waste, and therefore taking full advantage.That was the only thing I could recall Mother saying this morning. Turning the
unhappy occasion of his accident into a happy one, despite him still not being awake.
My entire body ached for respite. I needed to relax, and rest, yet my mind stayed wide awake. Thoughts of Dorian’s hands
all over my body again made me sick to my stomach, keeping me up at all hours of the night. I tried to cover my tiredness with
worry over Norok as best as I could, but Kathlyn knew the reason. This marriage was not what I wanted.
Hiding out in the library, I stayed put most of the day. Even Talia knew to avoid me. I knew she heard the news before I did,
and it vexed me to no end that my very own sister didn’t contest the disgusting idea either.
I had no doubt the court seamstress had been called to measure me up and began making my wedding dress with there being
only four days to prepare. I didn’t care to know anything about it, let alone wear it.
C, E to G and then to E, G, and B. My fingers tapped lightly creating a melody as I closed my eyes. I was enjoying my own
space for the moment, even if it was to last only a few minutes. This little time was mine.
I felt pressure against my fingers as they moved to different notes—not the ones I wanted to play. An ominous tone filled the
air. Opening my eyes, I saw not another person’s hands, but wisps of shadows. I felt a warmth behind me, resting its head
against my shoulder.
“You’re here,” I mumbled.
“You called.”
The warmth left after he spoke. Turning a little on the piano stool, I searched the room for him. I found him pulling a book
from the stacks and flicking through some of the pages.
He looked positively deadly in his attire. He wore leather trousers and a crisp white shirt. He had the sleeves pushed up to
his elbows and daggers strapped to his thigh. His hair hung in a loose ponytail, just at the nape of his neck.
“Did I call you? I don’t recall doing that.”
“You didn’t need to, princess. I heard your thoughts. Are you ready to come with me, yet?”
He leaned against the corner of the stack, his shoulder pressed against it while he flicked the pages of the book he found.
There was a powerful way about him that beckoned me to move from my seat, demanding I cross the space between us and
press my body against his. It was a strange allure that would not leave my mind ever since that night he had appeared in my bed
chamber.
“I don’t know why you are so desperate for me to leave with you. Surely there are other women who are more suited to
your eh…needs.”
He coughed a laugh, slamming the book shut before he threw it over his shoulder. The bookworm in me wanted to get up
and shout at him for treating a book so poorly. Instead, I stayed rooted to the spot, watching his every move.