Chapter 57 Good-byes?
“No! Absolutely not!”
Lucien exploded behind the barely closed door.
They'd barely been holding the tension from the arena to their quarters. Every step he takes has made her tense.
“You could at least think about it.” Isabella protested lightly, her tone careful enough.
“There is absolutely nothing to think about.” He fired, his veins pulsating.
“Think about it?” He repeated, scoffing. “Think about leaving you alone with a man that obviously wants you?”
Isabella swallowed.
“I've made very bad decisions in my life, Isabella. This will not be counted among.”
She closed the distance between them. “You're not thinking straight, Lucien. Think about the alliance…”
“The alliance be damned.” Lucien blew.
Isabella's eyes widened in horror. “You're ready to throw all these away?”
Lucien looked away. “This is just one out of many.”
“No, it isn't.” She shook her head in horror. “This isn't one out of many. This is one of our most incredible chances.”
Lucien's lips thinned. “We'll find more. We'll reach out to more.”
“Damien already has the East backing him, and half of the South.” She said in exasperation.
“Still doesn't change anything.” His voice was resolute.
“Lucien,” She could feel herself breaking down. “This is just one chance.”’
“One chance of leaving you with a man who openly wants you. Do you have any idea how much he likes you?”
“Lusts,” Isabella said, raising her hand to cut him off.
“Fine,” Lucien sighed. “Do you have any idea how much he lusts over you?”
“So this is about him then.” Her voice was calm.
“Of course, this is about him.” Lucien's voice was a stark difference from how they both sounded.
“He makes advances at you in public, even in my presence. Now, imagine my absence.”
“That's not fair,” Isabella whined. “I'm an adult.”
“And he's an old vampire with tricks up his sleeves.”
“Do you even trust me?” She stared intently at him.
Lucien's jaw stopped moving. “That's a very unfair question.”
Isabella pursed her lips. “It's a factual question, Lucien. A no will suffice.” She said the last words with shaky breath, betraying the facade she'd been putting up from the start of the argument.
“Of course, I trust you. It's him I don't trust.”
“That means…”
“No!” Lucien spun around. “It's not going to happen, Isabella.” He repeated. “I'm not going to leave you here with him alone, not for one day, let alone one entire week.”
“We need more allies, Lucien.” Isabella attempted again. “Think. Think about the big picture.”
“There is no big picture.” He was holding himself back from shouting.
“We've come too far away to let this slip from our hands.”
“I don't fucking care. The throne be damned, the kingdom be damned.” He huffed.
Isabella placed her hands on his. She could see something in his eyes that she couldn't decipher. Fear? Frustration? Anger?
She sighed. “I didn't come this far to drop it now, Lucien. I know you think you know the General more than I do, and you're not wrong.”
She looked up to meet his gaze, even though he was much taller than she was.
“I didn't fight Amelia, didn't face my fears, leaving my baby all alone with strangers in the palace only to back off now. Think about it, Lucien.”
Lucien sighed. “It's still not worth it.” His voice was calmer.
“Isn't it?” She raised a brow, taking her hands off his as she went to sit on the bed.
“Do you remember when we began the journey to the Red Walls?” Her voice was low. She folded her palms. “And I asked what to expect from the Red Walls?”
Lucien grunted, not giving her a definite answer.
“You said he was gonna come up with tests.”
“I did. Still doesn't change anything. This is a different scenario.”
“This is the obvious test, Lucien!” She said exasperatedly, annoyed that he was intentionally being obtuse.
Realising that she'd just raised her voice at him, she looked down guiltily. “I…I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to.”
Lucien nodded.
“The General knew I wasn't going to back down with Amelia. Despite how scared I was, he knew I still loved a good challenge. Anything to make me prove myself. And you wouldn't hesitate to agree to a fight with him.”
Lucien looked at her, still confused as to where she was headed.
“But this!” She stretched her hand. “This is going to be hard on us. I would rather take on three Amelias than be separated from you for a week.”
Her voice cracked. “But now, it's something we have to do. You really think I wanna stay away from you?”
She sniffed as she looked away.
Lucien sighed, before walking up to her slowly. He crouched in her position, taking her hands. “You would have made a very bad lawyer.”
Isabella smiled softly at his attempt at making a joke. “You would have sucked as a clown.” She retorted.
“That's why I'm not.” He shrugged. His expression turned serious. “I see the points you're making and even though I do not fully agree with them,” he raised his hand to shush her.
“I see where you are coming from.” He continued. “You've made some very good points Isabella, and I'll only agree on one condition.”
“Giving conditions like the General?”
Lucien chuckled, rolling his eyes. “I would never be that cunning old fool.” He said with disdain.
“Okay?” She continued, her heart beating loudly, afraid of what he was going to give. “What is the condition?”
“Amelia stays with you.” His tone held finality.
Isabella shook her head in disagreement. “That's not going to work. Let's come up with something else.” Her face held a look of horror on them.
“I can't, Lucien. The woman almost killed me.”
“She has a lot of respect for you. You need someone by your side when I'm gone.”
“And you think she's the best person for that?” She mocked.
Lucien shrugged. “That or we leave the Red Walls together.”
Isabella groaned. “This is absolutely not fair.”
“Your choice.” He snickered.
Isabella sighed, disengaging herself from him as she walked to the only window in the room.
Lucien walked up to her, clasping his hands around her waist as he drew her to himself.
“It's going to be so lonely without you,” Isabella whispered, reality dawning on her. “I can't believe I'll be here all alone.”
Lucien hugged her tightly, drawing her to himself. “We'll be fine.” He muttered, caressing her hair. “It's only for a time. Soon, we'll be together forever.”
Isabella nodded, tears pooling in her eyes. “I hope it comes soon.”
“It was nice having you here, Your Majesty.” Konstatin began, shaking Lucien's hand.
Lucien grunted. “Cut the crap, General. We both know this is not over.”
Konstatin chuckled. “I have no idea what you're talking about.” He said with a smirk plastered on his face.
“Not a hair on her body. Not one at all.” He said through his teeth, their hands still together.
“Not one.” Konstatin agreed. “At the end of the day, she may find herself here so much that she would stay.” Sarcasm dripped from his voice.
Lucien shrugged. “We wait and find out after a week.”
They separated, as Lucien turned around to face Isabella.
She sniffed, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
She leaned in, hugging him. “Thought you were gonna stay an extra day?”
“And prolong your misery?” He joked as he kissed her cheeks. “I'll see you in seven days yeah?”
“Yeah,” Isabella nodded, wiping the tears off her face.
“Alright, lovers. That's enough farewell to last a lifetime.” Konstatin interrupted.
Isabella rolled her eyes as she stepped away from Lucien watching as the men entered their horses.
With one last wave, Lucien bid her goodbye and rode off.
Isabella stifled the sob in her throat. Behind her Amelia stood some few feet away.
“C’mon my Lady,” Konstatin said, stretching out his hands for her to take them.
Isabella looked at his hands in disgust.
Konstatin had a smirk plastered on his face. “You're still in the moment, my lady and it's totally understandable.”
Isabella rolled her eyes. “I can leave now, can't I? Or would you rather have me standing here looking at you?”
“Feisty.” Konstatin chuckled. “Exactly how I like them.”
Isabella flinched at his words. She turned abruptly and walked to her room.
Behind her, Amelia followed keeping a distance.
“You'll get used to him soon.” She muttered as she helped open the door for Isabella.
“Never,” Isabella mumbled as she threw herself on the bed, groaning immediately.
She had totally forgotten how hard the bed was and thought it was just like the one she had back in the palace.
Behind her, Amelia stifled her giggle. The scenario was entirely funny.
“Dinner will be had in the common room.” She whispered as she walked to the door.
“Can't I eat in my room?” Isabella whined.
Amelia's chuckle as she closed the door gave her a response.