Chapter 9

Seraphina

Evander reaches for a glass on his desk, taking a slow sip before answering. “We don’t have a choice….Her wolf needs to heal.”

Derek's face softens, making it so obvious that something is really bothering him. “For how long?”

Evander exhales slightly. “I don’t know.”

“If the ritual doesn’t happen in thirty days,” Derek says, his tone hardening, “my whole family will die.”

Oh, no. What kind of curse has really befell on Moondrift?

“I’m quite aware of that….You can excuse me now.” Evander says.

Derek bows, turns and leaves.

I glance at Evander. His shoulder quavers as his fingers tighten slightly around the edge of the desk.

“In case you wish to freshen up… the bathroom is over there.” he says, pointing at the bathroom which is just a few feet away from him.

“You’ll be in this room while I bathe?”

“The bathroom has a curtain. You can cover it.”

“And what will I wear when I’m done?” I ask, already uncomfortable in this maid's uniform.

“Is that supposed to be my problem?”

My eyes are wide in shock as my lips part slightly in disbelief. “Am I supposed to sleep naked before you?”

“I promised I won’t touch you tonight,” he says, pulling out an ink well from his drawer. “I meant that.”

Quite honourable indeed. Still, I shake my head, frustration bubbling up again.

“Regardless… I’m not comfortable sleeping naked beside you.”

He looks at me, those amber eyes of his lingering longer than it should and my heart begins pacing.

“Who said you were going to sleep beside me?”

I clench my fists on both sides. How can he be so grumpy and annoying? For a moment, I just stare at him.

Then I exhale sharply, releasing off my fists.

“Well, I need to freshen up like you mentioned.” I pause, lifting my chin slightly and facing him. “And I… your guest, who you intend to use to save your people at the expense of my life, by the way…demand to know what she would be putting on tonight.”

His head tilts just slightly. “Demand?”

“Yes,” I say, holding his gaze. “Because no matter how much you gave my parents, I’m still the one going to die and I deserve…”

“Enough.” he cuts in and shakes his head, like I’ve exhausted whatever patience he had. “I will get you a night dress.”

Before I can respond, he reaches for his phone, dialing a number. “Ann,” he says when the line connects. “Get one of your night dresses for the Maiden of the Eclipse… She is in my room.”

He ends the call, his gaze flickering back to me. “Request granted.”

“Thank you.” I say, heading straight to the bathroom.

The moment I step inside, I pull the curtain across firmly, sealing myself off from him. The space is just as refined as the rest of his room. Marble floors, cool beneath my feet. Shelves lined with oils and soaps. Even the mirrors are spotless.

I turn on the tap, letting the water fill the bath tub. Then I reach for the hem of the uniform and pull it off, letting it fall to the floor. Without wasting much time, I step into the bath tub.

My eyes flutter shut as I lower myself completely. Instantly my mind drifts to seeing Raze hurry out that Kenna to safety.

My chest tightens, my brows knitting together.

What if this Kenna has something on him? A leverage perhaps. It’s the only thing that makes sense.

Kenna is desperate to get out of this predicament. Anyone will be. I see that now. She would do anything to survive this, anything to escape being sacrificed.

But what could she possibly have over Raze that would make him betray me in that manner?

My thoughts snap as Ann's voice drifts in from outside.

“A maid has been banging at Miss Kenna’s door,” she says, clearly stepping inside the room. “It seems she locked the maid up and tried to escape.”

My heart stutters.

Evander’s voice follows. “Yes, she did... Is the maid out now?”

“No. We haven’t found a spare key yet.”

Ann’s footsteps draw closer. Then the curtain shifts slightly as something is placed over the rail.

“See where trying to escape has landed you,” she whispers.

I don’t respond and she retreats.

Quickly, I wash myself and get out of the bath tub. Drying off my skin, I reach for the nightdress she dropped.

I pull it over my body and freeze. What was she thinking? This is far too short. The hem barely reaches my mid-thigh.

My grip tightens slightly at the edge. What am I to do now? I glance toward the curtain. I can't actually wear this before him. Damn it!

“Is there really your choice of place for the night?” Evander’s voice cuts through.

I close my eyes briefly. I can't actually stay here as well. I draw in a breath. Then push the curtain aside and step out.

He looks up and stills, his gaze lingering on my almost bare thighs for a brief moment. Then almost at once, he looks away, his jaw tightening slightly as he swallows.

He points toward the sofa without looking directly at me. “You’ll be sleeping there.”

My eyes follow the direction of his hand. The sofa and not the bed. There is a bit of comfort in that. At least I won't be sleeping directly beside him wearing this.

He’s already turned away, walking back to his study. He begins arranging some sealed envelopes. Who is he even writing to?

I walk over to the sofa and lie down, pulling my legs slightly closer, instinctively making myself smaller.

But my eyes don’t leave him. His shoulder quavers, his eyes quite dim. Regardless, he manages to look annoyingly handsome.

I frown slightly to myself, shifting on the sofa. This is ridiculous. And still my gaze lingers.

For hours I stare at him, unable to sleep as he piles up everything, after tearing and rewriting them for what felt like the hundredth time.

For every moment he glances at me, I close my eyes, pretending to be asleep. The burden on him is quite heavy, I see that now.

He throws his gaze at me and as expected, I quickly shut my eyes. To my surprise, he stands and begins moving towards me, my heart now hammering.

To my surprise, his arms wrap around me, scooping me up like I'm a toddler, my legs dangling slightly as he carries me across the room.

Gently, he lowers me onto the bed. What is he doing? He better not try anything stupid!

I feel a blanket draping over me as his hands stretch it to cover me properly. That's strange.

Then he sits beside me, close enough that I can feel his warmth properly. My breath hitches as his hand moves, brushing lightly over my hair. His fingers catch stray strands and tuck them gently behind my ear.

I freeze. I want to pull away, but I can’t. His touch is so subtle, yet it sends a shiver down my spine.

He pulls his hand from my ear and my hand moves on its own, brushing against his. The world stills. I don’t know if I’m holding his hand or if he’s letting me.