They emerged into the hallway, with Elian, Hektor, and Zara, the tension of the meeting easing the moment the door closed behind them. Zara immediately slipped into step beside her sister, already chatting with her in a low voice as they headed back toward the noise of the party.
For a moment, Maldenis stayed beside Liora in silence. The urge to reach for her hand tugged at him, but he held himself back. He glanced at her, noting the faint furrow in her brow as she processed everything that had just been said before looking away.
It’s probably for the best.
They just had to get through one year of being married. One year of appearances, obligations, and this whole ridiculous arrangement.
After that, things would go back to normal.
No need to complicate it.
Why would she want to get tangled up in the mess of his life anyway, the expectations, the elders watching his every move, the pressure of not becoming the family disappointment again?
Better to keep things simple.
Better to remember what this really was.
Just a year.
Chapter 10
Maldenis
Maldenis woke to the sensation of an iron vice tightening around his skull and a throbbing pain between his eyes.
“What…happened?”
The hoarse whisper sounded familiar to his ears.
“And why is it so loud in here?”
That was definitely Liora.
“Uhh…”
The weight on his chest shifted and he realized she was once again plastered on top of him like the first night they spent together, his tail coiled around her. A moment of panic gripped him because his mind was blank as to how they got to this position once more.
That kiss.
Her brown eyes, vulnerable. Her lips, soft. Her taste, sweet.
Wait, did they have sex and he couldn’t remember?
He was still dressed, though that didn’t really mean anything for basilisks since they only covered their upper halves. But she was still wearing her outfit from last night, including the hairextensions, though there was barely anything left of her makeup except for the smudges around her lashes and stains on her lips.
He sighed in relief. They didn’t do anything sexual.
But then…what elsedidthey do?
Think, Maldenis.
He would have moved, except when he tried to lift his head, it was like a leaden balloon. Thankfully, she didn’t try to wiggle away. In fact, she seemed perfectly content, lying on his chest.
“We should get up,” he said, after a few heartbeats.
“Do we have to?”
“Yeah.”
