~Ioana~"Good. Very good," he nodded. He didn't say another word. With that, he spun on his heels, storming off.I stretched my hand to his retreating figure, but I was only able to brush against his fluttering coat.The night chill brushed against my tingling lips. I pressed them, hissing as a sharp sting shot through. "He was quite harsh," I commented. My face burned red. I shook it out of my head.He seemed furious. I stared in the direction he stormed off to. Why did it look like where I was coming from?His chamber⦠isn't it in the opposite direction? I cocked my head to the side as the thought passed over my head. 'That's true,' I concurred.So why is heā wait, there's only one thingā the bell tower! My head crashed. 'No, no,' I repeated over and over. Red light blared in my head."This is bad," I dropped the words with a curse. Lifting my dress, I dashed right towards the old bell tower.In my head, I clasped my hands together in prayer to the Moon Goddess, Selenara. 'Let it no
~Ioana~[ā ļø This chapter contains a bit of heat. Read at your risk]My eyes flew wide open like bulbs, what? But the next second, his palm descended covering them.He whispered over my lips, "Don't look at me like that, if not I'm afraid I'll lose control.""Close your eyes Ioana," he commanded, his words firm with something I couldn't resist. I shut my eyes. The pressure over my eyelids vanished; instead those same fingers weaved into my hair strands, holding me firmly in place.He tilted my head upwards, as his lips met mine again.It was not soft or gentle.It was like a tsunami crashing against land, domineering, taking everything as if.I gasped into his lips."Alessandro."My skin was like flames were dancing over them. My hands dangled awkwardly to the side, I brought them to his chest, they stayed there.I was conflicted. I wasn't sure if I wanted to push him away or drag him closer to me. He left my lips, red and swollen.His nose trailed down my neck, his breath against my s
~Ioana~ His eyes stayed on my face, like he was drinking me whole. My breathing slowed, the surface of my skin heated up as his breath brushed against my cheeks. We were so close, I could see his eyes dilating, pushing out the browns until it became dark with something that made my breath hitch. His arm wrapped around my waist, he pulled me close to his body. I swallowed audibly, my hands grew cold. I knew what was about to happen, so did he? A small voice warned me, once you do this⦠there's no going back. I knew that. I also understood that things might never be the same again. But still⦠I couldn't stop myself from sinking into it. He drew closer to me. His eyes flickered to my parted lips, staying there. Tearing his gaze away, he whispered, his voice low and hoarse: "Can I?" I was stunned by his actions and at the same timeātouched by his restraint. He had to take permission. That's so kind of him. It made me feel as if I was being seen, appreciated. Just by that, I cou
~Ioana~I staggered backwards. "And you expect me to believe that?" I whispered."Meeting? Alone? In the dark? Just the two of you?" I shot question after question."Ioana," Alessandro barked, "you are overreacting."A stab to the chest. I clutched my chest. "Oh, so it's now me?" With an incredulous expression on my face, I pointed to myself. "I'm the one overreacting?" I replayed his words back, adding more emphasis.He frowned."That's all you have to say, Alessandro?"I questioned him, but he kept silent, his lips sealed."No problem." I threw my hands up in the air, took a large breath. "I'm the oneā the only oneā who is delusional. Seeing things that aren't there." I choked on my laugh, tears rolling down my eyes.I wiped them off with the back of my hand, straightened up. "It's my fault. To think that there's anything worth salvaging from thisā" I gestured to everything, "āthis mess.""I
~Ioana~How do I trust someone I just met less than 20 minutes ago?I faced a tough decision ā how to evade a question.Should I lie? That was bad; Iād feel it. Maybe itāll encourage her.Should I answer truthfully? But experience told me that was a worse decision.Should I change the topic? Thatās even the worst ā it seems as if Iām a coward, I canāt stand pressure ā I, a Queen.I wracked my brain, but nothing came out.Every option seemed to fast-track, jumping into a more terrible position.So I went with the best āSmile.My lips curled upwards, I chuckled,My go-to when I have nothing to say. I tugged her arm, throwing my head back, I allowed the laughter to bubble up.And just as I had expected, she laughed along.Laughter was infectious ā especially when it was from a true emotion. All I had to do was remember something good, a memory from my recent ones.
~Ioana~āExcuse me, have you perchance seen the prince?ā I waved down a passing servant, dressed in a crisp black-and-white suit.He shot me a puzzled glance, his eyebrows drawing together for a brief moment in thought, then he shook his head.I sighed, my shoulders sagged. It's the 6thā no, 7thā person who doesn't know where he is. Where in the world could he be?I gave an absent-minded smile to the servant, spinning round to begin another search for him. Wolves around gave way, parting for me to pass.Just then, a shrill voice questioned, as if caught off guard āYou said you're looking for the prince?āI froze. The voice was quite piercing, I swore my hearing had a faint ringing. But someone finally knew where Alessandro wasā my lips curled.I turned towards the source of the sound. Just there by the side, a little bit farther from me, was a woman. Short, big green eyes eyed me with an uncanny lookā glimmering with mischief under the chandelier.I gulped.Her hair, black with volumi