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CHAPTER ELEVEN
The castle looked different by morning. The sky was still cloudy, but a small splash of blue made it appear somewhat friendlier. The trees were no longer shrouded in fog, and the greens and reds and yellows of flowers were scattered around.
Christian yawned and stepped away from the window, rubbing the back of his neck as a soft groan escaped his lips. He looked at the bed he’d slept in and the groan deepened. He hadn’t slept much last night. His thoughts had been filled withher.
“Olivia,” he said under his breath, shaking his head.
He could still feel her body on his. His hands touching the softness of her hips. Her eyes, deep and penetrating. He gritted his teeth and rubbed the back of his head again. He’d have breakfast with her soon and would see those pretty eyes again; he looked forward to it and yet . . .
He walked out of the room. The castle was brightened by the light of day coming in through its small, iron-barred windows. It was a stark contrast to the night’s flickering torches and dancing shadows. When he entered the kitchen, Olivia was already sitting at the small table, set up with cheese sandwiches from the fridge and fresh coffee she had just brewed for the two of them.
She gave him a warm smile as he sat down. “Good morning,” she said like nothing had happened the previous night, like everything was totally and absolutely normal. It was like he was back to being her tour guide again.
Isn’t that what you are?he asked himself as he chewed on the sandwich.
The keeper appeared suddenly, which seemed to be the only way he appeared anywhere. He was wearing the same woolen outfit that looked like period clothing, including the brown cloak with hood.
“Elena called,” he growled in his usual fashion, pulling his hood back.
“Called?” Christian wondered. “Your phone has reception up here?”
“Landline.” Was all he said before he let out a grunt and left without another word.
Christian and Olivia curiously watched him disappear. “Emm . . . and the message?” Christian hollered after him, half-irritated and half-amused. “Would be nice to know why she called . . .”
“I wonder why he didn’t tell us there was a landline,” Olivia said. “Didn’t you need a phone last night? To call your mother?”
He frowned and looked at her. “Yeah, he could have. But I was able to get a text through to my mom. I had to stretch the phone out the hallway window.”
“I mean you literally asked if there was internet so you could email your mother because your phone didn’t work.” She pushed her food around with her fork.
Christian nodded. “You’d think that would kinda be a no-brainer, but maybe he just needs a few years to warm up to us.”
She smiled then tilted her head. “I wonder what the message was.”
Christian looked up. “I’ll ask him as soon as I’m done with breakfast.”
“You can ask him now,” Olivia whispered and raised her gaze. Christian turned around.
As if he’d been eavesdropping, Mihai was standing right behind Christian again, startling him.
“Jesus Christ,” Christian said as his hand shot up to his chest. “Kinda hard to get used to that. Where did you even go?” Mihai narrowed his eyes in return.
“Why didn’t you tell us about the landline?” Christian asked him. The old man’s face was blank as his bearlike voice growled, “You didn’t ask.”
Christian threw Olivia a quick eyeroll before looking back at the keeper.
“Did Elena have a message for us when she called on the landline? The oneI really needed last night?” He stressed the wordlandline, and the keeper grunted.
“She did,” he answered.
Christian exchanged looks with Olivia again as they waited for a follow up. None came. Mihai looked unperturbed by their glances and seemed to be enjoying himself.
“Emm…” Christian said. “Would you mind telling us what the message was?”
“Of course not, just have to ask.” He went ahead. “Elena said she feels too sick to meet you here today. She will come up tomorrow morning.”
Christian saw Olivia’s gaze lower and her lips bend in a frown. Before he could say anything else, the keeper continued, this time fixing his gaze on Olivia. “She wants me to take the American miss on a hike to show her the Rusu property.”
