AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I tilted my head back, locking my jaw as I glared up at the man standing in front of me. His face was close enough to mine that I could feel his warm breath as he spoke, and it sparked memories of the last time he was this close to me. His hands had been gentler, his words softer… the stark contrast made my stomach lurch.
Maeteo’s eyes searched my face as he continued speaking, his tone less harsh.
“You were a ray of sunshine in the dark for our home, Kira, and you left…”
“I have my reasons,” I whispered, unsure of where my voice had gone as I started to tremble under Maeteo’s intense gaze, “I know what I am doing.”
“Are you sure?” Maeteo asked, “Are you positive? Because we can leave right now if you are not. We can take you home.”
I did not have time to answer, my mouth barely opened to get the words out when the door to my study opened again. My head swung to the side as I tried to look underMaeteo’s arm, but he did not move, his gaze locked solely on me.
The dark trousers and half untucked shirt were the only things I needed to see to know that Cyrus had arrived, and relief flooded my body.
“I suggest you take your hands away from my wife, General.” Cyrus’s voice was light, but the intent behind his words was ice cold.
Maeteo finally turned his head slightly, his eyes darkening as he took in Cyrus’s relaxed stance leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest and an eyebrow raised as he took in the sight before him. I wondered how it looked for him, did I look like I needed rescuing? The thought made my blood boil.
“We are done here, Maeteo.” I said, at the same time as Maeteo spat: “She is not your wife yet.”
“No, she is not yet, you are right.” Cyrus nodded, a smirk on his face, “However that is only for the next nine days. I expect we will see you at the wedding?”
Maeteo paused as he thought over Cyrus’s words, then snapped his head back around to face me. I had not yet told him how soon Cyrus and I were to be married, but the shock on his face was enough to make me wish that I had.
“We are done here.” I repeated, ducking down, and moving under Maeteo’s arm, nearly scurrying across theroom to Cyrus’s side. Maeteo stayed where he was, staring at the space where I had just been with his hands against my bookshelves.
Cyrus’s warm hand met mine, and I felt myself take my first proper breath in the last while. The silence that fell over the three of us was tense, and Cyrus moved me gently out of the doorway, leaving Maeteo in the room by himself.
“Come, Sweetheart. I have something to show you.”
The door closed with a deafeninglyquiet click.
21
Kira
Cyrus gripped my hand tightly in his own as he led me down the winding dirt staircases.
We passed the doors to the dungeons, the guards outside standing at attention as Cyrus and I passed, and briefly I wondered about the shrouded figure inside. Was all this security necessary for one person? I frowned as we passed them, peering backwards over my shoulder as Cyrus lead me away. The pull in my stomach towards those doors was uncomfortable and unsettling, but I let myself be pulled down the following staircases.
We had not discussed what had happened in my study mere moments ago, and for that I was grateful. My heart was still beating out of rhythm, and my annoyance at Maeteo was unending. Did he doubt meso thoroughly that he did not believe me when I said I had a plan? That I knew what I was doing?
The heat began to rise the farther down we went, and Cyrus stopped briefly to push his sleeves up to his elbows.
Cyrus pushed open the door Gracie and I had come across the night we had ventured down here, and I had to act surprised as the hallway of doors was revealed to me. The stifling heat making the sweat bead along my hairline and at the back of my neck. I had only dressed in linen trousers and a white shirt, but even they felt heavy under the intense humidity.
My fingers itched as we passed the locked doors, I wanted so badly to try and open them again, though I doubted they would be unlocked. Looking up at Cyrus, I was not surprised to see sweat gathering on his face, too.
“Do I have something on my face?” He smirked suddenly, turning to look at me quicker than I could look away from him.
“Yes, actually, it’s very distracting.” I snipped, but he only laughed, shaking his head as he turned the corner with me.
Gracie and I had not made it this far, so my surprise on seeing the giant, iron door at the end of the hallway was genuine. I paused, and Cyrus stopped beside me, as if he had anticipated my reaction. He rubbed his thumb along the back of my hand soothingly, looking down at me with a soft smile.
The iron door seemed to shimmer as we drew closer to it, the air of magic around it smelling of sugar and copper. It made the inside of my nose burn, and I struggled to swallow around the bitterly sweet taste.
Cyrus stopped, forcing me to stop beside him. Looking up, I could see the look of apprehension on his face, and I squeezed his fingers tightly. He smiled down at me but did not move from our spot.
“Kira,” He sighed, and I jolted slightly at his use of my name. It sounded strange coming from his lips, and I realised just how used I had become to him calling me ‘Sweetheart’. “I need you to understand something before I show you what is behind this door.”
