“Forgive me. I needed to speak with you…privately.”
I knew this had to do with him wanting to know my plans with Corey, and normally I didn’t discuss my proclivities with anyone, but this situation was born of the bad decision of me killing the governor.
“Very well.” After one more peck on Wynn’s lips, I got up and followed him to my office.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Wynn
After Julian left with Edward,something began to niggle at my mind. Julian spoke as though he were some sort of bad guy, but aside from being a little—okay, a lot—obsessed with me marrying him, he didn’t seem like some psychopath.
I left the room and moved about the residence. There had to be a story hidden in this castle, probably in all of them. I walked from room to room and only tripped on the carpet once, so that was good. I remembered all these places from the tour Julian had taken me on.
What was I doing? There wasn’t anything about this place that was terrifying. I entered the library and sat on one of the wingback chairs near the bay window.
“Sir, could I get you a beverage?” I didn’t know the woman’s name, but I’d seen her around.
“I’m good, thanks.” When she turned to leave, I stopped her. “Is there like a basement or attic to this castle?”
Her eyes widened briefly. “Uh, no attic, sir. There’s a basement, but I’m afraid no one is allowed down there.”
“Flooding?”
She shook her head but didn’t offer anything further.Okay, weird.
“Okaaaaay, why can’t anyone go to the basement?”
She peeked over her shoulder and stepped closer. “Orders.”
“For staff?”
“For everyone but the prince or royal family.”
Maybe there were family secrets they didn’t want anyone to know…and wasn’t that exactly what I needed?
“Oh, I understand. Is there, like, a key?”
“Sir.” She stepped even closer. “I beg of you, please leave it be.” If I hadn’t known better, I’d have said she was afraid.
“Okay, sorry. I’ll talk to the prince about it.”
She pinched her lips together and sighed. “I don’t think that is a wise idea.”
I stood and moved closer to her. “You’re scared.”
She glanced up at me, her green eyes riddled with worry. “The prince, he’s a good leader, and when the throne is passed to him, I believe he will rule well. My mother always told me, sometimes to get what we need we must close our eyes and not see how it’s done.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means, love the prince and not the beast.”
What the fuck was she talking about? “Beast?”
She looked over her shoulder again. “I’ll simply tell you this. I don’t know the what, or many details, but the prince is not to be trifled with. There’s darkness in him, but it doesn’t touch what’s good. That’s truly all I know.” She reached out and gripped my hand. “Please, remove all thoughts about the basement.” Then she was gone.
Dinner was justJulian and me, and it was really nice. I was sure I should have heeded the woman’s warning, but my ADHD brain had latched on and wouldn’t let go.
“So…” I peeked up from my plate.
