40
Noah wheezed, air no longer making it into his lungs.
Why?
He clawed at the table, knocking his glass over. Water spilled and dripped on his suit.
“Noah?”
Why was Reign here? How? Why now?
“Noah, dear?”
Why was he smiling at Teresa and not at Noah?
“Noah, dear!” Teresa clasped Noah’s wrist, shaking it. He snapped his eyes to her, heaving. “Are you okay? You knocked your glass.”
Noah sprung to his feet, the world closing in, caging him in, squishing him. “Excuse me,” he rasped, marching out of the dining hall because he couldn’t stay here anymore.
Because he couldn’t stop it.The bomb ticking inside him. The calamity waiting to happen.
He rushed down the corridor, keeping his head down as he passed the two guards and then two more near a set of stained-glass windows.
Why? Why? Why?He went to the floor below, out of the way, and shoved the restroom door open, histhroat burning and his heart splintering into a million pieces.Why was Reign here now after being gone for so long?He’d disappeared, abruptly and completely that night they’d kissed for the first and last time, abandoning Noah. Throwing him away.
Noah fought for air, yanking the nearest stall’s door open. Crumpling to the floor, he grabbed onto the toilet and emptied the contents of his stomach. Why didn’t Noah know Reign would be here? That he’d resumed his diplomatic career?And why had he been so openly flirting with Teresa?
Noah heaved again, though nothing came out. He was shaking uncontrollably, his suit suffocating him. He’d been trying so hard not to think about the demon, to forget, to move on.To ignore that devastating yearning in his broken heart.A few more months and he would’ve done it, then another couple more after that and the new life he’d envisioned for himself would’ve erased the last of the memories, Noah was sure of it.
It should’ve been that easy. Seeing Reign again, that wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now, not ever… not after Barbatos’ farewell and all those nights Noah had spent crying and begging to see Reign again despite it.
Noah banged his fists against the marble tiles, wincing at the pain that shot up his arms. He didn’t care, he couldn’t care, the sensation only momentary as misery washed it away and settled into every fiber of his body. It hurt—fuck, it was ripping him apart—how much his entire being craved Reign. It didn’t care about the past, it didn’t care about being tossed away, it simply wanted Reign and Noah couldn’t fight that want. Or hide from it or ignore it or force it down and lock it away in some dark corner deep inside him like he’d been doing sofar.
He just… couldn’t. Not anymore. Not when Reign was here,now, so close… Within reach of Noah and yet so utterly unreachable.
The restroom’s door opened over the hoarse laughter of two men, an intrusion to Noah’s heart-wrenching solitude. The interruption halted his breakdown, froze his sobs, leaving silent tears streaming down his cheeks and an erratic heart hammering against his ribcage. Fortunately, the men didn’t notice him in the first stall, walking right past the half-open door as they carried on with their conversation.
“Do you think the negotiations will go as well as Teresa expects them?” one of them said in a deep, grating voice that Noah recognized. It belonged to a Church minister he was yet to meet in person.
A click sounded—the minister or his companion opening the window, Noah assumed—and then the hiss of a lighter. High-pitched chuckling followed that, giving away the other man as the Mayor of Florence.
“Gregory, you are speaking nonsense. We have the Federation by the balls.” The Mayor exhaled, the scent of tobacco reaching Noah’s nostrils. “Did you see the Prime Minister’s face when Teresa made her announcement?”What announcement? What had Noah missed?“The Federation is done for, and he knows it. He’ll budge, and the rest of the government will follow suit. And if they decide to play hard to get? We have our inside man now.”
Noah forced himself to his feet and exited the stall. They didn’t notice him immediately as they were both leaning over the window with cigarettes in hand, their distraction allowing him to reach one of the golden sinks and busy himself splashing water over his face so he wouldn’t need tolook at them.
“It seems I missed a big announcement? What was it?” Noah said in a voice as steady as he could manage it once he’d rinsed his mouth.
The two men turned around sharply, dress shoes squeaking against the luxurious tiles.
“Ah. Mr. Araya!” the mayor piped up, taking another pull as he handed the lighter to the minister. “I didn’t realize you were here.” He approached and patted Noah on the back. “Are you feeling well? You left just before the big news.”
“Something I ate earlier doesn’t agree with me,” Noah clipped, stomach churning in dreadful anticipation. “What was thisnews?”
“Right, well,” the mayor chuckled, evidently entertained by whatever he was about to say. “Our dear Teresa is getting married to one of the Asians!”
Noah gripped the lip of the sink so he could anchor himself to it. He swallowed hard, stifling down the budding agitation as best as he could. His hackles rose. “Which one?”
“Not the minister himself, sadly. It’s one of his assistants. What was his name…? Quite young, good-looking, with red hair…”
