The talk(2)

Lila’s POV

"What do you want to chat about?" I asked, acting cool, but my heart didn't play along. It beat so loud, I thought he might hear it.

Something moved in Adrian's eyes, something deep that made the air heavy. "You know what."

I went stiff, gripping the strap of my work bag tight. I shook my head a bit, faking a confused face. "I don’t."

His look stayed strong. It seemed to cut through my act.

Taking a slow, deep breath, he said again, this time softer but clear, "Please come with me. I'm serious."

"Why?" I shot back fast, pulling my bag tight to me as if it could protect me.

His mouth twisted in a small, cold smile. "Maybe I should just say it now... in front of all."

I felt a tightness in my throat. The last thing I wanted was for others to hear hints of our error, a night that was a big mistake. Already, some of the palace helpers had stopped working, feeling the tension in his words. They looked back and forth between us, eyes wide and keen. Heat rushed to the back of my neck, shame rolling in my belly.

"Fine," I spoke fast, softer than I meant to. "Where should we talk?"

A flicker of pleasure crossed his face as he motioned for me to come along. "Follow me."

I hesitated but the thought of him actually talking about what happened between us that night, here in the kitchen, when the maids already perked their east ready to catch the faintest of whispers, sent a shiver down my spine. So, I walked with him across the yard, away from the eyes of the palace. The path of stones went through tall green walls and blooms, taking us deeper into quiet. With each step, my heart got faster, pulled between fear and a feeling I wouldn’t say.

When we got to a garden, everything felt still. It was quiet here, hidden from the world by walls of roses and lilies leaning towards the sun. The sweet air was all around me, calm but too strong.

“This garden,” Adrian spoke at last, stopping by the stone water thrower in the middle, where water fell softly. “You’re only the second woman I’ve ever brought here.”

His words made me freeze. My brows furrowed, curiosity pulling the question from me before I could stop it. “And the first?”

His eyes lit up and a smile spread across his face. “Your sister.”

The words hit me like a punch. I stopped breathing and turned away fast, looking at the flowers like they were all I could see. Sophia. It was always her. No matter how hard I tried, the jealousy crept up on me.

He had brought Sophia here. Sure, she had the right to be here before me, but deep down, I felt she didn't belong.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” Adrian said in a low voice. “I didn’t bring you here to make you hurt. I brought you here to say sorry.”

I crossed my arms over me. “For what you did?”

He nodded. “Yes. That should not have happened. It was my fault.”

“It was our mistake,” I corrected, forcing my voice to stay steady though my insides trembled. “We both know it can’t happen again. And it won’t. So we keep it a secret. No one needs to know.”

His shoulders fell a bit, yet his face still wore worry. "Agreed. But, I’m sorry… most of all for your mate. I know what went down."

A soft pain hit me deep, like an open cut. The flashbacks of his false act wanted to rise, but I kept them down, balling my hands till my nails hurt my skin. "Don’t," I said in a low voice, almost breaking. "I don’t want to talk about him."

"Alright," Adrian said in a gentle way, his voice full of real feeling. "I'll honor that."

We stayed quiet then, with only the sound of water flowing from the fountain to fill the air. I thought we were done talking, but then he spoke again.

“I also heard you’re a healer. At the pack’s clinic.”

My head snapped toward him, my eyes narrowing. “How did you know that?”

His lips twitched into the faintest smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Since last night to this morning, I’ve had every detail about my new family brought to me. I like to know the people close to me.”

I exhaled slowly, caught between admiration and unease. He was thorough, maybe too thorough. “Then yes, I’m a healer. But…”

“But?” he pressed, leaning closer, his eyes searching mine.

“I’ll have to quit.”

His brow creased instantly. “Why?”

“Because your mother made it clear royals don’t work. The words left a bitter taste in my mouth. Saying them loud made the pain hit harder.

Adrian’s jaw tightened, his look getting tough. “That’s my mother’s view, not mine or yours. If healing is what you love, you should not stop. I’ll talk to her.”

I looked at him, shocked. “You would do that for me?”

He nodded fast. “Of course. You’re part of this family now. No one should stop you from doing what gives you a goal.”

I felt a warmth inside, growing despite myself. I looked down, saying, “Thank you.”

The quiet that came next felt different, heavy with things left unsaid. It was the sort of silence that made you feel safe yet on edge. I could sense his gaze on me, strong and focused, and it became too much. If I stood there any longer, I worried I might add to my list of dirty secrets.

“I should go,” I managed to say quickly, pushing my legs to walk to the door. My footsteps rang on the stone ground, trying hard to get me away from the pull of his look.

But just as I was about to leave the garden, a shadow crossed my way. A shape I knew well came into view.

Sophia.

Her eyes grew big before her mouth turned into a smile.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice deceptively calm.