CHAPTER14
Blood swooshedin her veins and crashed into her head. Leya stared up at the immortal holding her hand, watching her quietly, feeling as if she’d been tipped off a mountain into a freefall.
Aerén wasthatprince?
No wonder there were enforcers with him.
And she’d fought him at every turn, when he undoubtedly wasn’t used to being disobeyed. Worse, she’d thought he was with the mafia, a trafficker…goddddd! Heat crept up her neck and burned her face.
“Will you be staying long, sire?” Haroth asked.
“I’m not sure yet,” he answered, still watching her.
“Very well, Your Highness.”
She tugged her hand from his, or tried to, but he didn’t let go.
Desperately needing distance to get herself together, she tugged again. “I have to get my breakfast things.”
“The staff can do that.”
Leya bit her lips and focused on Haroth as he dismissed everyone. Only the enforcers remained. Yes, they would, when they had to watch out for their prince.
The staff headed indoors, but several cast quick looks behind them. Probably sizing her up and finding her lacking in her wilted tunic and damp hair.
Way to go, Ley.
Christ! She wanted to laugh—get mad for being left in the dark—instead, she glared at the pretty castle with the blue vines creeping around the towers.
“You’re upset I didn’t reveal this to you, too,” he murmured.
“No.”
“Then look at me.”
She forced herself to unglue her stare from the castle and fix it on the royal who owned it. It took everything in her to meet his silver stare.
Was she upset? Well…no.
Shocked? Hell, yes!
It wasn’t like she told everyone she met she was a gardener. Ugh, it wasn’t even a good comparison.
Leya shrugged. “With all that’s happened since we met, I guess some things were forgotten. Besides, you don’t have to lay it all out for me since I’m not…” Sheesh, she wasn’t supposed to mention the Chosen. “You know what I mean.”
He raised a navy eyebrow. “You’re suddenly quite accommodating.”
She expelled a deep breath. “No, just realistic, after everything I’ve experienced.”
“Danger, danger, and more danger.” A ghost of a smile. “Doesn’t bode well for me.”
He was teasing, even if there was truth to what he said, but his caressing stare sliding over her face had her nerves tangling and warmth pooling lower in her belly.
Oh, this sooo wasn’t happening.
Feeling as if she were caught in a tumultuous storm, Leya managed to pull free, and she took off to her hiding place, the humidity enfolding her again. Concealed within the shrubs and under the overhanging branches of the looming blue tree, she stood there, pressing a hand to her agitating stomach, the stark reality twisting her belly.
Aerén was born into royalty. Animmortal princeon a quest to save his dying world.
