Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“I will fetch a new knife right away, Your Highness,” the server said with a bow before turning away to leave.
Bending down, I reached for the knife, and that was when I saw it.
The woman next to Alejandro was doing her best to fondle Alejandro under the table. In his defense, he kept moving her hand off his legs every time she reached out for his cock. He was trying, but in my opinion, he wasn’t trying hard enough.
I straightened on my seat.
The woman next to Raoul smiled at me, a Cheshire smile that made me want to lunge at her and scratch her eyes out. “Everything all right, Princess?” Her voice was mockingly solicitous.
I sent the knife flying, and she screamed as it zinged over her head, pulling out a strand and nailing it to the wall behind her.
She was still screaming.
“Please relax,” I said in the same solicitous voice. “I have very good aim. You had nothing to fear of.”
Alejandro’s profile had become tense, and I knew he had realized exactly why I was furious. Then again, it wasn’t really that hard to guess why, was it?
“Are you insane?” the woman – Dolly was her real name if I recalled correctly – demanded, her voice shaking with fear.
“Not at all,” I answered politely. “I just take offense when someone attempts to touch what’s mine.”
Realization dawned on her face and she laughed, the sound jarring my ears. “Are you talking about this beautiful man next to me? Surely you’re being too possessive over your Cavaliere? It’s not like he’s your Consort—-”
Without looking at Alejandro, I said quietly, “He is the man I love.”
Silence followed, one that I hoped Alejandro would be the one to break.
But in the end, it was Raoul who spoke. “And there it is.” He threw a contemptuous look my way. “The reason why she had Pasquale Hernandez and his pack members killed...and the death knell of our pack if she becomes Queen.”
ALEJANDRO
Alejandro stood before Calys’ bedroom door, a drawn expression on his face, his body stiff with tension.
He is the man I love.
Even though dinner had long been over, Calys’ last words kept echoing inside Alejandro’s mind, which still grappled with disbelief. Had she really said that? And in front of the Panthera and her enemies?
His fists clenched in frustration. If he had doubts before, he had none now. His princess was extremely good at making things more awkward. Hell, most awkward.
It wasn’t only his mind that was affected. His heart was, too, the way it had been thundering against his chest since he first heard her speak the words.
Goddammit, why did she have to say that?
Why?
Didn’t she know those words would make it impossible for him to stay at her side like before?
Slowly, he raised his fist to the door. He only had to knock twice before Calys opened the door. She looked tired and scared, and he knew he – and not her almost dying – was the reason for it.
“W-would you like to come in?”
He nodded, and she stepped aside, closing the door behind him. After, Calys walked to stand in front of him. Gnawing at her lip, she looked at him, as if waiting for him to speak. When he didn’t, she blurted out, “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
He said tonelessly, “I am.”
She held her breath, but seeing her do it only made him furious. With her and himself. Goddammit, why did she have to do that? Why was she setting herself up for pain when he had laid everything so damn clearly to her from the very start?
He said flatly, “You made a mistake.”
Calys shook her head, confusion clouding her expression. “I don’t understand.”
He spelt out, “You made a mistake about saying you love me.”
“But I didn’t.” When he didn’t say anything, she insisted, “I didn’t, Alejandro. I love you. I know I do. I...I’ve k-known it for a long time.”
She had known she loved him for a long time. She had loved him for a long time. Goddammit to hell, why did she have to say that? Why did she have to feel that?
“Then I’m sorry.” It killed him to look at her, but he knew he owed Calys at least that. “I’m sorry you feel that way.” He could have said something more, but he didn’t, knowing it would amount to nothing. What was the point? In the end, his decision – his feelings – would remain the same. He would not allow himself to love her back.
When he turned his back, Calys cried out.
The cry was filled with so much pain he spun around, wondering if she had somehow hurt herself—-
Tears were running silently down her face.
“Just like that?” she whispered. “After everything, you’re going to leave me just like that?”
Why, goddammit, why did she keep asking questions that were too damn awkward to answer?