Charlotte sighed at the sight of her friend. “Lizzy, it will be dark soon.” She crossed her arms. “My footman said you’ve sent him away and been here all day. Come home with me, I’ve been worried sick.”
Elizabeth sniffled. “I would like to stay.”
Charlotte raised her brows. “And I would like to eat all the sweets I want and stay slim.”
Elizabeth’s lips quirked upwards. A glimpse of her usual self before it was replaced by solemnity.
“You’re getting out of this house, and if you want to come back, you’ll take someone with you.”
“Caspian is here,” Elizabeth said in a low voice.
“Yes, I saw.” Charlotte’s words were laced with venom.
“I may go with him.”
“Lizzy!! Why? We will protect you here.”
“Because I can’t stay in Rhodea for a moment longer,” Elizabeth said, her voice breaking. “Everything reminds me of them. I can’t stay in this place.”
He did not catch the rest of their heated, whispered conversation, which went on for several minutes. Their heads were bent close together, speaking too quietly for him to make out a word. Charlotte gestured animatedly and whispered intently.
Some minutes later, the two ladies returned to where he and Asmodeus were standing in the lane.
Elizabeth said to him quietly, “I would like a ride back to my home in Veridas, then I would like to be left alone.”
Their eyes met, and she looked away first.
“Asmodeus,” Charlotte barked, jolting him out of his intimate moment with his Elizabeth that was more precious than words could explain. How he despised the woman. “Do you remember the last time we spoke?”
“I think about it a lot. Especially at night,” the demon said, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Asmodeus,” Caspian said warningly.
“Disgusting. I hope the witch’s curse takes your manhood next. Swear to me, on your honour, that you will protect that girl.”
Asmodeus’s answering smile was anything but polite.
“Caspian has already sworn an oath to protect her.”
She rolled her eyes, hands on her hips, and tapped her foot. It was clear she wouldn’t let them leave until he swore it.
Caspian glared at him. “Swear if you must, then let us be off.”
“Fine, fine!” Asmodeus formally swore he wouldn’t let anything happen to Elizabeth and would protect her to the best of his abilities.
“Thank you,” mumbled Elizabeth. Charlotte hugged her friend fiercely, then stepped back.
Caspian helped her into the carriage, and it was the first time he had ever seen her look frail or unsure. Her usually proud posture was slouched, her demeanor defeated. The sight caved something in his chest.
At the inn, she stared into space, unreachable. When he set food before her, she managed two bites before pushing the bowl away.
He led her to the rooms he had purchased, waiting for her to say something. In the hallway, he hesitated. He didn’t know if she wanted comfort or solitude—didn’t know if his presence would help or hurt her.
He opened his arms, and for a moment, she stood there. He thought she’d refuse—her body was rigid, jaw clenched as if fighting herself. Then she stepped forward like she was walking to her execution.
She said nothing as she put her head against his shoulder, but he felt the tension in her frame, the way she held herself as if ready to pull away at any second. Her breathing was unsteady, caught between a sob and something that sounded almost angry.
He held her carefully, afraid any movement might send her running. When she slowly extricated herself from his arms, her eyes were glistening but hard—as if she hated she had done this, hated him for providing the comfort she needed.
