Chapter 18: Fickle Feelings~

KAEL'S POV

The drive back from the palace was silent. My guards knew better than to speak when my jaw was locked this tight.

I just refused a princess. In front of the Council. In front of the prince and In front of a king who derives joy in holding grudges.

Idiot, my father’s voice would have snarled in my head. You don’t slap a king unless you’re ready for war.

The mansion was dark when we pulled in. Only the library lamp was on, spilling dull gold light through the crack under the door.

Annabeth.

Her scent hit me before I even stepped inside. Strawberry and lavender. Soft and Human. Wrong for this house of blood and politics, and still the only thing that calmed the beast in my chest.

I pushed the library door open.

She was there.

Curled on the chaise by the window, buried under three blankets like she could hide from me. From this place. From the life I dragged her into. A book was splayed open on the floor, pages bent. She’d been reading. Or pretending to.

She looked small. Breakable.

Mine.

Something in my ribs pulled tight.

I crossed the room without a sound. The palace stink was still on me, incense, cold marble, and Armea’s strong perfume. I didn’t want it near her. I removed my jacket and threw it far away from me and unbuttoned my shirt.

I watched her face closely, studying her breathing. She was asleep. Really asleep, for once. Not the half-sleep she did when I was around in the house, where every breath I took made her shoulders tense.

I took a deep sniff of her, Her face was turned into the blanket. The Strawberry and lavender scent stronger here, warmth from her skin dancing around my face. She looked very peaceful, Sleeping soundly like she didn't have a care in the world.

For one second, I let myself think: Maybe she’s starting to feel safe here.

Then I reached for her.

I was going to carry her to the room. My bed now Her bed. Where there were locks, even if they meant nothing to me. Where she wouldn’t wake up with a pain in her neck because she refused to sleep in a real bed while I was home.

My arms slid under her, one at her knees, one at her back.

She woke instantly.

Her whole body went rigid. Eyes flying open, wild, panicked, then clearing when they landed on me.

No scream came. She didn’t scream anymore. That was Progress for me.

“Put me down,” she said. Her Voice rough with sleep, but steady. She wasn't asking. She was just Telling, Commanding.

I froze.

For a heartbeat, the Lycan in me wanted to ignore her. She’s tired. She’s mine and I’ll take her where it’s safe. It was my duty to take care of her.

But the man, the one who was trying very, very hard not to be the monster she thinks took her from Red Moon, won.

I set her down on her feet Gently and Slowly, Like she was made of glass.

She stepped back immediately, pulling the blanket around her shoulders like armor. Her heartbeat was fast. I could hear it. I could Smell the faint spike of adrenaline from her under the strawberry and lavender.

“I can walk on my own,” she said, her chin up. Defiant even in bare feet and an oversized sleep shirt.

I nodded once, “Alright.”

I didn't want to fight her anymore. I promised to allow her make some of Her choices. Like this one.

She studied me for a second, like she was waiting for the trap. When none came, she bent and grabbed her book from the floor. Clutched it to her chest.

Then she walked past me. She Didn’t run. She just Walked with her Back straight.

But I still saw it, the way her fingers tightened on the book when she got to the door.

She paused there. Didn’t look at me.

“You’re quiet,” she said to the doorframe.

It didn't seem like a question. Rather an observation.

I said nothing. I Couldn’t. Yes, because I just made an enemy of the crown to protect you. Yes, because Armea may find means to come for you now. Yes, because I might have signed your death warrant today.

She waited one more second, probably waiting for me to speak. Then left.

Her footsteps were soft down the hall. I listened till she got inside the room and closed the door behind her.

I stayed in the library, breathing in the scent of her that lingered everywhere, hoping it'd remove the remains of the throne room stench off my skin.

I kept thinking of ways to protect Annabeth. It's bad enough that I refused Armea, but she's already seen her here in my home, wearing my clothes. I know it wouldn't take her long to figure out what was truly going on. And what she was to me.

Armea is an impulsive and dangerous woman.

And now my mate, my terrified, stubborn, slowly-thawing mate, was in her sights.

~~

ANNABETH'S POV

~~

I made it to my room before my legs started shaking.

He almost carried me.

Some days ago I would’ve clawed his eyes out for touching me in my sleep. Two weeks ago I would’ve screamed.

Tonight... I told him to put me down. And he did.

Just like that. No snarl. No “I’m the Enforcer, you’ll do as I say.” He just did as I said.

I pressed my back to the door and slid to the floor, book still crushed to my chest.

Stupid. Stupid to feel anything other than hate for him. I had to remember that He kidnapped me. Ripped me from my pack. From Tommy. From everything.

But he had changed, he was softer, kinder. And I didn't like it.

He looked... haunted tonight. When I saw his face, it looked sad and cold. Not the usual cold, controlled mask he wore sometimes. This was different. Like something had gone wrong. Very wrong.

You’re quiet, I’d said to him, expecting him to say something but he didn't. I didn't want to seem like i cared about what was bothering him so I simply left.

The warmth in the library was stronger when he was near.

And I knew he could smell me by the way he kept breathing in. Lycans could smell everything. Fear. Lies.

Could he smell that the hate I had for him wasn’t as sharp anymore? That sometimes, when he thought I was asleep, and he just stood in the doorway watching, I didn’t feel like a prey but felt safe?

Goddess, I was losing my mind.

I crawled into bed and pulled the blankets up to my chin. The same blankets he’d just seen me buried in.

He could’ve forced me. Could’ve carried me anyway. Could’ve reminded me I was his mate, his to protect, his to handle. But he didn't.

And now he was downstairs, looking sad and worried like something happened.

Something bad.

And the worst part?

A tiny, traitorous part of me wanted to go back downstairs and ask if he was okay.

I rolled over and squeezed my eyes shut.

No. He was still the Lycan Enforcer and He's the reason I was stuck here.

But... His face still haunted me.

My eyes flew open and I quickly jumped out of bed, determined.

I have to know what happened, I have to know why he looked so sad.

I made my way out of the room, and back to the library.

My fickle feelings had betrayed me once more.

~