Page 74 of Restored

“I hope it’s appropriate to meet your father. I was going for something innocent and sweet.”

“I’m pretty sure he will see through that the second you open your mouth.”

“Hey!” I push his shoulder, and that damn dimple appears. My heart flutters at its appearance. As soon as it disappears, I already want to see it again. This new side I I’m seeing of Ledger is dangerous. The more he lets me in, the further I wanted to explore.

Now that the King is healed, I know I have to get back to Bellehaven, and I feel the ticking clock like my own impendingdoom. I don’t want to leave, but I can’t see any other option.

The walls I built around myself are crumbling at a rapid rate, and I can already feel the devastation setting in.

As we walk, my eyes filter around, drinking in the castle’s artistry. It’s a mix of elegance and charm. I could get used to so many windows and the beautiful greenery outside of them.

“I forgot to ask, are we mentioning the whole ‘you kidnapped me’ thing, or should I keep that to myself?”

Ledger stops dead in his tracks, making me stumble. His face loses a little color, which elicits a smile from me.

“Kidding.”

“You think yourself very funny, don’t you?” His body relaxes, and he continues walking.

“You don’t?”

“Oh, I find you many things.”

“Enlighten me.” I smile, curious.

“Stubborn, frustrating, strong-willed,” he begins.

“I’m flattered. I can’t begin to conceive why you are not betrothed, you have such a way with words and women.”

“You didn’t let me finish.” We stop outside of two double doors. “You’re strikingly beautiful, kind, captivating, and by far the most intriguing woman I have ever met.” He brushes some hair behind my shoulder, his hand lingering as if needing some excuse to touch me.

“Watch it, Prince, you say too many nice things about me, and I may never leave,” I joke. Ledger falls silent as he looks at me, and I gesture to the doors. “Are we going to go in?”

He opens one side and my heart jolts. I hesitate in the doorway until Ledger’s familiar hand finds my back. “I’ll be with you the whole time.”

“Reassuring,” I mumble and feel his grin on the shell of my ear before I walk into the room.

I let my fingers drag against the spines of old books as we amble inside. I’m once again struck by how lovely the library is.

“This used to be my mother’s favorite room, she would spend hours here. I used to join her reading, watering the plants— sometimes she’d even let me paint with her.”

“It’s perfect.” My eyes roam the bewitching room again, and I have the sudden urge to feel the sun warm my skin. My eyes scour around, and it’s only on my second sweep I notice the king sitting on the outside settee.

He is smiling at me, almost sadly, watching as I gawk. My cheeks heat, and I force myself over to him.

“My apologies, Your Grace, I don’t think I will ever get used to a place that is quite so enchanting.” I curtsey. “I’m Layla Sutton.”

“Wonderful name. Please, sit. You reminded me of my Eloise the first time I showed it to her.” He pauses as I hesitantly sit on the warmed cushion next to him. “I built it justfor her, you know. I could hardly get her to leave for a second after she laid eyes on it. If there was ever a time I couldn’t find her, this is where she would be. Now, when I need to feel her, I come here, her very presence is entwined in this room, these books, in this very settee.” The King strokes the book in his hand gingerly, his face alight with a rueful smile.

“She sounds lovely,” I respond.

“Lovely doesn’t even begin to describe her.” His eyes have a distant look as if he is now picturing her beauty. He shakes his head, clearing his eyes before continuing. “Now it is I who must apologize. I did not ask you here to bore you with woeful stories of the past.”

“They do not bore me; I quite like to hear of her.” I smile at the king. He looks so unlike the man I first saw, so full of life and almost impossibly younger. He is quite handsome, bearing a clear resemblance to Ledger. “You look well. How do you feel, if I may ask, Your Grace?”

“Call me Callum, please. I can’t remember a time when I’ve felt this well, thanks to you. I awoke feeling like I had aged ten years backward. It is nothing short of incredible that power of yours.”

“It was nothing really. I’m happy to have been able to help.”

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