AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His body tensed and though he had his arms around me, he wasn’t hugging me back.
“What is it?” I pulled away, searching his eyes for answers.
“There is nothing to do,” he said in a deep voice while removing my arms from him. “You will marry Lord Demious.”
“What about the girls?”
“I will have their caravan intercepted before it reaches the Borderlands. My promise to you will remain. They will be safe.”
I didn’t want to ask the next question, but I had to know. “And us?”
“Us?”
The fact he responded with a question made me realize he didn’t feel the same as I did. But how could he not? No one kisses with that much passion without caring. He admitted his feelings. Why was he ignoring them now?
“Lord Demious has made his decision, and you are his.” Baine spat the words out and avoided looking directly at me. “I warned you, but you refused to listen to me. You could’ve left this place and now you will be stuck here forever.”
“I’m sorry, you said—”
He lifted his hand cutting me off. “What transpired between us is over. This is the last time you and I will speak.”
“How can you say that? Was that moment in the woods a lie? Is this a lie?” Pressing my mouth to his, I forced him to remember the promises we made. When he didn’t return the kiss, I kissed harder until he caved under my touch and let me in, but that quick reprieve ended as soon as it started.
“No,” he growled and pried me off like I burned. Stepping back, he glared at me with such anger I held a hand to my mouth to stifle the sob attempting to break free. “Nothing will change. You are his now.”
His words pierced through me, cutting me deeper than they should have. They were full of hurt and rage. Though he acted as if I meant nothing to him, his balled fists shook. I put us in this position, and Baine was making a choice . . . and it wasn’t me.
“I understand,” I said through the tears. “Though your feelings may have changed, mine haven’t. I’m sorry I ruined what could have been the greatest love of our lives.”
His eyes widened and for a moment the anguish in his gaze reflected my own. He stared at me, his jaw twitching, his fists shaking, his resolve teetering on the precipice of death. I wanted to reach out, touch his face, hold him, especially if it was the last time.
I stood on my tip toes and held his face within my hands. He tensed, freezing, and eyeing me with a pained expression.
“Thank you for saving me,” I said, my voice cracking as more tears fell. “I made a mistake and now we’ll both pay for it.”
He trembled beneath my touch, and I kissed him. His mouth stayed in a hard line, almost as if giving in would end us both, and deep down I knew it would.
Before I lost my courage, I rushed out of the washroom and into the hall. No one waited for me, and the emptiness matched the hollow ache inside my chest. Balling my fists, I tried to rein in my emotions. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this.
The door to the washroom opened and shut. I didn’t need to turn around to know who stood behind me. Instead of walking past, footsteps sounded in the opposite direction. It wasn’t until those steps disappeared that I finally moved.
Wiping my face with my fingers, I took a few steadying breaths then entered the dining hall.
An empty seat sat next to Lord Demious who at once stood when I entered, holding a goblet. “And there is the woman of the hour, my betrothed, Rosalie.”
Sniffles surrounded the table, except Janetta who clapped and seemed genuinely happy. I nodded at the women around me before finding a seat.
Lord Demious had a servant pour me a goblet of plum wine, which I happily drank, then another. Baine entered the room and took flank near the back corner. Did he notice how Lord Demious slid his hand to my thigh under the table? Did Baine care? Did he purposely keep his distance because anything else was too difficult?
Janetta sat too far for us to speak privately. She glanced my way with a sad look. I gave her a weak smile and drank another goblet of wine. The liquid numbed the pain, but I knew soon I would break, and I didn’t think anything would be able to put me back together.
“May I be excused?” I said to Lord Demious.
He frowned. “Are you ill?”
“This is a lot, and I still haven’t recovered from the fight.”
“Of course, my dear.” Lord Demious stood and took my hand. “Excuse us. My betrothed is a bit spent. Enjoy your meal, ladies.”
