MAGNUS, LET HER BE

Chapter 11

Magnus! Let Her Be!

Adelaide's POV

I pressed my bleeding palm to my chest.

Something was wrong. It felt very wrong the moment I pulled my palm out and my blood touched the garden floor.

I felt like something strange was about to happen, but I just couldn't place it.

My heart was racing in response to the pain I was feeling now.

Suddenly, something pulled at my chest and my knees weakened. I quickly grabbed the nearest branch to steady myself.

My head was spinning and my thoughts were running wild as usual.

The only thing that left my mouth was his mouth and I couldn't tell why.

“Kaius…” his name slipped out, shaky and breathless.

Why did it hurt to say his name?

Guards rushed into the garden. “Your Majesty! You’re bleeding!”

“I’m fine,” I lied, though my legs trembled.

“Take me to him.”

They hesitated, glancing at each other as though I was staying something I shouldn't.

“I said, take me to him.” I said, and this time around they acted without thinking twice.

But, why was I asking to go to him?! What's wrong with me?!

Why was I revolving around him?! Did he do something to me last time?!

A lot of things went on in my head but I couldn't deny the fact that my heart yawned to see him.

They brought us to the same room.

I knew it before I even saw him, the tension was too high to ignore.

My chest burned as soon as I crossed the threshold.

Kaius sat on the edge of the bed, his jaw tight, his face pale, blood dried beneath his nose.

Our eyes met and I saw the look in his eyes, I saw the relief but I wasn't sure of his next line of action.

The room went still.

“What did you do?” he snapped immediately, his gaze fixed on me.

I flinched.

“I… I don’t know,” I said softly, holding up my injured hand. “I was in the garden and…”

“Stay away from me.” His voice was sharp, almost… afraid.

I took a step back without thinking. He looked like he might be dangerous to talk to.

“You shouldn’t be near me,” he continued, and I saw his fists clenched. “Do you hear me? Whatever this is—whatever you are, stay away.”

That hurt more than the cut, I felt my chest tightened immediately he said so.

“I didn’t mean to…”

“Enough.” He turned his face away, breathing hard. “Leave.”

But, I didn't do anything?! What does he mean?! Is he feeling what I'm feeling inside too?!

I couldn't ask him, I just stood and watched him for a while.

My mouth opened to speak, but I held myself back.

“Leave!” He said again, louder this time making me jerk.

I turned to leave, but then I heard my name like a whisper.

“Adelaide….”

The sound came the second time and I turned, but his eyes were distant.

It wasn't coming from him. What was that?!!

I left immediately, before something else happened.

But, I was worried about him. I didn't know how to appease him.

I paced the corridor for a while and then I saw a maid bringing his meal.

I ran quickly to meet her, “I'll give him myself..”

The maid looked at me, as though surprised.

“Luna.. are you sure?” She asked, still holding the tray.

I nodded and slowly she released it.

“Thank you.” I muttered but she didn't respond, she just bowed and left almost immediately.

I breathed hard and then, I went on my way to meet him again. Maybe, we could have a proper conversation.

___

Kaius POV

I sat on the floor, battling with Magnus in my head.

“That was your chance! And you let her leave just like that!” Magnus yelled, my head spinning from his constant yelling.

“You can't have her!” I said, hitting my hand on the floor.

“You're stubborn! She's our mate! Can't you see what she's doing to us?! Can't you feel the bond?!” Magnus said again.

“I don't care how we feel, I don't just want it and you should get it!” I said, almost like a whisper now.

“I think she's coming.” Magnus said and I felt the excitement in his voice, he was happy.

I shook my head, “no.. I asked her to leave, there's no way she'll re…”

I couldn't complete my sentence when the door opened.

I looked and saw her standing with a food tray, but I quickly turned away.

“I didn't tell you I was not hungry.”

My voice came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t take it back.

The tray hovered at the edge of my vision before I finally looked up. Adelaide stood there, both hands gripping the handles.

She looked as though she was scared of what I would say and she was bracing herself up.

“What is that smell?!” I asked, looking over the tray.

I could smell it. Broth. Herbs. Things meant to heal.

“It's food and also herbs.” She said,

That was exactly why my chest tightened, but I didn't show it.

“You haven’t eaten since yesterday,” she said softly. “The physician said you need strength.”

I let out a dry laugh. “And since when did you start taking orders from palace physicians?”

Her fingers tightened around the tray. I could hear her heartbeat.

Magnus stirred uneasily, as though scolding me for speaking to her harshly.

“Put it down and leave,” I said.

She hesitated, her gaze on me.

That hesitation snapped something ugly inside me.

“So now you’re deaf too?” I added coldly. “Or is this part of the act?”

Her brows knit together. “What act?”

I stood up abruptly. The room seemed to shrink as I moved closer. “This,” I said sharply, gesturing at the tray. “This concern. This soft voice. Don’t insult my intelligence.”

Her lips parted. “I was only trying to…”

“Trying to do what?” I cut in. “Look useful? Play the role better?”

Her eyes widened, almost in shock.

“You think I don’t see it?” I continued, my tone rising now. “You pretend to care so convincingly that even you might believe it. But I know better.”

Magnus growled low but I ignored him.

“You’re here because you were chosen,” I said flatly. “Not because you want to be. Not because you care. Don’t confuse duty with affection!!”

Her hands began to tremble and it was clear.

“I didn’t bring this because I was told to,” she whispered. “I brought it because you collapsed. Because you were bleeding.”

That word.

I felt it again, the loss of control, the shame, the fear that followed. I didn’t want to see it reflected in her eyes.

“Enough,” I snapped.

Before she could react, I struck the tray.

The sound was so loud that she jerked. The food and herbs spilled on the floor and the smell filled the room.

She gasped and silence followed immediately.

Slowly, she stepped back, staring at the mess between us. Her lower lip trembled, but she didn’t cry. That somehow made it worse.

“I see,” she said quietly.

She didn’t look at me again.

Without another word, she turned and left and the door closed softly behind her.

I stood there, breathing hard, staring at the ruined meal on the floor. The room felt colder and empty at the same time.

Magnus snarled inside me.

You hurt her.

“Shut up,” I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, elbows resting on my knees. My head dropped forward.

Why did it feel like I had just cut off my own limb?

Minutes passed. Or maybe hours. Time didn’t matter.

I replayed the look on her face.

The disappointment in her eyes, and her gaze.

I had seen fear before. Hatred too. But that quiet hurt, it was raw and unguarded and it sat heavy in my chest.

She didn’t argue. She didn’t even defend herself.

She just… left.

“Idiot,” I muttered to myself.

Magnus didn’t respond this time. He didn’t need to.

A knock broke the silence.

“What now?” I growled.

Rafaello entered cautiously. One look at the floor and his eyes widened, but he said nothing about it.

“Your Majesty,” he said, bowing. “There’s news from the border villages.”

I straightened immediately. “Speak.”

His expression darkened as he drew nearer. “A settlement near the eastern woods. Entire households wiped out.”

My jaw tightened immediately.

“How?” I asked slowly.

He swallowed. “Magic. Dark magic. No weapons were used and there is no sign of struggle.”

The room seemed to tilt when he said that.

I stood up fully now. “Show me the report.”

Rafaello handed me a sealed parchment. I scanned it quickly, my fingers tightening with every word in it.

Burn marks that weren’t fire.

Sigils carved into stone.

I knew this magic. I had memorized it. The last time something like this happened, I wasn't on full alert and I didn't know.

She's back and I know why she came.