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How I wished that they would.
“You were just going to leave?” I said, my neck bending so that I could look up at him. The sun, positioned directly behind his head, illuminated his ethereal handsomeness, making it seem like he was glowing. My eyes flickered between his, waiting for an answer.
“I was.” He drew out the two words in his rich, noble tone. “I thought that is what you needed from me.”
I shook my head. “What I needed from you was to come speak with me.”
A mousy-looking man walked up to us. He etched a bow before he said, “Pardon me, Your Royal Highness, but we are ready to—”
Aurelius held up a hand, silencing him. “I do not have much time, but we can speak now, if you wish.”
I glanced at the lineup of carriages and the coachmen standing beside them—all of them waiting to depart. All of them . . . waiting on us.
I let out a sigh. “It’s alright.”It wasn’t.“We can speak when you return.”
“I can clearly see that it isnotalright.” He snatched my hand and gave it a gentle tug, pulling me behind him.
“Aurelius, where are we going?” I asked, my frozen feet trying to keep up with his.
He glanced over his shoulder, his lips twisted sensually. “We’re going to talk.”
“But your trip—”
“Can wait. For the time being.”
He led me back into the castle, charging for the closest door to us, throwing it open and pulling me inside.
I blinked.
Buckets, mops, wooden carts, and various other cleaning supplies littered the sizable storage room, as well as wood shelves that lined the walls. A wood table sat in the middle—mostly clean, other than a few wash rags and unlit brass candlesticks.
Two young maids looked up at us, gawking. They bowed immediately, addressing Aurelius by his princely title.
“Out,” he commanded.
One word. That was all it took to send them scattering—much like the rats this castle was rumored to be infested with. A rumor I suspected to be exactly just that, considering I had yet to see one—well, apart from the king.
When the door swung closed and it was just me and Aurelius left, he removed his robe and draped it over the back of a wooden chair. The act was telling. Did he think we were going to be here for a while?
He turned to me, gestured to the quiet room. “The floor is yours.”
Sage
“Idon’t really know where to start,” I replied honestly, my gaze shifting between two random inky splotches on the floor. Probably from some type of wood stain. If Brunhilde was a maid working out of this room, she’d have the floor scrubbed spotless.
“Then let me,” Aurelius said, his long, powerful legs closing the distance between us. Gently, he clasped my face, his gaze a lure, catching mine. “I apologize for my actions.”
“I hear your apology, but . . .” I took a breath.
“But what?”
Although I was tempted to reach for him, to wrap my hands around his sturdy forearms, I didn’t. “You burned an entire hallway, Aurelius.”
“I did,” he acknowledged with a single nod.
“You are lucky that no one was hurt.” My tone was firm.
“I don’t think you can say that. My actions hurtyou.” One hand slipped from my face, settling over my left breast, above my heart. “My actions hurtthis.” He sighed through his nose. “My temper got the better of me, Moonbeam.”
