scent I shivered at his sudden warmth against my back. I was still in my lilac dress. He ran his free hand up my arm and
moved one of the sleeves down a little, lowering his lips towards my shoulder. He seemed to hesitate, making a part of me
desperate to feel his lips against my skin.
“I won’t do anything until you ask me. For now, we are to keep our distance.”
A small sigh escaped my lips as he let go of me and the aching feeling from his body no longer next to mine hurt a little.
Stepping around me, he went to the table and shifted a few parchments before he seemed to find what he was looking for.
“Are you feeling alright since your memories were returned?”
I lowered my eyes and sat down in the chair in front of his desk, sighing. I wasn’t sure how I was feeling. Confused and
angry—upset mostly. But when I was around him, I didn’t feel those things, I felt courageous, daring, and lustful.
“I will be alright. Just taking each day slowly.”
It’s all I could say as I watched him play with the gold ring upon his finger. This was the first time I’d really paid close
enough attention to him. When he showed me his face back in the woods, I was overcome with grief by that memory. It was
hard to picture him, but now staring at him, I would remember that face forever.
“I will see you soon, my princess. For now, you best head back.”
His voice brought my attention back to him and away from his ring. His smile was breathtaking as he took one of my
hands and brushed his lips against my knuckles. Something I was starting to think he enjoyed doing. Then suddenly, I felt
the ground beneath me fall through and my eyes flung open.
As my eyes adjusted to the light around me, I registered all the eyes that stared down at me. From this angle, I was blinded
by the sunlight until an arm wrapped around my waist and lifted me up in the air.
Suddenly, I was being carried and then set down on something hard, a bench perhaps? It took me a few seconds to realise it
was Lord Cole who had carried me. Marcus was standing protectively over me and holding onto his sword.
“What happened?” I managed to ask.
“You fainted, your highness. Are you alright?”
Cole looked at me with worry in his eyes, which I only noticed had small specks of grey. They reminded me of my shadow
man. Which in turn seemed to spark a little memory. A flash. Those same eyes staring at me in the middle of a beautifully lit
dance floor, glittering lights sparkling throughout as many bodies danced together while Lord Cole held his hand out towards
me.
And within a blink of an eye, the memory was gone.
“What was that?” I uttered without realising I spoke out loud.
“Do you need me to take you home?”
