Chapter 33: CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

ZARIA’S POV

I caressed my lips, as my mind couldn't recover from the passionate kiss I had shared with Max; the understanding we had at that moment was impossible for me to forget.

To ease the tension, I had to go to Elara’s room to get my clothes and I also didn't want things to escalate between Max and me as things were getting sexual.

I don't want my first time to be rushed.

“Are you moving back to your room?” Elara asked, with a wide smile on her face, she had been on team Max for like forever and never wanted Ethan close to me, although my dad loved Ethan.

“Yes,” I responded shyly.

“Now tell me what happened in Max’s room?” she asked, with her eyebrow suspiciously up. “You were mad at him a few days ago, and now you are planning to sleep on his bed”

“I’ll pass Elara!” I giggled, tossing a pillow in her direction.

“Are you kidding me!” she chuckled. “I have been out here, scared for your life and you want to keep all the juice to yourself?”

“Juice?” I laughed, “We want to see how things would go, we just feel some connection, we are in not yet in love”

Elara came closer to me, she removed the scarf from my neck, Fuck! I thought I covered those well.

“He marked you, Zaria,” Elara said, and I nodded slightly.

“I know” I said calmly, wishing Elara would not make a fuse out of it, but it was too late.

“Max marking you, means you might not be able to leave this trial marriage” Elara said, with worry in my voice.

I know Max marking me would ruin me for other men, but I don't see anything wrong in it, we both feel a connection and I'm certain we would be in love soon, we have to just give it a few days.

I took the scarf and covered the mark again, “He is my husband” I said and Elara rolled her eyes.

“Trial husband! I love Max but I don't think he is ready to be a husband and you deserve better Zaria” She confessed, making my heart heavy.

“I thought you were always Team Max?” I growled, zipping my bag.

Elara came closer to me, and took her palm into her hand, she stared at it for a while before looking at me.

“I am team Max, but I didn't say you should allow him Mark you!” She snapped, pissing me off.

I snatched my hands away from her and glared at her, she had no right or say in my life.

“That is enough,” I warned, grabbing my bag and walking off.

“Think about this Zaria” She yelled, and I turned back, glaring at her.

“He had already marked me, I belong to him” I yelled back. “Besides you need to know your place, you are my maid not my mother”

Elara’s face fell after I said that, and I regretted my words immediately, wishing I could take them back. Elara had been nothing but good to me.

“Elara..I didn't mean that” I stuttered, but she just gave me a weak smile.

“You are right, I am just your maid, Your grace” She said, with her voice breaking.

Fuck! I hate it that we have to go back to being casuals, but if that's what I need to do to get with Max, so be it. If Elara isn't in support of my choices then we don't have to be friends.

With a heavy gulp, I turned and pushed the door open, only to see Ethan standing in front of me. Why does he always have to eavesdrop?

“He marked you!” Ethan growled, and I just rolled my eyes.

“We need to talk” I snapped, grabbing his arms.

I took him outside the palace and stopped in front of my carriage.

“Fucking talk, I am listening” Ethan snapped at me, I hate seeing him angry, and the worst of it all, I am the cause of his anger.

“Ethan I love you, and truly I do. But I don't think being together is the right thing for us!” I said, and he just gulped hard, trying not to burst out in anger.

“Max and I want to see how things would go between us,” I dropped the bombshell and he just scoffed.

“But we kissed in the forest!” he yelled, and I covered his mouth quickly, to prevent people from hearing us.

“Keep your fucking voice down, people might hear you!” I warned and he pushed my hands off.

“You are worried about what people would say, what about me Zaria?” he yelled, I could hear the hurt in his voice.

I wish I felt something for Ethan, I really do but there is nothing here aside from friendship.

I stared at his angry eyes and I hated that I was the cause of it, what could I do to make this right?

“Ethan, we have a beautiful friendship, please don't ruin it because of how you feel” I pleaded, with tears in my eyes.

Ethan didn't hold back his tears, he allowed them to flow freely, so it would register in my head that I caused these tears and it broke my heart.

“Please Ethan” I begged, after minutes of waiting for his reply.

“Zaria he belongs to your sister, how are you going to tell Gwen that you want to fuck her man” He spat out, making me feel horrible.

I planned to keep this away from Gwen, till I dared to tell her, I didn't plan for any of these to happen.

“Leave Gwen out of this, we are talking about us and I want to know if we are still best friends” I said, although I didn't want to hear his reply.

He came closer to me, and whispered into my ear, “he is going to break your heart and that's a promise”

My jaw clenched hard, as I looked up at him.

“I am done with being your footstool when things are shitty for you” He growled and walked off.

Ethan isn't just walking away now, he is walking from my life and it hurts.

His words still lingered in my head, would Max break my heart?