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Chapter12
The sober faces of the council members said more than their words ever could as they exited the private meeting one by one with no longer a threat of war over their heads, but one that had suddenly become very real.
The silent march exiting the meeting was enough to make me shudder. One sentence had just changed everyone’s lives. Forever.
I kept my head bowed as the members exited, glancing inconspicuously at the other staff to follow their lead if we should be doing anything, but they all remained like I was. Frozen in place. And I’m sure like me in wondering, what now?
Prince Noah stood, remaining at the table until every person had left the room besides himself and the staff. The doors shut and he slowly sat back down in his chair. He inhaled a long breath and I moved forward, approaching him.
The other staff members averted their eyes, and began busying themselves cleaning up. He rose again before I made it to him.
“Thank you all. You’ve outdone yourselves yet again.” He gave the lead staffer a nod and a small smile. She bowed, longer than necessary, but it showed me once more just how much Prince Noah was respected by those who’d had a chance to get to know him.
He moved forward, nodding toward the doors when our eyes met and I obeyed, following behind him quietly. We walked in silence back the way we’d come toward his library. It wasn’t until the doors had closed in that private escape of his that Noah let his guard down.
He leaned against a shelf the moment the latch clicked shut behind me and laid his head on his arm.
My movements were not my own, and since we were alone, I didn’t care if it was improper. I touched his back gently and watched him rock his head back and forth on his arm.
What could I say to the prince of a nation set for war? He’d told me they were a warrior culture, always on the brink of it. But now…now there wasn’t a question.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
Noah’s eyes met mine and my heart twisted with more pain than I thought possible. His gaze was steady but desperate. I hesitated, but then touched his arm gently.
“It’s going to be okay,” I said.
What did I know? Certainly nothing of war. And nothing of substance that I could use to comfort the future king.
He blinked a few times before rising to his full stature. “Cora, I’m sure I don’t need to warn you of how important your discretion is regarding the events of that council meeting.” He gazed at me intensely as his eyes burned into my own. “No one can know. Not yet.”
“Of course.” I nodded emphatically. “I’m honored you trusted me to be there. To take care of the council. I won’t say a word.”
Noah nodded once, but his sadness radiated off of him so strongly I thought it would swallow me whole. His features were dark. The light playfulness he’d shown me glimpses of during our time together was fading, and yet the face of the prince before me was still flawless. He was truly beautiful. Even in pain.
“Everything will be different now, Cora.” He moved to the windows as he spoke, looking out over what I realized was the garden we’d escaped from on my birthday.
I leaned my head against the cool window, gazing out over the beautiful endless trails of flowers. “I’m here for whatever you need, Your Majesty.”
I meant it. In the moments the words came off my lips, I knew that I meant them. I sucked in a breath, suddenly realizing something that terrified me. Chills ran down my spine and I closed my eyes briefly.
I’d rather die than betray him. This prince. I was a prisoner here, a servant, but the man before me had my unwavering loyalty. I’d gone from having nothing in my old life except fear and struggles, to being a nobody here, and yet I was sheltered and fed. I had the closest thing I’d ever had to friends. And the prince of the world that held me captive had my trust. My resolve strengthened as I admitted all of it to myself.
Depending on anyone, having hope in someone—it would have broken me at home. It was rule number one in my book: trust no one. I’m all I have. But right now, I wouldn’t hesitate if the prince asked something of me. I may have been kept against my will, but that had all changed now. It’d transformed into a home. Prince Noah had given me a home. He’d given me opportunities to better myself for a fight if I needed. He’d offered his castle, protection. The circumstances weren’t perfect, but it was more than I’d ever been given.
And he’d have something I’d never had the opportunity to give another: my loyalty.
I realized I was staring at him, and he hadn’t stopped looking at me either. I lowered my gaze, embarrassed at how long I’d been arbitrarily gazing at him. He shifted his weight a few times.
“I must go to wait for my parents’ arrival and ensure they are as fine as has been reported.”
I took a step away from the windows, but before I moved too far, Noah raised his hand to my face.
He cupped it gently and his lips turned upward in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He ran his thumb once across my cheek, and the warmth of that small movement coursed through my entire being. As always, he quickly pulled away, as if realizing what he had done too late.
He walked out of the library, leaving me standing there alone, with my heart fluttering for the man I shouldn’t want. The man I’d never have.
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