Chapter 96
Hardin carrying heavy buckets in the stables. Sweating. Watched by two men. Like a prisoner.
It wasn’t fair.
She found Kairo in his study. The door was open. He sat at his desk, reading papers. The room smelled like old books and ink.
Aurora stopped at the door.
“Kairo.”
He looked up. Smiled. But the smile faded when he saw her face.
“Aurora. Come in.”
She walked in. Closed the door behind her.
She stood in front of the desk. Hands on her hips.
“Why did you do that to Hardin?”
Kairo put the paper down. “What?”
Aurora said, “You gave him hard work. Stables. Buckets. Cleaning. You told the guards to watch him. To keep him away from me. It isn’t fair.”
Kairo leaned back in his chair. “I am protecting you.”
Aurora said, “No. You are being insecure. You have ideas in your head. You think he knows me. You think he wants something. But he is just a guard. He helped me last night when I screamed. That’s all.”
Kairo said, “He called you Rhianna. He held you before I did. He looked at you like he knows you.”
Aurora said, “So? Maybe he heard me say it in the nightmare. Maybe he is kind. You don’t know him. You are punishing him for nothing.”
Kairo stood up. Walked around the desk. Closer to her.
“I love you, Aurora. I am marrying you in eight days. I don’t want anyone near you who might hurt you. Or confuse you.”
Aurora said, “He is not hurting me. You are hurting him. Leave the poor guard alone. He did nothing wrong.”
Kairo looked at her for a long time. His eyes softened.
He sighed. “You are right. I was… jealous. I saw him hold you. I saw him calm you. I felt… afraid. That you might feel something for him.”
Aurora said, “I don’t. I am with you. I chose you.”
Kairo nodded slowly. “I know. I am sorry. I will withdraw the order. He can go back to normal duties.”
Aurora said, “Thank you.”
Kairo pulled her into a hug. “Forgive me. I just want to keep you safe.”
Aurora hugged him back. “I know.”
Kairo kissed her forehead. “I will talk to him now. Fix it.”
Aurora nodded. “Okay.”
Kairo left the room.
Aurora stood there. She felt better. But also guilty. She did not tell Kairo the full truth. She did not tell him about the kiss in the garden. She did not tell him how her heart hurt when she saw Hardin.
She walked to the window. Looked out.
She saw Kairo in the yard. Walking to the stables.
Kairo found Hardin there. Hardin was scrubbing a stall. Shirt off. Sweating. Two guards watched him.
Kairo waved the guards away.
They left.
Hardin looked up. Wiped his face with his arm.
Kairo said, “Hardin.”
Hardin bowed. “Your Highness.”
Kairo said, “I was wrong. I was angry. Jealous. I withdraw my order. You are no longer on hard work. Go back to normal guard duties.”
Hardin said, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Kairo stepped closer. Voice low.
“But listen carefully. If you knew Aurora before—if you know her from her past—stay away from her. This is her new life. She is happy here. With people who love her. We are getting married in a few days. She does not wish to remember her horrible past. She is fine now. Let her be.”
Hardin looked at Kairo. His face calm. But his eyes were dark.
Hardin said, “I understand.”
Kairo said, “Good. Do not go near her. Do not talk to her. Do not look at her in any way that is not proper for a guard.”
Hardin said, “Yes, Your Highness.”
Kairo turned. Walked away.
Hardin watched him go.
He picked up the brush again. But he did not scrub.
He thought about Aurora. Her tears last night. Her kiss in the garden. Her confusion.
He thought about Kairo’s words.
She is happy here.
She does not wish to remember her horrible past.
Hardin’s hands tightened on the brush.
He knew the truth.
Aurora was not happy. Not fully.
She was confused. Scared. Hurting.
She remembered pieces. The kiss proved it. The nightmare proved it. Her jealousy over the maid proved it.
She was Rhianna.
And she was waking up.
Hardin put the brush down.
He walked out of the stables.
The two guards were gone.
He went to his post.
But his mind was not on duty.
It was on her.
He would stay away. For now.
But he would not leave her.
Not forever.
He would wait.
He would watch.
He would be there when she needed him.
Because she would need him.
Soon.
Aurora sat in her room. She looked out the window.
She saw Hardin walk back to his post.
He looked up. Their eyes met.
He gave her a small nod. Sad smile.
Aurora’s heart hurt.
She looked away.
The wedding was coming.
Kairo loved her.
The queen loved her.
The pack loved her.
But Hardin knew her.
The real her.
And that scared her most of all.
She touched her lips. Remembered the kiss.
It felt right.
She felt guilty.
She felt lost.
She felt awake.
For the first time in a long time.
She felt awake.