Chapter 18 Chapter 18
KILLIAN
Lenore.
That was all I’d been able to think about since last night.
I hadn’t seen my mother in a year and didn’t know if I ever would again, but was I worried right now? No. Lenore was here.
My father and brother were plotting to kill me, but did I care? No. Lenore was here.
She had more than invaded my mind now. She was taking over it and I was waving a white flag.
Ancestors preserve me.
I sighed, covering my face with my arm. I was currently lying on a couch in my study—I’d spent the night here—since Lenore was in my room, and every fiber of my being was screaming at me to go see her. To talk to her. To touch her.
I didn’t think she’d like any of that though, and I wanted to give her space to think.
The door creaked open and Fabien walked in, stopping at the end of the couch where my head was. “I checked over and over and over…” He trailed off and when several moments passed without him speaking, I lifted my arm from my face. “And over again. Still no trace of spellwork around her.” He tossed the tablet in his hand on my chest, obviously gloating and I frowned.
“Fuck off.” Sitting upright, I caught the tablet before it fell off my chest and found myself staring at a picture of Lenore. Some text was written next to the image, but all I zeroed in on was her face, and I took a deep breath.
She’s so beautiful.
I tossed the device back at Fabien. “Check again.”
“...You’re insufferable. Apart from the fact that she was in your dream, what’s the problem with you liking her?”
This was more than just liking though—I craved her. It was like I was addicted to her and I’d barely even tasted her.
…Now I was thinking of tasting her. Fuck me.
“She doesn’t like me,” I muttered.
“You tried to kill her. Twice. Thrice if you count when you saw her in your dream.”
“Oh, go fall asleep under the sun.” I covered my face with my arm again. “...Why are you still here?”
“Have you apologized?” he asked and I worked my jaw.
“...Yes.”
“Have you gone to check on her this morning? She has moved in.”
“I know.”
My study was across the hall from my room so I knew when she left to get her things and when she came back. It would only take a couple of steps to be right next to her again, and the idea was tempting… very tempting.
“How long do you plan to keep her here for?” he asked and I heaved a sigh before pushing myself into a sitting position.
“I don’t know.”
She couldn’t leave the city without my father’s permission or lack of existence. He’d given her to me in the hopes that I’d make her suffer, so he definitely wouldn’t give her permission to leave. Him ceasing to exist on the other hand… I was still working on that. But it wouldn’t be happening anytime soon, so I had no idea how long she was going to stay with me for.
And to be honest, I didn’t want her to leave.
Fabien patted my shoulder. “I’m leaving the palace for a while. I’ll be back in the evening, but if you need anything, call me.”
“Hmm.”
He headed out of the room, but a moment later, he opened the door again to peek in. “Oh, she asked after you this morning.”
My brows shot up. I thought she wouldn’t want to see me seeing as she believed I was going to hurt her.
“Really?” The word escaped me in a rush and a wide smile took over his face.
“Fool.” He shut the door while I frowned, clicking my tongue.
I should go see her. Just to say hi.
I got to my feet and made my way over to my room, taking a deep breath before I walked in to see Lenore on the balcony. She was standing with her back to me and staring at the city.
I glanced at the untouched serving cart next in the corner before walking over to her. The plan was to stop by the balcony’s doors, leaving space between us so as to not make her uncomfortable, but it felt like she was reeling me in.
“Lenore,” I called softly as I placed my hands on the railing, caging her in between my arms, and she jolted.
Her eyes widened slightly when she glanced over her shoulder before quickly turning around, her body brushing against mine. “Your Highness…” she trailed off like she didn’t know what to say and when she nervously glanced at the railing, I realized she probably thought I was going to throw her off the balcony.
Guilt curled in my chest and I cleared my throat before taking a step back. “Do you not like the food? I told them to make something you’d like.”
“...I’m not hungry.”
Does she think I had it poisoned?
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
She shifted from one foot to the other, averting her gaze. “Why are you saying that all of a sudden?” she mumbled and I pursed my lips.
I was making her uncomfortable. I should leave.
As I turned to do that, she grabbed the sleeve of my robe and I raised my brows slightly, more than willing to stay if she wanted me to.
“I, uh… I need a phone, Your Highness.”
Oh.
“I lost mine last night and I need to call my siblings. Please.”
“You can use mine. I—” My gaze snapped over her shoulder to the figures approaching from the direction of the main palace and I frowned. It was my father and his guards, and his narrowed eyes were fixed on us.
I grabbed Lenore and hauled her into the room, shutting the balcony’s double doors behind us. When I returned my attention to her, she had a mixture of surprise and confusion on her face.
“I’ll be right back,” I told her before quickly heading out of the room.
Why was he coming here?
The fact that he might have heard my conversation with Lenore set me on edge, and though we hadn’t said much to each other, I’d said enough for him to know I wasn’t going to treat her the way he’d hoped I would. He’d given her to me to make a point to her father, and if I wasn’t going to help him make that point, he’d find someone that would.