Page 33 of The Forsaken Heir
“Well, you thought right,” Elle said, cutting him off.
I fought back a sigh of disappointment. My friends meant well, but this simply meant I would not have a chance to ingratiate myself with Elle tonight like I’d thought I might. There was no guarantee of anything carnal happening, but the sexual tension between us had only grown stronger throughout the day. Besides, a prince could dream couldn’t he?
“Looks like another dinner party,” I said, forcing a smile. “Let’s get started.”
As much as I’d wanted her alone, I couldn’t argue the fact that she seemed to like Rasp and Vince, which was nice. Both men had been ostracized by their own families, and as such most of the nobility looked down on them. Having a noblewoman, even if it was a wolf, take to them like this would be good for their mental state. In the end, it was an enjoyable evening, and I laughed more than I had in a long time. In fact, since I’d met Elle, I’d laughed more than I had in years.
And wasn’t that an interesting revelation?
7
AURELIUS
When I awoke in my room the next morning, it was with an overwhelming sense of disappointment. Today, Elle’s family would finally let us know when and where to deliver her back to their custody. Once she was handed over, I’d likely never see her again.
As I sat up in bed, I wondered how a woman could have become so intrinsically tied to me in such a short time. A little more than a day, and she’d become something like an obsession. I’d had about a dozen dreams about her, each one more intense and powerful than the one before. Everything about her burrowed its way into my mind. Her laugh, her eyes, the way she spoke—all of it. It was driving me crazy, but in a good way.
“What is wrong with me?” I muttered as I rubbed at my eyes.
Before I could actually delve into that question, I got out of bed and prepared myself for the day. Even as I washed up and dressed for the day, a pervasive sadness filled me that was only broken by the persistent knocking at my door.
I buttoned my shirt and opened the door to find Titus outside.
“Your Highness, we’ve received a message from Karinius. He’s had a meeting with the Laurent family and is flying back as we speak. He’s expected to return within the hour.”
Excitement and surprise struck me, but also an even more foreboding sense that I was losing Elle even quicker than I’d anticipated. She could be gone by lunchtime.
“Uh, very well. Thank you, Titus. Has my father returned from his business?”
Titus nodded once, a decisive and practical movement. “Yes, Your Highness. He arrived late last night. Shall I awaken him?”
I chuckled ruefully. “You know him as well as I do. He’s probably been awake for hours now. The old man never rests enough. Let him know Karinius is on the way, and that I’ll bring Elle—uh, Brielle Laurent—to the throne room in a few minutes.”
“Very good, sir.” Titus turned to go, leaving me to stew with my emotions.
With nothing else to do, I went to collect Elle from her room. The whole walk, I tried my best to ready myself to say goodbye, and I thought I’d managed a good set of lines to say that wouldn’t sound too sappy or emotional, but all that flew out of my mind when I found her door standing ajar.
“Elle?” I called as I pushed it open.
Inside, I found only one of the maids making up the bed. She turned and smiled at me.
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
“Good morning, Serilia. Where is our guest?”
“Mistress Brielle? She headed to the dining room for breakfast some time ago. Lords Vincent and Raspion collected her earlier.”
“Oh,” I said dumbly. It appeared I was the only one in the whole castle to sleep late. “Very well. Thank you.”
I hurried downstairs to the dining room. Before I found Elle, I heard her. She was speaking in a rote way that made it sound like she was reading out loud from a book.
“I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other,” she intoned.
Turning the corner, I found Elle sitting at one of our smaller dining room tables, a spread of food before her. Vincent sat across from her, staring at her in rapt silence as she read from a hardcover copy ofFrankensteinby Mary Shelley. On the opposite side of the room, Rasp was also listening, but he was on the ground doing sit-ups. He was obsessed with making sure his midsection was as ripped and impressive as possible.
Elle glanced up at my arrival and smiled. Heat cascaded over me, as though someone had poured warm honey on me, and it seeped down from the top of my head and across my entire body. It was striking to see her interact with my two friends. She put them at ease in a way no one else but I did and gave them the respect that most other dragons didn’t. Strange that a wolf shifter would be the one to truly take them as they were. I’d grown used to being the only one who saw them as worthwhile and valuable companions.
“Hey there.” Elle held up the book. “Vince wanted to hear some of this.”
