I can feel Carter’s glare burning a hole in the back of my head. Shifting my weight from foot to foot, I chew my bottom lip and try to think of a polite excuse. “Much as I appreciate the chivalry, Alden, it’s been a very long day and I’m tired. I don’t think I’d be good company.”
“Ah. Then, much as it pains me to leave you… I’ll bid you adieu.” Winking cheekily, he lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses the back of my glove. With a final squeeze and a lingering stare, he releases me. I’m frozen in place as he strides back to the SUV and extends a hand out to Carter.
“Thorne. Great trip, man.”
Carter nods stiffly, not returning the handshake. His jaw is clenched so tight, I’m surprised he can get the words out. “Thanks for driving.”
Alden lowers his hand. The men face off for a terse minute, neither saying a word, and the air grows so thick with tension I think my knees might give out under the strain.
After what feels like an eternity, they finally break eye contact. Alden turns toward the SUV, shooting me one last look before he climbs into the driver’s seat.
“Always a pleasure to see you, Princess Emilia.”
“Bye, Alden.”
“Don’t forget… I’ll be cashing in on your promise of that ride.” He smirks. “Soon.”
His door closes with a bang that makes me flinch. The tires crunch over the gravel as he steers down the long driveway, toward the distant castle gates. I watch until the SUV is no more than a black speck before I dare glance back at the man standing ten feet to my left.
Our gazes tangle instantly — green and blue clashing like swords on a battlefield. The breath catches in my throat as I hold his stare. His face is carefully empty of emotion, but I can see the rage swimming in his eyes.
“Don’t,” I say softly. Preemptively.
His mouth twists with dark amusement.
“Stop,” I whisper — half plea, half prayer.
“And what is it I should stop, Princess?” The question is lethally soft; the first faint drop of rain before the hurricane makes landfall. “Stop looking at you? Stop talking to you? Stop being around you?”
My mouth opens to retort, but I find I can’t get a single word out.
“Or maybe you’d like me to disappear from your life completely,” he says lowly, taking a step in my direction, closing some of the space between us. “Is that it, Emilia?”
I inhale sharply as he takes another treacherous step. We’re only a handful of feet apart, now.
“Wouldn’t it be more convenient for you if I stopped existing altogether? Isn’t that what you implied when I last saw you?”
“N- no,” I stammer, barely breathing. “That’s not— I just—”
My words trail off, utterly useless. There’s no use speaking anyway — not when we’re having a whole conversation with our eyes.
What do you want from me, Princess?
Nothing.
You’re a liar.
Stop.
I can’t stop. And neither can you.
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Keep telling yourself that, princess.
The small scar bisecting his eyebrow is clearly defined in the cold evening light. It’s almost fully dark, now. The lights of the castle are spilling out the windows into the driveway, illuminating us both in silhouette.
“Please,” I say, but I’m not sure what I’m begging for anymore. “Please… don’t make this harder, Carter. We said everything we needed to say the other night.”