace. But mark my words, Kent," he said, his eyes narrowing. "Lilith doesn't belong to you. Not yet."

I watched him turn on his heel and walk away, his fading footsteps the only sound. As he disappeared from sight, I stood there, my heart hammering in my chest, anger and frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

It wasn't just that he'd been close to her, or that he was encroaching on what little territory I had left. It was the way he spoke-so sure of himself, so confident that Lilith would fall for him. I had no right to feel threatened by him. None at all.

But I did.

I didn't know where my feelings for Lilith stood, but I knew o

ne thing for sure: I wasn't about to let anyone-let alone Finn take my woman.