Chapter 133 Half Healed

Chapter 133 Half Healed


They glanced at the archives on the table, the parts that they intended to be distributed all over the kingdom. 

Isabella sighed, her hands interlocking with Lucien's. “So this is it?” She looked up at him, their noses almost touching. 

Lucien grunted lightly, staring right back at her. “Easier than you thought it would?” He took the words right out of her mouth, a small smile accompanying him. 

Isabella nodded, returning her gaze to the table. “We should take them out.” 

She made to move, but Lucien's grip on her hands stopped her. “Been a long ride, hasn't it?” 

They fell into silence, their breaths rhyming. The sounds of their heartbeat told them all they really needed to know. 

“I really never thought it would be over,” Isabella spoke after what seemed like eternity. She inhaled, choosing her words carefully. “The killings, the deaths, accusations and now…” 

She paused, letting Lucien figure out the rest. 

“You feel some type of way, don't you?” Lucien asked instead, knowing where she was headed. 

Isabella nodded guiltily. “We caused the war, Lucien. And now, some people are innocent, who've had to die just for peace to reign.” 

Lucien squeezed her hands in encouragement as he watched her speak. It was taking everything within him not to shut her up with a kiss even though that was all he wanted to do. 

He let her continue speaking as he studied her face. 

“You haven't been paying attention.” Isabella’s accusatory voice brought him out of his imagination. 

“What?” He sounded guilty as hell. “I have.” He added quickly, realising that he could be in trouble. 

“Really?” She removed her hands from his grip, folding them together. “Pray tell, what have I been saying?” 

“Err,” Lucien stuttered, his brain working overtime. “Something about how it was more of our fault and…” he trailed, looking uncertain. 

Isabella rolled her eyes, holding back her smile. “Yeah right, that was like ages ago.” 

Lucien sighed apologetically. “Takes a lot of work to take in your beauty and still pay attention to you.” 

The retort in Isabella's throat went down as quickly as it had come up. Lucien sure had a way of making her smile even when she didn't feel like it. 

She shook her head, holding back her smile. “I'm guessing that's supposed to make me forgive you?” 

Lucien shrugged, an arrogant smile coming up on his face. “You don't have to say it if it won't make you feel good. Your ears are doing all the work.” 

He pointed to her ears that had gone red from the moment the words left his mouth. 

Isabella rolled her eyes, but didn't stop the smile from creeping up her face unabashedly. It felt good to be admired by someone as good-looking as Lucien. 

“Tell me we're not going to spend the rest of the evening blushing to ourselves.” Isabella groaned, her eyes going back to the parchments on the table. 

Lucien giggled as he knocked lightly on the table. “We'd better deal with them so we can have the night to ourselves.” 

The door opened, forcing Isabella to swallow the words back to her throat as they both waved Marcus in. 

“You sent for me your Majesties.” Marcus bowed slightly as he neared them. 

Lucien nodded, pointing at the divided parchments on the table. “This belongs to the entire realm and has been divided accordingly.” 

Marcus nodded, waiting for the orders, but they remained quiet. He cleared his throat nervously. He would never get used to staying in their presence and taking the place of Sam. 

“I'll get the guards to dispatch them accordingly.” He said after a long time. 

Lucien nodded and waved him off, with Isabella holding back her smile. 

“You don't have to be so tough on him, you know.” She said with a small smile after Marcus had left them. 

Lucien grunted, his face straight. “Have you seen the way he looks and adores you?” 

Isabella widened her eyes. “Do I smell Jealousy?” She taunted, her eyes bravely matching Lucien's. 

Lucien scoffed as he reached for her, but Isabella was faster, having already taken some steps back and making Lucien miss by a hair's breadth. 

Lucien hissed. “Jealousy?” He spat, looking at Isabella incredulously even though his facial expression was telling Isabella all she needed to know. 

Isabella nodded, the sly smile still on her lips. “You looked like you were going to kill him.” 

“You really wanna do this?” Lucien swiftly tried to change the topic, not trusting himself to go further. 

“Do what?” Isabella shrugged. She was not going to help him even though she could see that he was really struggling. 

He gave a small smile as he walked menacingly towards her. “Feigning ignorance, my lady?” He drawled, his voice sexy. 

Isabella could see herself losing the silent battle. She decided to step back, putting some distance between the two of them. 

Her eyes darted at the table just beside her, her brain calculating the distance. She aimed for the table, but missed by a second as Lucien's arm grabbed her. 

“Running away, my lady?” He teased, his hands running through her body. 

Isabella groaned, before allowing herself to rest in his embrace. “I wouldn't dare even if I wanted to.” She said, chuckling as she inhaled his scent. 

Her words stopped the retort in Lucien's throat, as he shook his head, caressing her hair. 

“I know you Miss Sam.” Isabella began slowly, taking a step back to take in his features. “He was more than a friend to you.” 

A soft sigh escaped from Lucien's lips as he looked away. “I do not want to talk about it.” There was a note of finality in his voice. 

Isabella’s hands found his jaw as she stroked his face. “We both know you can't keep running away from this topic, Lucien.” 

“I'm not running!” His voice was louder and fiercer than he'd intended. He rubbed his hands on his jaw, as if he'd just realised what he'd done. 

Isabella let her hands fall to her side, not stepping away from him. She was hurt and it showed, but it was now or never. Lucien had not spoken about it and she knew he was hurting inside. 

“You're defensive.” Her voice was accusatory, but her expression remained unchanged. Her features were still softened. 

Lucien croaked, nothing coming out of his mouth. When it came to Sam, he was particularly sensitive and now, he'd let it all out on Isabella. 

“I am.” He said finally, his walls caving. He tried to move, but Isabella’s hands stopped him. 

She'd unconsciously linked her hands to his, and was now holding him back. “I'm not gonna let you go.” 

Lucien sighed, closing his eyes momentarily. His heart was beating faster than he could control. This was the closest he'd come to being out of control. He always had his emotions in check, even in the wildest of situations. 

“How about we do this some other time.” He managed to say, offering her a small smile. “And you're right,” he continued. “I should start treating Marcus the right way.” 

Isabella nodded slowly. “This was the closest she'd come to letting Lucien open up. He was trying to call it a truce. 

“How about?” The stubborn woman in her would not let her let go. The noise in her stomach took the words right out of her stomach, making Lucien sigh in relief. 

“I'm pretty sure you've not had anything to eat, today?” Lucien joked, before walking slowly to the fridge, kept for both of their use. 

“You're trying so hard to change the topic.” Isabella accused, but she followed him, nonetheless, pointing at her favourite cake. 

“I'll have that.” They could have this conversation even with the food in her mouth. 

Lucien gave a knowing smile. “I knew you would.” His expression turned serious. “Listen, Izzy. You've had a tough day.” He began, choosing his words carefully so as not to offend her. 

“I also know you're not going to let this go.” He continued, holding her gaze. “This conversation is definitely going to happen. How about we push it to another day?” 

Isabella gulped. She could hear the pain in his voice, knew that it was taking a whole lot out of him to speak without lashing out. 

“The carrot cake.” She pointed at the other cake in the fridge and some chocolate toppings.” 

Then as if realising herself, she stopped. “You shouldn't be doing that.” 

“Serving you, you mean?” Lucien asked with a raised brow. 

Isabella nodded ashamedly. “Pretty sure, Margaret would be so ashamed of me.” 

Lucien shook his head, holding back his laughter as he placed the plate in front of her. 

“Well, Margaret is not here.” He muttered reassuringly. “We could do whatever we want.” He reached for the fork, cutting out a piece of the cake. 

Isabella blushed slightly, opening her mouth. “You're making a mess of my diet.” She complained jokingly, her mouth full as she chewed.