“Devin, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” Cyrus pleadingly reaches out.
Devin waves him off. “If you’re sorry, then truly you’ll see the error in your ways and correct it. Before more people get hurt.”
Then he finally turns and walks off, disappearing down the hall. Cyrus’ shoulders sag and he turns again, taking a few steps farther into the room. He leans heavily into his hands braced on the desk, dropping his head.
A grunt erupts from him and he smacks everything in front of him straight off the desk and onto the floor. His head perks up, and then he drops quickly to pat out a small starting of a fire from a candelabra he knocked over and landed on a book.
I use the moment to slip out and run. This time, I make it back to my room.
Forty-Six
- MARCELLA -
In my room after breakfast, I sink onto the windowsill and lean against the glass. Emotion and confusion war within my heart just as ferociously as they had last night.
I can’t think straight.
Every slip of memory overtakes my mind. And now that I’m out of the chatter, out of distractions to sit in my own thoughts, I’m swept away into the tides of remembrance.
Three years ago
I’ve been avoiding private meetings with Cyrus since I told him about Crawford. Though, I can’t seem to stop reminiscing about our rendezvous. Remembering how good it felt to have him shower me in adoration, to kiss and touch me. But perhaps it’s best where we left it.
A one-off. Nice and casual.
He’s handsome, and sure, there’s a draw to him for his power. His position. But the longer I think about it, the longer I don’t want to lean into that thought process. I’m not here to bend to a King’s will. Neither am I here to seduce my way to power and position. I want it for myself. For all the years, blood, and sweat I’ve invested in my skills and experience. I don’t dare throw it away for some…fling, with a man.
Part of me is angry he even decided to bring up the thought of promoting me to his General. After I opened my legs to him. After I touched his lips…
It makes things far too complicated.
And I can’t do complicated. I have to keep it professional. Clean.
As I stroll through the gardens, admiring the small dragon butterflies floating through the air as sunlight spills through the leaves above, I smile against the warmth. I find a stone bench set against a backdrop of rose bushes. Their red petals like blood blooming against a sea of green. Taking a seat, I close my eyes. Ready to spend my half hour of lunch out here, breathing in the mountain air.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” comes a gentle, masculine voice on the breeze.
I flash my eyes open, leaning up off the bench as King Cyrus strolls across the courtyard. Though, his eyes are not on me. They’re on a marble water fountain with a legless dragon curling in on itself like a snake. Its jaws parted, serrated teeth like lines of tiny daggers in its mouth, and from which comes a spout of water.
I narrow my eyes. “You’re following me, now?”
He crosses his arms, tossing me a quick glance over his shoulder before his attention is back on the dragon. “Shh, I’m trying to have a conversation with the water dragon.”
I don’t know whether to laugh or scoff. But when he doesn’t move after a few moments, I get up from the bench and walk to him. “Who knew the King could be so…”
He turns, raising an eyebrow. But as his eyes connect with mine, brilliant like snow in the sunlight, I lose my train of thought.
“You were saying?” he murmurs.
Swallowing, I remain firm. “Unhinged, speaking to a fountain. Should I be concerned and notify the doctor?”
A chuckle lightens his features as he turns back to the fountain. “That’s your opinion of me? Unhinged?”
“Should my opinion be of something else?”
The corners of his lips turn up. “No matter what your opinion is of me, it’s yours. Not mine to command. Whether I’m King or not.” He turns slightly, side-eyeing me. “Though, I have to admit I’ve wondered if your opinion of me has changed since I last spoke with you.”
Taking a deep breath, I stare up at him. He turns his body to face me instead of the fountain. Braced, like he’s ready for a blow.
