My gaze followed Evie’s movements while she absentmindedly walked around our room, undressing. She’d been acting strangely since yesterday, but I’d already asked her, and she didn’t say. I would not grind her about it. If she wanted me to know, it had to come from her.
Still watching her leave each piece of clothing in a different place, I began to remove my arm shield, placing it on the dresser.
“Something happened with Lachlan,” she suddenly blurted, sitting on the bed.
Every inch of my body tensed, though I kind of expected that whatever it was had to do with him. If that asshole kissed her against her will, he was as good as dead. Giving her a chance to explain, I tried to remain calm and walked towards her, sitting by her side. “Okay.”
“He approached me after the meeting with our people and asked if we could talk. I agreed.” She nervously glanced at me, probably expecting me to be angry or something, like another hotheaded “macho” guy might do.
Was I happy they talked in private? Hell no. But I wasn’t a neanderthal, and I knew her heart was mine. I reached for her hand instead, holding it.
Seeming relieved I was taking this so well, she squeezed my hand, our fingers intertwining. “We walked around the castle, and he brought me to the end of the cave on the other side. When we arrived, I found a beautiful field of flowers he laid out there for me… The kind that only blooms in one part of Caelisium. A place my parents once chose as refuge, a place that briefly gave us peace. My mother and I used to pick those flowers in baskets for our people, to bring them hope. It’s one of the most beautiful memories I have left of her.”
Dread spread through me like wildfire with her words because I knew what that meant. Not only because it was fucking obvious, but because I’d recently asked Asher what I could do to propose.
“It was the grand gesture,” she whispered, her gaze falling from mine.
“He proposed?” I asked in utter shock, standing. “He fucking proposed to you?!” So much for not being a hotheaded neanderthal. “The level of entitlement that asshole felt, to have the audacity to propose to a woman who is not fucking his and who clearly doesn’t want him!” I roared, wanting to rip him apart.
I was so punching his ugly-ass face after this. The disrespect he showed to force her into such an uncomfortable position… Like, what in the actual fuck? Who did that? I was fuming.
“I told him no,” she immediately assured, standing too. “I said I couldn’t give him a heart that was no longer mine to give and left. I swear it.”
Damn, she thought I was angry at her. My fury was instantly snuffed at the sight of her guilt. Pulling her into my arms, my mouth claimed hers like I’d had the privilege to do so many times.
“You have nothing to feel guilty about, Baby,” I whispered against her lips, my eyes searching hers. “All you have ever done is forgive him and treat him like a friend. I am angry with him, not you. Because he took advantage of the care you feel for him. Lachlan should haveneverput you in that position, specially while knowing you love me.”
Evie’s body sagged against mine in relief, her arms wrapping around my neck. “I do love you,” she whispered, kissing me again.
“I love you too.” Placing a kiss on her neck, I held her even closer, taking in the smell of her and feeling grateful I was gifted a woman like her by theSky Gods.
I also internally cursed because that fucking gesture was hard to top.
“He won’t even touch her,” Evie whispered after we’d been holding each other for what seemed like forever.
“What?” I asked, confused, leaning back enough to glance at her again.
“Willow’s pain hurts like my own,” she confessed, letting me know Lachlan’s situation was not the only thing bothering her. “She confessed amidst tears that she is in love with Kingston. She always has been, but she thinks he wants nothing to do with her because he has never even held her hand.”
“What do you mean? Of course, he’s touched her.” Even as I rebutted, the scene from earlier tonight flashed in my mind. Willow had flat out asked him to carry her up the stairs, but he’d only offered his arm to her.
“I thought so too, but she showed us as much tonight. He will not touch her.”
To someone else, it might seem like he was just being extremely polite, but anyone who had eyeballs and actually used their brains could see he was head over heels in love with that woman. She clearly loved him too, so what the hell? My mind ran through every moment I’d seen them share to end only in sadness.
“I don’t understand,” I admitted. “What is keeping him away?”
“Maybe he doesn’t think she could ever love him?” Evie guessed, walking out of my arms to sit on the bed again.
“But that doesn’t explain why he won’t even hold her hand,” I reasoned. “If anything, he should be looking for any excuse to feel her hand, her cheek. Hell, if I was in love with you and you weren’t mine, I would probably be applying to be one of your ladies. I’d do your hair every day, no problem. Trust me, guyswantto touch.”
A few chuckles escaped her, but sadness clung to her gaze. “I don’t understand either. They both deserve to be happy. Kingston deserves…”
Her words faded when my gaze connected with my scar through the mirror.
“No, he doesn’t,” I interjected, remembering every time I’d seen the chief fist his hands, his thumb rubbing the edges of the disfigured skin on his palms. “He doesn’t deserve her.”
“Why would you say such a thing?” Evie asked, insulted, standing from the bed.
