We stopped in front of a magnificent fountain, the water cascading in rhythmic patterns, shimmering under the moonlight.
“I’ve heard rumors,” Roman said, his gaze fixated on flashing lights dancing on the water. “About his most recent acquisition.”
I felt a lump in my throat. Was he referring to Ky’rn? I played coy. “Oh? And what have you heard?”
He looked up at me, eyes sharp and assessing. “Just that it’s something…otherworldly.”
Swallowing hard, I managed a small laugh and nudged his shoulder. “You know how rumors are. They’re often bigger than the truth.”
Roman nodded, though I could see he wasn’t entirely convinced. “True, but my connections have never been wrong.”
Curiosity gnawed at me as Roman’s words hung in the air.
What was he getting at? I didn’t have much time for pleasantries and social niceties, not when my mind was constantly preoccupied with thoughts slipping away from here to the urge to check on Ky’rn.
I leaned closer to Roman, dropping the act. “Could you please cut to the chase?” I hissed. “What’s so important that we have to sneak away like this?”
His gaze flicked over our shoulders, to where the guards stood stoically along the wall, ever watchful. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Act like we’re together,” he whispered urgently, “like we want to run off for a private moment.”
I followed his gaze and nodded, trying to maintain a composed facade. Inside, confusion and fear threatened to overwhelm me, my heart racing and palms sweating, but I forced myself to keep still and outwardly calm.
His brown eyes were dead serious. I’d have to play along if I wanted answers.
My mind raced as I forced a fake giggle, as if we had just shared a private joke. I took his hand and led him toward the private balcony, wondering what on Earth could be so important that it required this level of secrecy.
The stone balcony defied gravity, extending fearlessly over the roaring sea below, surrounded by a white marble archway and dense shrubbery. Perfect for what Roman had requested, outside the confines of my private suite.
The moon, high above, covered the world in an ethereal, silvery cloak. The brilliance of the moonlight was rivaled only by the artful garden lights that dotted the garden, each one strategically placed, guiding us while adding to the evening’s enchantment. The soft night breeze murmured through the trees, teasing the strands of my hair and tickling my nose with salt as it ruffled the hem of my dress.
The gentle crash of waves below was accompanied by a mesmerizing sight. Just beyond the frothy whitecaps, deep beneath the water’s surface, the underwater lab emanated a soft glow, like a beacon in the heart of an abyss. Its luminescence created a dance of lights upon the water, hinting at groundbreaking discoveries and untold marvels.
Surrounding the lab, immense walls rose from the ocean floor. These structures, formidable and awe-inspiring, served not just as fortifications against the elements but as barriers against prying eyes. They ensured that the research work within the lab remained shielded from prying eyes and the outside world’s relentless curiosity.
Only a select few were permitted on this garden floor. The fact that my grandfather had suggested I bring Roman here gave me cause for concern.
Roman gently withdrew his arm from my grasp and leaned on the balcony railing, gazing out at the waves.
“I know what lingers below the waters,” he began, his voice low as he jerked his head toward the underwater lab. “That’s why I’m here.”
I frowned in response to his cryptic statement. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions and make my fears come true, but my growing unease was hard to ignore.
“I don’t understand,” I replied cautiously. “What are you talking about?”
“You already know, but I’ll play your game.” He chuckled as he gripped the railing and leaned backward. “You don’t know the reason for tonight’s dinner, do you?” he asked, his gaze piercing.
I shook my head, feeling a sense of dread settling in. “What do you mean?”
With a sigh, he stepped closer, taking my hand gently and pressing a soft kiss to the back. The gesture was both comforting and unsettling. “My family bid for your hand in marriage, Isla,” he confessed, his words hanging heavily in the air. “Tonight was a test, to see how we fit.”
The world around me seemed to blur as I struggled to comprehend the enormity of what he was saying. It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t be.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head in denial.
Roman’s grip on my hand tightened and he pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me in a protective embrace. His voice was a hushed murmur in my ear as he revealed the painful truth. “Your grandfather has been searching for a rich and powerful heir to be your husband, in order to protect you and continue your family’s legacy. Tonight’s dinner was to showcase to families with eligible sons that you’re ready for an arranged marriage.”
The pieces fell into place, and I couldn’t deny the truth any longer. His murmured words sent a chill through me, and it all began to make horrible sense.
Why else would my grandfather have gifted me Ky’rn, if not to use him as a bargaining chip to secure my compliance.
