THE FOURTH TERM
“Alexis.”
Troy’s voice is a whisper behind the entry door in my reading room.
I look up in horror and glance at Keane standing on the other side of my bed. His brother has finally come to find me on my own, except I’m not alone…
Keane stiffens at the sound of his knock, his full body standing up tall as he drops the bedsheet he had in his hand back onto the bed. His eyes flick towards the arch in my room and then fall back on me, his quiet gaze reverting into the standard look of Discerni indifference as his features turn cool and tense.
I don’t know what to do.
I could ignore Troy completely, but if I do then he’ll just try to find me again tomorrow and probably in some shadowed corner or staircase which will ultimately be worse for the two of us,for me. I still don’t know exactly what I want to do when he catches me alone, but the anger I felt for him since Fumagalli is slowly starting to rear its head again.
I peer at Keane across the bed for direction, looking for any indication that will help me with a decision. The Prince just stares back at me without any emotion, his cold features remaining stoic and unmoving.
“Alexis, you there?” Troy’s voice is low, barely audible behind the door as he knocks again. More horror continues to etch across my face, but this time it’s coupled with a sadness, hating the fact that Keane has to be here to witness this.
Ancients,I don’t know what to do. I can open the door for Troy but not let him enter. He never has. I can voice my concern about it being so late in the night, now early morning, and tell him to come back at another time. But I don’t want him to come back, not tomorrow or ever, and I certainly don’t expect Keane to just sit back and listen while I will him away. How can I expect him to join me in bed after witnessing whatever conversation is about to transpire?
That’s just cruel.
Go, Keane mouths at me, his eyes hard,get it over with.
My eyes widen in astonishment before I shake my head fiercely.
Absolutely not.
Keane scowls and takes a silent step around the bed, then another, and picks up my discarded robe from the ground. He walks over to me with his hands outstretched, willing me to cover my body which is now only cladin my emerald night slip. I cross my arms in front of my chest in silent defiance and shake my head again.
Stop,I mouth,he’ll go away.
Keane gives me a small, quiet smile, but the rest of his features still remain unreadable. He reaches for one of my arms and pulls it towards him, drawing it quickly into the sleeve before he pulls the other side over my shoulder. I watch him in anger but shrug into the fabric, feeling as his hands grip the robe over my chest and shield my body completely. He grabs the tie around my waist and secures it tight with a frown.
“Alexis?” Troy whispers again.
Go, Keane demands,but don’t do anything brash.
I scowl and reply to Troy with exasperation in my voice, “it’slate, Troy.”
“I know,” the Prince chuckles from outside the door.
Keane gives me another hard look before nodding his head, then turns back to Golem and Storm on the balcony as his hand flicks into the room and extinguishes the moonslight around us. My feet carry me through the arch in my wall on their own, moving into my small reading room and towards the entry door as my hand starts to shake. I reach for the handle and pull it inwards, my face reaching around the side of the wood to greet the blonde Discerni Prince.
Troy is still wearing his attire from court tonight, the pale green and white tunic jutting high in a collar around his neck and accentuating the sharp angles of his jawline. His blue eyes greet mine as the corners of his lips tug into a small smirk, an air of smugness gracing every part of his body as he leans in.
“Will you let me in?” he asks softly as his eyes hold mine, his smirk growing wider.
I watch as his gaze darts down my face and towards my slightly hidden body behind the door. He looks at the robe wrapped tightly around my curves, his eyes dipping even lower to my bare thighs as I stand barefoot before him.
“Have I ever?” I reply with a small bite.
Troy’s cold blue eyes move up to mine as a frown tugs at his lips. I watch as he realizes just now that he’s never actually been inside my room and has only ever walked me to my door.
“As perfect a night as ever,” he smiles in confidence.
“It’s late, Troy,” I repeat with a sigh, “I have to be up early tomorrow morning.”
“Another travel?” he grins, reaching a hand up to the doorframe next my head and leaning in closer.
