Chapter 26b-Free Chapter

I returned to his room few minutes later. The first thing I noticed was the silence of his room. For a brief moment I thought he might have left, until the faint sound of water running behind the closed bathroom door reached me.

I stepped inside, shut the door, and crossed the room in a few strides to the edge of the bed. I sat down, resting my forearms on my thighs, fingers loosely intertwined as I waited.

His scent still lingered in the air, softer than usual, mixed with the faint trace of mine. Funny how I immediately found myself back in the scent I was just running from.

I heard the bathroom door open, and the sound of his footsteps reached my ears as he stepped out.

“Y-Your Majesty?”

I lifted my head. Our eyes met for only a second before mine dropped to his leg. I noticed he was leaning more on his good leg, but it wasn't too obvious. I studied the way he held his weight, then looked back up at him.

“Come here.”

The command left my mouth softer than I intended. He moved immediately, crossing the short distance until he stood in front of me. I rose to my full height, towering over him. The difference between us was impossible to ignore this close, and I couldn't help the slight amusement that slowly filled me as I watched the top of his head.

He looked…

I shook my head immediately, shaking off such taboo thoughts.

“How is your leg?” I asked.

He looked up at me briefly at the question. “It’s… better, Your Majesty.”

I looked at his face longer than necessary, drinking in every detail. He had round doe eyes, framed perfectly by long lashes, his nose, looked quite small as I now noticed.

Can he even breathe properly with that?

His eyes tried to hold mine, but after only a few seconds they dropped to the floor. And I immediately noticed the way his fingers twisted into the hem of his shirt, probably a nervous habit of his.

“Did you master everything my brother taught you?”

He nodded quickly, head down. “Yes, Your Majesty. But… we weren’t able to learn all of it.”

Of course you weren't, there was no way I was going to let that happen. I gave a short nod and took a step back, creating more space inbetween us.

“I will teach you the basics myself, including what Zira already showed you. Tomorrow, I will assign a servant for you to practice with.”

I actually planned to teach him everything myself, but then I didn't want to look too desperate to my brother, trying to prove a silly point.

“But listen carefully.” I said lowly, gaining his attention. I let my gaze harden. “You will never dance with my brother again. Do you understand?”

His body tensed, and he nodded at once. “Y-Yes, Your Majesty. I understand.”

I held his eyes a moment longer to make sure the warning settled, then continued, feeling very satisfied.

“When it is announced that we are to give the first Royal dance of the night, you will step forward to the dance floor and bow to your King. Then you will take one more step forward and wait.”

I gestured for him to demonstrate. He obeyed, giving careful steps, a small formal bow, then another step toward me. The movements were still stiff under my scrutiny, but it was his first time, so I let it slide.

“Good.” I nodded once. “After that, you will wait a few seconds until I reach out my hand, proposing the dance. Throughout all of it, you will maintain eye contact with me. Do not look away.”

His breathing shifted. I could see the tension climb in his shoulders.

“Silas.”

His eyes snapped back up, wide and filled with slight tension. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Keep your eyes on me.”

He forced himself to hold my gaze. The bond flared between us the moment our eyes locked. I kept the contact deliberately long, somehow unable to keep my eyes off him before speaking again.

“Again. From the beginning.”

He stepped back, drew a breath, and started over. This time when I extended my hand, he placed his in mine, but he remained rooted in place. I was barely able to control my sudden irritation and pulled him forward sharply.

His body collided with mine, and a startled sound escaped his lips. One of his hands stayed trapped in mine while the other flew up and gripped my arm for balance. We stood locked together, his chest against mine, his scent suddenly thick around me. The bond surged hard enough that I felt it in my spine. His heart was racing, I could feel it.

He stayed there longer than necessary before suddenly pulling away as if I burned him, stumbling back and offering a hurried bow.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

I raised a brow at the sight. No wonder my brother loved to hang around him alot. I had to admit, Slias was… endearing. When I wasn't too far up in my head and looking at him alone didn't irritate every nerve ending in me, my mate was quite entertaining to watch.

I exhaled sharply, forcing the thoughts away. “The moment you accept my hand, you are supposed to step forward as well. It is an act of courtesy. You do not stand there like a damn tree waiting to be dragged. You move WITH me. Understood?”

He nodded quickly, fists clenched at his sides. His bottom lip disappeared between his teeth, another nervous habit. I watched it for a second too long. I hated this particular habit, because it made me unable to look away.

“Stop doing that.”

He flinched hard, head jerking up, eyes wide with confusion. He probably didn’t know what I meant.

I sighed again. This was starting to get more difficult than I thought.

“Let’s go again.”

He stepped back into position. This time he followed every instruction correctly. When I offered my hand, he took it and stepped forward at the same time. My arm locked around his waist, pulling him in until almost no space remained between us.

My body felt the contact more than it should have.

His free hand settled on my shoulder. His body was warm, smaller, fitting against mine so perfectly. His scent wrapped around me completely, far too distracting. I could feel every slight tremor that ran through him.

But he wasn't looking at me.

He kept his gaze lowered.

“Look at me.”

He forced his eyes up. And the moment they met mine, the air between us changed. Something sharp and charged settled over both of us. I held his gaze without looking away. Then, unable to control myself, my eyes dropped to his mouth.

His lips parted slightly, his breathing shallow. I felt the bond suddenly tightening like a drawn wire. Before I could stop myself, I began to lean in. The heat of his breath brushed against my lips. His body trembled once in my hold, but he didn't turn away.

I was about to lean in when a loud knock shattered the moment. And bringing me back to my senses.

I pulled back at once, letting out another sharp breath. The knock came again, followed by a voice.

“Your Majesty?”

Silas tried to step out of my arms, but I gave him a single sharp look that stopped him cold. He remained still while I turned my head toward the door, still keeping him in place.

“What is the matter?”

“Your Majesty, you are needed urgently.”

Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

“I will be there shortly.”

“The matter is very urgent, Your Majesty-”

“Are you deaf?” I snapped, feeling my mate jump in my arms.

A hurried apology followed, then retreating footsteps.

The silence returned and I looked back down at him. He was still watching me, throat working as he swallowed. For a moment neither of us moved. Part of me considered continuing the lesson, or finishing what I started, keeping him here, against my body, longer. The thought was tempting enough that I almost acted on it.

But I didn’t.

Continuing now would look like more than it needed to be.

So I released him slowly. The moment the contact broke, the absence of his warmth felt like a part of me suddenly went missing.

“That will be all for today,” I said, forcing my voice back into its usual distance. “The servant I choose will be ready to teach you the rest of the dance tomorrow.”

I turned and walked out before I could change my mind.