Chapter 70
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There was a glint in his eyes, something amused and vaguely wolfish as he looked me over, like he was already trying to piece me apart without needing a name.
I rolled my eyes. “Why
“Nothing.” He leaned against a tree, arms crossed. “Just trying to guess what you are.”
“Hmm, let me make it easy for you. I am a palace hand.”
El
Moon goddess.”
“Mm.” His mouth tugged up. “And I’m th
I blinked at him. “Are you doubting me,
“Completely.” He gave a mock bow. “Forgive me, dear servant of the palace, but you don’t exactly carry yourself like someone who polishes candlesticks for a living.”
I placed a hand on my chest. “Excuse me. I’ll have you know I polish the hell out of candlesticks.”
He laughed again.
God, he was annoying.
But in a way that didn’t make me want to strangle him.
Yet.
“So,” I said, brushing my fingers along a nearby leaf just to distract myself. “What fo you do Elias?”
“You ask A lot of questions.”
I shrugged.
I am a traveling guard.”
I raised an eyebrow, “A travelling guard?”
He nodded easily. “Yes.”
I narrowed my eyes. “And yet your boots are spotless. Your hands are too clean. Your tunic looks custom–made. Not a single rip.”
He tilted his head. “Are you saying I’m too pretty to be a guard?”
I raised a brow. “I’m saying your story is full of holes.”
22
He stepped closer. “Maybe I just wanted to impress the girl I found staring at herself in a stream..
I flushed, but didn’t step back. “I wasn’t staring at myself.”
“Oh?” His voice dropped, teasing. “Admiring the scenery, then?”
“Yes,” I said flatly. “The trees before splashing water on my face. Do I look like I care of reflections?.”
He grinned. “Yes you do.”
I scoffed. “I think you are projecting yourself dear mister.
Silence stretched for a moment, comfortable, strange.
This strange man which made me feel calm in his presence that I had talked more than I normally do.
I was standing before him, arms crossed against my chest.
His eyes, which I noticed were more brown than dark, but had some specks of amber, now that I was really looking at him properly, lingered on my face too long
“Do you always wander off on your own?” he asked.
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Chapter 70
“Do you always ambush strangers?”
“I didn’t ambush you,” he said. “I just happened to be passing by.”
I lifted a brow. “In the middle of nowhere?”
“You chose it. I perceived your smell and decided to walk here.”
I gave a soft laugh, brushing my hands against my riding trousers. “It’s quiet. I needed quiet.”
“And did it help?”
“I don’t know yet, maybe when I go back to my people, I will see if it did.” I said honestly.
He looked at me for a long moment, something about hi
Then it vanished.
“Well, I won’t ruin it,” he said, backing up. “But I
him shifting–like the joking part peeled back for just a second.
am curious.”
“About?”
“You,” he said simply.
I frowned. “That sounds like a line.”
“It is.”
“You’re terrible at this.”
He smiled. “I’m usually better. You just throw me off.”
My chest tightened a little, but I forced a shrug. “Well, don’t let me keep you from wandering.”
“You’re not,” he said, then looked down like he remembered something. “Actually, I’m hiding.”
My head tilted. “From what?”
He didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he stepped closer again, close enough I could smell his scent something dark and warm, like night and firewood.
“Let’s say… someone saw something they shouldn’t have,” he said carefully. “And I happened to be there.”
“Are you dangerous?”
His lips quirked. “Do I look dangerous?”
I didn’t an
answer.
Because the truth was, he did.
Not in a bloody–sword, sharp–fangs kind of way.
But in the way he held himself. In the way he kept his distance just enough. In the way he smiled like he didn’t mean it fully.
“Yes,” I said finally. “You do.”
He smirked. “Good. At least your sense of self defence isn’t invincible.
And then, he stepped closer. I wanted to step back, but my pride told me to stand still to see what he was going to do.
This time, really close. I could feel the warmth from his skin, the slow, steady rise and fall of his chest.
“You still haven’t told me your name,” he murmured.
“And you still haven’t proven you’re not lying about yours,” I shot back.
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Chapter 70
He smiled wider, “Touché”
I don’t know why I didn’t move,
I should have,
I was about to turn, make some clever remark to break the tension.
But he leaned in.
And kissed me.
It wasn’t rushed.
It wasn’t even deep.
it was tentative, Our eyes weren’t close, we were looking at each other as I felt his lips graze mine. I was too stunned to move. His lips felt curious, like he was testing how real I was.
Then my hand lifted, maybe to stop him, maybe not.
But before I could decide, he pulled away.
And for once, the smirk was gone. He looked… sad. Tired,
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he muttered.
“Then why did you?” I asked softly.
He didn’t answer. He looked like he wanted to.
But a voice called out behind us.
“Dariant”
ile froze.
I blinked. “I thought your name was Elias?”
“It is,” he said, backing up fast. “And it’s also not, I am a lot of names.
I stared, stunned. “You’re kidding”
“I never kid,” he said, and the grin was back. “Not when it comes to mysterious girls by the stream.”
Then he paused, just before disappearing between the trees.
“Keep my secret?”
I blinked again. “Why should I?”
He looked over his shoulder, and this time, his smile was small, Real. Just a touch sad.
“Because you kissed me back.”
And then he was gone.
Just like that.
I stood there for a full minute, mouth slightly open, heart pounding.
What the hell just happened?
What sort of confusing man was that?
The trees were quiet. The stream still flowed, gentle and soft fike it hadn’t just witnessed my entire emotional compass spin out of control. I was still stuck there–blinking, staring, touching my lips like I could rewind that moment and make sense of it.
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Chapter 70
The kiss.
His smirk.
The way he said I kissed him back.
I didn’t even know if I had. Had I?
I closed my eyes, groaning softly. “Liana, what the hell is wrong with you?”
And “Elias” if that was even his name–he’d vanished like smoke. Just a whisper between trees.
Like he was never here. Like I imagined the whole thing. Except I didn’t. I could still feel his lips on mine, the warmth of him when he leaned close. It wasn’t in my head.
I should’ve been smarter. Should’ve walked away the moment he stepped out of the shadows.
But no, I flirted with a strange man in the woods and let him kiss me like a damn…ugh I don’t even know the words to use.
I shook my head, muttering another curse under my breath.
needed to get back.
The moment I returned to my room in the traven, I froze.
Amira was bent over my travel trunk, her fingers sifting through clothes and folded items with such precision it made my skin crawl. My bag. My things.
“What are you doing?” I asked, voice cold.
She didn’t even flinch. “Where have you been?”
I walked forward slowly. “Answer the question.”
She closed the lid with a soft thud and straightened up, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her perfectly tailored cloak, “I could ask you the same thing.”
“I was out.”
“In the woods?”
“Yes, Amira, Out” I walked past her and grabbed the satchel she’d set aside. “Unlike you, I don’t need to snoop through your things to feel satisfied.”
She arched a brow, eyes narrowing slightly. “I wasn’t snooping.”
“Oh really?”
“I was checking to see if you were still carrying that little blood–stained letter you stole.”
I froze. “What?”
Her eyes flicked over my face, watching, calculating. “Don’t play dumb. You snuck into my bag. You think I wouldn’t notice?”
“I didn’t steal anything.”
She took a step closer, her tone tightening. “Then what exactly were you doing last night sneaking around like a little mouse?”
I stared at her “Why are you so pressed? Nervous about something? Not my fault you’re careless.”
She ignored the jab, her lips pressing together in a thin line. “Where you really in the woods? I don’t believe you. It’s too early.”
“None of your business.”
“Liana”
“I said “I stepped back, grabbing my cloak and throwing it over my shoulders. “-it’s none of your business.”
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She blinked at me once, slow, and then let out a soft, mirthless laugh. “Whatever. Get ready. We’re heading to the northern castle.”
She turned on her heel, brushing past me as her shoulder slammed into mine harder than necessary.
I flinched from the impact, but didn’t react. Just stood there.
I watched her go, her hair swaying like she hadn’t just been rummaging through my life. She barked something about the horses being saddled and disappeared down the hallway.
I exhaled.
Then bit my bottom lip.
And despite everything…
Despite the letter. Despite the mission. Despite Amira and her petty games and the way I wanted to scream-
I thought of Elias.
His stupid smirk.
His voice saying Keep my secret.
I shook my hea
d sharply.
No.
No time for mysterious men with lies and pretty mouths.
Not when I was heading to the court of the rebel king. Not when I might be walking into a death trap.
Still, the memory lingered.
And I hated myself for the way it made me feel.
I had Alaric…wait…did I?
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