Page 70 of Restored

It steals the breath from my lungs and clogs my throat with panic. Things as beautiful as him weren’t meant for people like me.

I needed space, needed his hands off me. Needed to inhale a breath that didn’t carry his scent. I jerk away from him, but his hand tightens around me, robbing me of my fight.

I force myself to swallow the panic and blink my welling eyes. I relax into him, pretending for tonight, I am someone else. For tonight, I just want to be a girl being held by a boy. I allow my guilt and fear to fade and let myself imagine what it could be like for us in a different life.

If he was just a boy and I was just a girl.

I startle awaketo a knock at my door. I notice I’m alone, the side where Ledger lay last night, cold.

The knock comes again, and I spring out of bed fumbling over to the door. I open it to see a perky-looking Archie in his training gear.

“Rise and shine, beautiful! I heard the news; we did it!” Archie scoops me into a big hug, spinning me so my feet leave the floor. I laugh as he puts me back down. “I thought we could celebrate with a little training session.”

His eyes drift, taking in my appearance, and I remember I am wearing only Ledger’s shirt. Realization crosses both of our faces at the same time, and I attempt to push him out of the room just as he shuts the door behind him.

“Wasn’t Ledger wearing that shirt yesterday?” Archie’s voice follows me as I beeline to the closet. “Ithought you’d been healing the King all this time. Wait, was this how Ledger thanked you?” I hear the amusement in his voice.

He stops outside of the closet as I throw on my training uniform, scrambling for an explanation. I stomp out of the closet, throwing the shirt at Archie’s smug face as he leans against the wall. “You’re mistaken. The shirt was hanging in my closet.”

“You’re a terrible liar.” He looks pointedly at my discarded nightgown lying in a puddle by the bed. “Sexual frustration has been permeating from you two for days. This morning, however, you’re looking refreshed and suspiciously relaxed.” I throw my shoe at his head, and he, to my displeasure, dodges it.

“I’m glad he offered his services because if he didn’t, I was about to. Just as a courtesy, of course.” He smirks as I pick up the thrown shoe, yanking it on.

“Shut up, Archie. Are you here to train me, or are you just going to taunt me all day?”

“I honestly didn’t know you had it in you. It’s only been what, five hours since I last saw you and you’ve already healed the King and seduced the prince. I’m impressed.” He beams at me as I push past him into the bathroom.

“Nothing happened,” I call as I splash some cold water onto my heated face.

“Mia and I were taking bets on how long it would take you two to finally give in to each other. I didn’t think you’d make it past Grimwood.”

“It was a lapse in judgment; it won’t happen again.”

“Many girls have said that to me before, and it always happens again.” He grins over at me, and I roll my eyes.

“Have you heard how the King is doing this morning?”

“When I saw him last, he was up, walking around, and looked healthier than I have seen him in years,” he says, and relief courses through me.

“I should go check on him.” I pull on my boots.

“He requested to be alone for the morning. I would check back this afternoon,” he informs me. “I knew we could do it, Layla. In fact, I’d like to show you my own appreciation.” He leans in, closing his eyes and pursing his lips, and I push his head away.

“Very funny. Can we go now?” He chuckles and motions me forward.

“Lead the way, my lady.”

My back slamsinto the mat, punching the air from my lungs for what feels like the thousandth time.

Archie steps on my wrist, forcing my hand open for him to retrieve my dagger. I am eternally grateful my aching muscles from the days prior were healed last night because I can feel the new aches of today already setting in.

“You’re sloppy and distracted, you should have seen me coming that time.” Archie holds out his hand to help me up.

He’s not wrong. Ledger is training with Cam in the square next to us. He isn’t wearing a shirt, and the sounds coming out of his mouth are making my mind drift to the events of last night.

He seems lighter today, smiling and joking with Cam. It’s so foreign to see, so charming I can’t keep my greedy eyes from straying to him.

I grab Archie’s hand and stand up brushing myself off.

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