“I think that’s a good plan, Roya,” Seda spoke, breaking the silence.
Ael glanced at Seda. Joining her on the trip to the monster north was risky, but he couldn’t separate himself from her. His priority was to protect her at all costs, even if it meant he had to confront La Uma alone. He would do it…For her.
He placed his hand on Seda’s warm thigh once more, and she glanced at him. He would stay with her. He had to.
“We leave first thing in the morning,” he said to everyone. “But first, Luelle, come with me to find Meir and Neoma.”
Ael glancedup at the birds flying above as they walked along the long hall towards the Western Wing. He could hear Luelle’s footsteps in her silken flats as they walked alongside each other. His neck prickled when he noticed how she kept glancing at him.
“So…” she started, and he groaned. He already knew what she wanted to talk about. “First orgasm, huh? What were you doing wrong all those years if she never had one?”
He ground his teeth together and lied through them, “Searching for the Dark Stone.”
“Mmmhmmm,” she replied, obviously not believing him. He looked over at her, and she was smiling from ear to ear, her face bright. “How long have you wanted to do that?”
Damn, she was persistent, and she wasn’t going to stop until he gave her some information. “For far too long.”
“Did you two?—”
But he interrupted her. “No, Luelle. We didn’t. And I don’t wish to share the details. It’s disrespectful toward her. If she wishes to share, you can ask her.”
She rolled her eyes and grumbled, “Fine. But Iamhappy for you, friend. Honestly, I haven’t seen you swoon over someone like this before. I can see how special she is to you.”
He couldn’t help but smile in response. “She really is. I’d do anything for her.”
They stopped when they reached the Western Wing, and Ael looked around at the hallway filled with doors. “Do you know which room she’s in?” he asked.
“Nope. It’s one of these, though. Let’s knock until we find her.”
They stopped at the first door, and Ael pounded on it. When no one answered, he opened the door, and they both walked in.
“This isn’t it,” Luelle said as she eyed the furniture around the room.
They left the room and kept knocking and opening doors, once walking in on someone changing. The woman screamed when they strode in, but quickly apologized when she realized who was in her room.
When they left that room, they both laughed, and Luelle said, “She apologized to us!”
When they finally went in through the last door, Luelle stopped in the doorway, staring at the furnishings. “This was it.”
They looked around at the pristinely made bed, the neatly arranged furniture and accessories, and the absence of anyone in the room.
“Are you sure?” Ael asked as he walked into the bathroom and looked inside. The bathroom was just as empty as the main bedroom. He looked over at Luelle, who was nodding her head and chewing her lip.
“Well, one problem down, one to go,” Ael said with a sigh as he ran his hand over his face. He needed to find Meir now and wasn’t entirely looking forward to that conversation.
Actually, he didn’t need to find Meir at all. Meir would come to him.
He hardened his face into iron and turned to Luelle. “I’ll be in the throne room. Tell the guards to find Meir and bring him to me.”
He turned and left the empty room, leaving Luelle behind as she stared at the painting above the bed, her focus fixed on the tiny hole.
Ael listenedto the tapping of Luelle’s shoe as Meir and Neoma were pushed before him. The guards found them fucking in the garden maze, and leaves were still tangled in Neoma’s dark hair.
“Your Highness…Please,” Meir blubbered before him.
Ael ground his teeth together while Meir begged for forgiveness. “You were made aware that Neoma was no longer allowed on the castle grounds. You’ve also been conspiring against me for unknown reasons. I no longer trust you, Meir.”
“We were just saying goodbye, Sire,” Meir begged. “She was on her way out of the castle as you caught us.”
