Abigail walks back into the room another smaller tray balancing perfectly on top of her hands. She steps up to the side of me but I don’t notice her. When she came back into the room she left the door open and I can see Ryder pacing in the hall, arguing quietly into the phone. Maxon is stood behind him and is talking to Cyrus, Theo and another two guards that were stood a bit further down the hall when I first arrived. The two of them gave the three of us a look until one of them gave a nod to Cyrus and he nodded back. “Here, you are Miss Charlotte.” Abigail’s voice snaps me away from Ryder’s large menacing body. “Sorry?” I question. There are three small white porcelain mugs placed in front of me along with a glass of water. “Your drinks your maje- my dear, we didn’t know what type you like so we just got you King Ryder’s favourites.” She says with a bow, “Enjoy, if you need anything else, his Majesty will call us.” She’s out of the room now and Ryder looks even tenser. Something’s wrong. I can feel it. Ryder’s arms are crossed strongly over his chest as he’s in a deep conversation with Maxon, now that the phone is gone from his ear. The both of them look angry but I can still see that Maxon’s eyes dart to the ground every now and then, Ryder is his King and he can’t outrank him. With a growl that echoes from the hall into the room Maxon looks like he has finally given up. Ryder turns back to me, coming through the door and it’s closed behind him by one of the guards. He’s taking deep breathes trying to calm himself back down, again. The skin of his tanned knuckles turns white as he strongly grips the back of his chair pulling it out. When he sits back down I notice that he has moved the chair closer to mine and now that he’s sat down his knee is rubbing lightly against mine. I can feel the material of jeans scratching together but I can still feel the warmth of his skin. “Can I help with anything?” his eyes jump to mine when I say that and he gives me back a small genuine smile. “Thank you, but I don’t think you can help, it’s very complicated.” His fingers dance over the back of my hand as he speaks. His eyes are narrowed slightly and a smirk replacing his smile as he looks back up at me. All the tenseness is gone from his muscles as he locks his eyes back with mine. “Try the drinks love.” He tells me with a rise of his eyebrows. Its then that I notice how close I am to him, the warmth of his breath fanning lightly over my cheek from the short distance that separates us. I pull back away from him with a small gasp, slipping my hand from beneath his as I take the first of the tiny little baby mugs into my hands. The dark liquid inside the porcelain cup swirls as I lift it up towards my mouth. The sweet smell hits my nose and I don’t hesitate to take a sip, but as I get a taste I stop. It doesn’t taste as nice as it smells. I don’t even try the next milky coloured one when I can taste it through the bitter smell of it. Ryder watches me carefully leaned back in his chair ignoring the vibration of his phone on the table. As I pick up the third and finally mug, I begin to feel slightly nervous as he watches me. He gives me a sheepish smile, as I let the liquid wash down my throat. It’s warm and sweet, perfection in a cup and before I know it the contents is gone and Ryder’s eyes that I haven’t broken from mine, crinkle a little at the edges as he laughs. He looks so beautiful doing so. “Hot chocolate. Tastes better with marshmallows would you like me to order you another.” Nodding at him he turns towards the door, calling to a guard. As he speaks to them it isn’t in English, and it’s the first time that I take note of his thick Jordanian accent and how much stronger that it is than everyone else’s that I’ve heard. It sends a pleasant shiver down my spine to hear it and makes my English one sound horrid. His phone rings loudly before he gets the chance to even turn back to the table. He groans picking it up and continuing to speak in his native tongue. He pinches the bridge of his nose between his fingers his tone become rougher as whatever the person on the other side of the phone sets him on edge. “I despise that thing.” He says with a heartless laugh as he places it in his pocket. “I have to go, but Abigail will be back with more hot chocolate and you’re free to stay here as long as you like but just tell Theo and Cyrus when you want to go back and they’ll take you up to the room.” He says sadly with a smile. He doesn’t look like he wants to leave, but I realise that he is a King and that he has a country and people to rule, order and peace to keep, he can’t stay here with me. “I’ll take you on a tour of the castle later.” He smiles genuinely now as he meets my eyes. “For your safety I’d rather you didn’t leave your suite unless it’s with me or to come meet me on these top two floors. It probably doesn’t sound very nice but hopefully it won’t be for long.” Whether or not I should be annoyed with him, I can’t help the warm feeling rolling through my stomach at the thought of him protecting me so thoroughly. It doesn’t sit well though that whatever is putting me in danger he is reluctant to tell me about. “Charlotte,” Ryder questions and I realise that I’m caught in my thoughts. “Yeah, that um, that sounds nice, thank you.” I can feel the flatness in my voice and Ryder notices it, he’s eyes flicking over my body in worry. “I’m okay.” Three sets of eyes fall on my face, as both of Ryder’s guards and him stare at me. Ryder said nothing to me about how uncomfortable he felt leaving me after seeing me in the emotional state of uncertainty and nervousness that my thoughts carried me too, that didn’t stop me from feeling the strong emoting pulsating off him in waves. It was obvious and I don’t know why it surprised them. Ryder looks away from me with a nod of his head. “I’ll see you later. Try the marshmallows with the hot chocolate.”