AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And I cannot have that.
I become lost in my own thoughts for most of the meal, and after a while, Slyth places one of his hands over my own.
“She’s quite tired,” he says to Zalith and Aurora. I look up at the two, and I don’t miss the quick look that Aurora throws Zalith, who returns it with slightly raised brows.
“We’ll see you again soon,” he tells them as we stand. I say my goodbyes, and Slyth steers me out of the dining room.
“I’d like to take you on a tour now,” he tells me excitedly.
I pull away from him, and his expression dims right away.
“I just want to go back to your room, if that’s okay,” I tell him, lowering my gaze that I hope doesn’t look too guilty.
I do not wait for an answer before I walk away.
21
SLYTH
She’s doing much better than you first thought she would,I think doubtfully to myself as I look at Lorelai.
We are in my chambers, and Lorelai is standing at the window close to my bed. She stands with her arms crossed over her chest. She stares out at Lodra and seems completely lost in thought.
It has been a day since we arrived at the castle in Lodra. It has been a day since Lorelai met Zalith and Rory.
I knew that Lorelai would need time to adjust to life here in the castle.She has spent her entire life living in the fucking forest. You’re lucky she didn’t go completely feral on arrival.
I think back to yesterday when Lorelai met Zalith and Rory. Her shock was obvious to all three of us.
And this morning, I assumed she would have acted more normal around them, but when we had breakfast together, Lorelai seemed even more dumbfounded than yesterday.She just needs time. She just needs time. She just needs time.I repeat the words to myself over and over again and try to reassure myself that everything will be okay.
“Would you like to go on a walk?” I ask Lorelai hopefully. Maybe taking a walk through the royal grounds will help her to relax a bit.
When she turns to me, I can see from the expression on her face that she is about to say no.
But she remains quiet for a second and seems to examine my face before she nods somewhat reluctantly.
I take her hand in mine as she walks up to me. Today she is wearing a pale green dress that looks shocking against her dark hair and stark olive skin.
“I know you’ve been dealing with a lot of change,” I say when we’ve left the castle and are out on the grounds. “And I know it hasn’t been easy. But things will get better.” I try to sound reassuring, and I give her hand an encouraging squeeze, but she pulls her hand out of mine.
For a second, I expect Lorelai to walk away from me and walk back to the castle. But she just stands there, looking out at the perfectly manicured gardens that stretch on for miles in all directions around the castle.
“And I know you still have trouble trusting the royal family,” I say, and my voice is hopeful because at least she hasn’t walked away from me. “But I promise you that you can trust Prince Zalith and Princess Aurora. And you can trust me.”
“I promise you, you can trust me.”
* * *
You’rein love with her.
The realization comes to me as I am walking toward Lasta’s office.
Oh, damn.
I know that I have been falling for Lorelai since I first met her. But I have never given it much thought.
But now that I am actually thinking about it, abouther,aboutus,I realize that I have fallen.
