Chapter 37
Anna stared at Reyland, open-mouthed, at a loss for what else she could say or do.
This is no longer about me getting him to agree!
He doesn’t believe he is worth it!
He absolutely doesn’t see any worth in himself as a mate!
Anna reflected as her heart sank as she watched the young prince before her.
Is this how he really sees himself?!
She pondered.
Her head suddenly felt light.
Reyland was still speaking.
“Just like you are about to give me, Anna,” he rumbled.
“Wh-what?” Anna stammered.
She had not been listening and was now struggling to piece together what Reyland had been saying.
“Go home. Don’t come here anymore,” he said neutrally.
“No, Reyland,” Anna gasped, suddenly realizing what he was doing.
“Please, Anna. Like you said, I’m hurting you,” he continued, starting to rise from the table.
“That’s not what –” Anna pleaded.
“I don’t want to keep doing that,” he continued in a dull, distracted tone, as if she were not speaking, as if she was not there, as if his mind was moving somewhere else, while his body remained.
“Rey –” she pressed, but Reyland was not with her.
“I’ll inform the guards that you are no longer –” he continued vacantly as he straightened to his full height.
A resounding sound vibrated through the room.
Reyland grabbed his cheek as blood sprouted from his nose and mouth.
He sank back down on the stool, his erstwhile distant expression clearing as he stared wide-eyed at Anna.
Anna stood glowering at him, her hand, the hand she had just used to slap him, shaking at her side at an alarming rate.
Reyland squeezed his eyes shut as he inhaled to scream.
Before he could, Anna’s lips were on his. He screamed into her, and she contained his yell.
The reason for this was simple. Reyland had guards around his home. His security was never lax, his father would never allow it.
If he so much as sneezed, his father would hear of it.
Whatever they may hear of the conversation happening in his kitchen, they would relay. But that was Reyland’s everyday life. He had no secrets, no privacy, no…anything.
His only comfort was in knowing that the guards, whoever they were, were loyal and discreet.
However, if he should suddenly yell, someone, if not all of them, would barge in.
Anna knew this as well.
Hence, the awkward situation they both found themselves in.
Reyland pushed Anna, but she was like steel, holding his face to hers as his eyes watered.
He choked on the blood in his mouth, and she moved, letting him cough it out, then covered his mouth with hers again.
She gazed into his rapidly blinking eyes until he calmed down.
As he stared back at her, his trembling slowed, then stopped.
He narrowed his eyes at her, and she pulled back.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her fingers lightly touching where she had just hit him, her face inches from his.
She had never kissed him before.
Her eyes were fixed on his pink lips, and her breath was raspy.
She swallowed, her lips parting as she struggled to regain her composure, breathing through her mouth.
“You weren’t listening to me. I was trying to get your attention,” she rasped, her brow furrowing as she tried to process the tingling sensation in her belly.
Reyland pursed his lips, swallowing the blood that kept filling his mouth, ignoring that flowing out of his nose.
Anna, as well, was ignoring his bleeding.
They had been in each other’s company for half a year. She had seen him injured much worse by much less.
She, after all, was the one who always brought medicines for him.
From the pocket of her thick tan colored wool trousers, she pulled out a folded paper.
As she opened it, a dense, earthly scent filled the room.
“Here, chew this,” she breathed as her mind worked at high speed to catch up with her body.
What was that just now? She mused.
Why am I shaking? She pondered as she stared hard at Reyland.
Reyland was gazing at the herb.
It was one he recognized.
He reached for it, taking a pinch of the dried leaves.
“No, more,” Anna sighed.
Reyland’s eyes snapped up to hers.
“The cut is a bit deep,” she continued smoothly, her voice soft, her eyes steady on his.
He blinked at her, dry-eyed now.
Reyland was used to pain. It was the suddenness of it that had caused him to tear up.
But more than that, Anna seemed to be acting strangely, and he was suddenly apprehensive.
He paused and stared at her.
Anna fought the urge to bite her lower lip as she stared back at Reyland.
She smiled shakily and shook the herbs under his chin.
He exhaled lightly, then shifted his eyes from her face to the paper in her hand, taking more of the leaves.
He put his fingers into his mouth, and Anna watched as if entranced.
The taste of the leaves was bitter, but Reyland did not react to it.
He stared at the woman, who was basically standing in his arms, as he chewed. The herb’s juice coated his mouth, attacking the wounds, sealing the cuts and healing the abrasions.
Reyland’s brow furrowed as Anna remained pressed against him.
“You have it,” he said hoarsely, his breath falling on her lips.
Anna inhaled.
“You see? I can get hot for you,” she commented, without thinking.
Her mind still not yet caught up with her body.
“If you don’t slap me to death first?” he replied sarcastically, a light coyness in his tone.
“I can heal any wounds,” she fired back as she rested against his chest.
“I’m not going to let you live that kind of life, Anna,” he breathed, his sapphire eyes on her blue ones.
Anna’s eyes searched his.
“You don’t feel anything for me at all? Not even with how beautiful you say I am?” she asked huskily, licking her lips as her eyes shifted down to rest on his.
“I thought you were a wolf? How can you say that?” Reyland asked flatly.
Anna looked down and gasped lightly.
“See?” Reyland stated sarcastically, this time without any levity, “I told you it was not Marian that was making my heart race.”
“Now, if we are done with this play. Can you leave me in peace?” he continued hoarsely.
“Reyland –” Anna said softly
“Enough. All this…it’s enough,” he retorted sharply, shaking his head tiredly.