She hesitated, raising her eyebrow as if she didn’t believe me. “If your grandfather or Ky’rn becomes a threat to you, promise me you’ll do whatever it takes to protect yourself. Promise me you won’t sacrifice yourself for the sake of sentiment.”
I nodded slowly, my fingers lightly brushing over the mark as a painful knot formed in my chest. It was clear Dr. Violet had witnessed, and perhaps even endured, some of the darkness that shadowed my grandfather’s ambitions.
“I promise,” I murmured, though deep down, I knew I wouldn’t keep that vow if it came down to it. “But my goal is to stay off Grandfather’s radar until the wedding, and then I won’t have to worry about him.”
Her gaze softened, and for the first time, I saw the real Dr. Violet—worn out, but with a core of steel. “Then I’d stand by your side. It might mean I’ll never work in this field again, but at least I’d regain some semblance of honor.”
A tear formed in the corner of my eye. “Thank you.”
CHAPTERTWENTY
KY’RN
Things had changed.
The brief encounters we used to have, where I’d see a flicker of emotion or longing in her gaze, were gone.
She was distant, removed.
Every morning and evening, like clockwork, the door would hiss open, and in would come Isla, accompanied by her mentor. She’d push in a cooler, filled with a feast that, under any other circumstances, would have delighted me. But it was hard to enjoy the bounty when all I longed for was a real conversation with her.
Each time she entered with that cooler cart, my hopes would rise, only to be crushed when she began her routine check-up.
Their clinical demeanor was almost robotic. Discussing my health, taking notes, and occasionally extracting samples from me. I appreciated that they treated me with respect, always asking for consent. But the impersonal manner was maddening.
Why was she maintaining this distance?
Every time I tried to address the gulf between us, she’d avoid eye contact, answering in clipped, professional tones. It was as if she’d erected a wall, separating us.
My eyes would always linger on her mark, the one I’d accidentally given her. It made me recall the last intimate moment we’d shared. The warmth of her skin, the urgency in her movements as she clung on to me, the connection I’d felt.
The marking had been instinctual, satisfying a deep yearning from within.
Had that moment scared her? Pushed her away?
I needed to understand. If there was a chance of fixing this, I’d take it, before it was too late. I didn’t want to leave Earth with this wall between us. In order to tear it down, I needed her to talk to me, to open up.
As they concluded their methodical examination, I sensed the familiar pattern of departure. An aching weight had settled in my chest, too heavy to ignore as Isla and her mentor turned their backs, heading for the exit.
With a swift motion, my fingers encircled her wrist.“Isla.”
She jerked in surprise, her blue eyes widening in alarm before settling where my fingers encircled her wrist. Her breath caught, and for a split second, a barrage of emotions danced across her face—fear, confusion, longing.
“Why are you keeping your distance from me?”My voice, though soft, carried the desperation I hadn’t intended to show.
She swallowed, her delicate throat bobbing as she seemed to struggle with her thoughts. Casting a quick glance at her mentor, she wordlessly gestured with a fist, the thumb raised—a signal she seemed to understand as she stepped back, giving us a semblance of privacy.
“It’s…complicated,”she murmured, her voice carrying a heavy weight.
My thoughts immediately drifted to the unintentional bond I had forged.“Is it because I marked you? Is that why you avoid being alone with me?”
She shook her head, her colorful locks cascading like a waterfall.“The mark is…a conversation we need to have, but it’s not just that.”Her gaze faltered, a flicker of pain crossing her beautiful face. “My grandfather has been relentless. Meetings, appointments, obligations…Every minute of my day is accounted for. He’s ensured I barely have a moment to myself. I’m trying to maintain appearances, to keep his suspicions at bay. If he senses any deviation, any hint of our…plans, it could become dangerous for both of us.”
While understanding doused the flames of my frustration, another feeling sprouted in its place: longing.“You’re trying to shield me.”
She nodded.“In a week, you’ll be free. But until then, every moment I spend with you is under scrutiny.”
I drew her closer, bridging the gap between us.“I may be free in a week, Isla, but I don’t want that day to come without us clarifying what’s between us.”
