Chapter 20 What Are We?
CHAPTER 20: What Are We?
Aric's POV
I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling and listening to Vespera cry like the world had ended. Honestly? I was tired.
Not tired like I needed sleep... though I did... but tired in the soul. The kind of tired that comes from knowing exactly what someone is doing and still having to sit through it.
She sniffed loudly beside me and then louder and I rolled my eyes and rubbed my face. Goddess above, she wasn’t even subtle!
These weren’t real tears. I’d known Vespera long enough to tell the difference. Real tears came quiet but these ones came with pauses, dramatic gasps and just enough noise to make sure I noticed.
This was nothing but emotional blackmail… again.
I lay there saying nothing while my mind did something it had no business doing. It went to Seraphine, to the balcony, to that kiss and to the way the world had vanished for one terrifying second.
I clenched my jaw as Vespera shifted closer. Her hand slid onto my chest with her fingers tracing slow circles like she always did when she wanted something.
“Aric,” she whispered with her voice full of fake sorrow. “Why have you gone so cold?”
I didn’t answer and she moved her hand lower to my privates.
“You don’t even look at me anymore.”
I caught her wrist and gently but firmly moved it away.
“Stop.”
She froze.
“What happened to you?” she demanded, lifting her head to look at me. “You weren’t like this before.”
I sat up slowly, leaning my elbows on my knees and she scoffed.
“Don’t act like I'm stupid!”
I said nothing and ber eyes narrowed.
“It’s her, isn’t it?”
I closed my eyes briefly wishing she'd just shut the hell up for a few seconds.
“That human girl,” she spat. “Seraphine.”
I simply stared at her in cold irritation and her eyes sharpened angrily and jealously.
“You promised me,” she continued with her voice rising, “that she was nothing.. a political bride and a pawn. You promised me she meant nothing.”
“She doesn’t...” I started.
“Oh don’t lie to me,” she snapped. “I saw you..! The way you look at her and now you won’t even touch me.”
I stood up and that alone made her stop talking.
“You think I don’t notice?” she went on desperately now. “You think I don’t feel it? You’re falling for her.”
I turned to face her fully.
“Thatcs enough now.”
She laughed bitterly.
“So it’s true.”
“I said enough,” I repeated with my voice cold now too.
She stared at me like she didn’t recognize me and then I said the words I’d been holding back.
“Leave.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“Leave my room.”
For a second she looked almost amused.
“Very funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
Her smile faded.
“Aric...”
“Leave,” I said sharply. “Now.”
Her face flushed with anger.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am,” I replied calmly. “You can walk out with your dignity intact or I can drag you out and make sure everyone knows you overstayed your welcome.”
Her lips trembled... not from sadness this time but fury.
“You’ll regret this,” she hissed.
“Maybe,” I said. “But not tonight.”
She grabbed her coat, threw it on and stormed toward the door muttering curses under her breath that would’ve made a sailor proud.
The door slammed and I sighed and sat back down on the bed, rubbing my temples. What in the seven hells was happening to me?
I barely slept and when dawn finally came, I was already awake and I hated myself for knowing exactly why.
I got up early because I wanted to see Seraphine. There. I admitted it..
I pulled on a tunic and stepped into the hall, stopping a soldier immediately.
“Where is Lady Seraphine?”
He straightened.
“At the stream, my king.”
My mood darkened instantly.
“Alone?”
“Yes, sire.”
I growled.
“Why?”
“She has no maid assigned at the moment.”
That stopped me short.
“What?”
“Since the incident with the wolvesbane, no one has volunteered to...”
“It wasn’t her,” I snapped. “She didn’t poison that maid.”
The soldier blinke in surprised and I froze. Was I really defending her now?
I cursed under my breath and turned away.
“Get out.”
I didn’t wait another second. I headed straight for the stream with my guards scrambling to follow and the farther I walked, the angrier I became.
She had no maid and was alone NMear the forest when the grimhowls were about.. after everything that had already happened.
By the time I reached the clearing, I was ready to rip someone’s head off but then I saw her.
Seraphine stood by the stream with her sleeves rolled up and her hair tied back, washing clothes like she belonged there. Like she wasn’t a prisoner or a political hostage or the most confusing woman I’d ever met.
She didn’t turn when I approached.. either she was brave or she had very good instincts.
I lifted a hand.
“Stay back,” I told my guards.
They hesitated but obeyed and I stepped closer.
“Good morning.”
She glanced over her shoulder.
“Morning.”
I frowned.
“You shouldn’t be here alone.”
She shrugged.
“I can handle myself.”
“That beast nearly killed you the last time.”
“And yet,” she said dryly, “here I am.”
I exhaled slowly.
“I didn’t know you didn’t have a maid.”
She paused and then continued scrubbing a cloth.
“Now you do.”
“I’ll fix it,” I said. “And from now on, you’ll have guards assigned to you.”
That did it. She turned fully with her eyes blazing.
“Why are you suddenly so nice to me?”
I stiffened as she stepped closer with water dripping from her hands.
“Is it because we accidentally kissed?”
I opened my mouth and closed it.
“I don’t want your affection,” she snapped. “And I don’t need it.”
I stayed quiet and she scoffed.
“What, nothing to say now?”
I studied her face, the anger, the confusion and the fire! Then I spoke carefully.
“Let’s talk about last night,” I said.
She immediately went still.
“Let’s talk about that kiss.” I added…