Chapter 15: Compromised feelings

~Elara~

I ran.

Not literally. I wasn't that obvious about it. But my feet moved faster than they should have as I retreated down the corridor, my heart slamming against my ribs like it was trying to escape, my skin still tingling from the heat of his proximity.

‘You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my entire life.’

I pressed my palm against my chest, willing my pulse to slow. It didn't listen.

‘I would fight a million alpha princes for just a moment of your attention.’

What the hell was that? What the hell was he? And why, why couldn't I stop replaying every word, every look, every single detail of his body like the way his sweatpants hung low on his hips, revealing that V-shaped muscle that pointed downward like an arrow toward—

No.

I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my back against the wall, forcing air into my lungs.

This wasn't me. I didn't lose my head over men. I didn't blush and stammer and forget how to form sentences just because someone had a nice chest. I had spent five years building armor around my heart, brick by brick, until nothing could get through.

And this stranger, this arrogant, half-naked stranger with his knowing smirk had put cracks in that armor in under five minutes.

It was the stress. It has to be. My defenses were down. My emotions were heightened. Any woman would react this way under the circumstances.

I pushed off from the wall and kept walking, faster now, desperate to put distance between myself and whatever had just happened in that corridor. I need to see my daughter and remember who I am and why I am here.

I'm not here for golden-eyed princes with sugar-coated tongues.

The door to our room was slightly open when I reached it. I paused, my hand hovering over the handle, fear piercing through my confusion. I could hear voices drifting through the door. One high and bright and one soft and unfamiliar.

I pushed the door open and stopped.

Lily was awake, her dark hair tangled around her face, her cheeks pink with health instead of fever. She was chattering away to someone, her hands moving animatedly as she spoke, completely at ease.

The someone was a young woman. Mid-twenties, maybe. Soft brown hair pulled back in a simple braid. Plain gray dress. Kind eyes that crinkled at the corners as she listened to whatever story Lily was telling.

They both looked up when I entered.

"Mommy!" Lily's face lit up like the sun. She scrambled across the bed, arms outstretched, and I crossed the room in three strides, scooping her up and holding her tight against my chest.

The tears came before I could stop them.

"Hey, baby," I whispered into her hair, my voice cracking. "How are you feeling?"

"Good." She pulled back to look at me, her small hands framing my face. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm just happy you're awake." I kissed her forehead, her cheeks, the tip of her nose. "I was worried about you."

"I'm okay, Mommy. I slept really, really well." She squirmed in my arms, eager to share her news. "I had the best dreams. I was running through a forest and there were stars everywhere and I could smell everything. Like, everything. Even the dirt smelled pretty."

"That sounds like a wonderful dream, sweetheart."

"It was." Lily nodded seriously. Then she pointed at the young woman still standing by the bed. "This is Mira. She's really nice. She brought me juice."

I turned to look at the woman. She stood with her hands clasped in front of her, head slightly bowed.

"I apologize for the intrusion, ma'am," she said. "I didn't mean to overstep. The young miss woke up and seemed confused, and I wanted to make sure she was comfortable until you returned."

"Who are you?" I questioned harshly, then softened my tone. "I mean, how did you get in here? Who sent you?"

"My name is Mira, ma'am. Alpha Prince Kaelan sent me to attend to you and your daughter during your stay. I'm to be your personal maid and ensure you have everything you need."

“Alpha Prince Kaelan?” I scoffed.

Of course he had sent someone. Of course he was inserting himself into my life, into my daughter's life, without asking permission. Of course he was making decisions for me like I was some charity case who couldn't take care of herself.

"That won't be necessary," I said. "We don't need a maid."

Mira's eyes widened slightly, but her expression remained calm. "I understand, ma'am. But the Alpha Prince was quite insistent. He said—"

"I don't care what he said. We're perfectly capable of—"

"Mommy." Lily tugged on my sleeve. "Mira's nice. She told me about the gardens. She said there are flowers that glow in the dark. Can we go see them? Please?"

I looked down at my daughter's hopeful face. Then back at Mira, who was watching me with something like sympathy in her eyes.

I was being rude. I knew I was being rude. This woman had done nothing wrong. She was just following orders and I was taking out my anger at Kaelan on an innocent bystander.

But God, I was tired of feeling powerless. I was tired of being in a situation I didn't understand, surrounded by people who knew more than me, playing by rules no one had explained.

"Fine," I heard myself say. "You can stay. For now."

Mira's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Thank you, ma'am. Is there anything you need immediately? Fresh clothes? A bath drawn? The Alpha Prince asked me to inform you that breakfast is being served in the main dining room, but I can have a tray brought up if you'd prefer to eat privately."

A tray in our room sounded perfect. It sounded like exactly what I needed but Lily was already bouncing on the bed.

"Breakfast! I'm so hungry, Mommy. Can we go? Please? I want to see the dining room. Mira said it's really big. She said there's a table that can fit a hundred people."

"Not quite a hundred," Mira said with a small smile. "But it is quite large."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could say no. I could insist we stay in this room, hide away from the brothers and their strange world and their even stranger words.

But I cannot hide forever. And maybe, maybe facing them head-on is better than cowering up here, and letting my imagination run wild.

"Okay," I said. "We'll go down for breakfast."

Lily cheered. Mira nodded and moved toward the wardrobe, pulling out clothes I didn't recognize.

It was a green, bedazzled dress with a little slit on the thigh area, and a neckline that was too low for my liking. It was definitely too much for just breakfast.

"The Alpha Prince had these brought for you," Mira explained. "Based on estimated sizing. If they don't fit properly, I can have better alternatives sent."

Of course he did.

But well...if I was going into a den filled with compromised feelings, I might as well look the part.