Page 32 of Destiny Redeemed
Chapter 8
The sun had barely peeked over the horizon when I dragged myself out of bed, grumbling about princely demands I’d rather not attend. But here I was, trudging to the palace like a good little noble, ready to “assist” with security arrangements I knew nothing about.
After last night I knew it was useless for me to avoid him.
As I entered the grand foyer, my eyes swept over the opulent marble floors and gilded columns, looking for golden curls.
“Lady Ilyana,” a smooth voice called out. “I’m pleased you’ve decided to grace us with your presence.”
I turned to see Prince Anderic striding towards me, looking deliciousl- ahem infuriatingly — handsome in his royal blue doublet. My heart did a little flip, but I squashed the feeling ruthlessly.
“Your Highness,” I curtsied, the picture of demure nobility. “I’m here as requested. Though I must admit, I’m not entirely sure how I can be of assistance in matters of security.”
A smile played at the corners of his lips. “Of course, you wouldn’t know anything about security, my lady. I simply desired the company of a pretty face while I made my rounds.”
I blinked, momentarily thrown off balance. He was back to his usual self. Where was the passionate man from last night? Had I imagined the whole encounter?
“I see,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “Well, I’m happy to provide aesthetic value to your day, Your Highness.”
He chuckled, offering me his arm. “Shall we begin our tour then?”
As we walked through the palace corridors, I found myself hyper-aware of his proximity. The warmth of his arm beneath my hand, the faint scent of sandalwood that clung to him. It was maddening.
We discussed the placement of guards, potential weak points in the castle’s defenses, and a hundred other mundane details. All the while, I waited for him to bring up our kiss, to acknowledge the electricity that had sparked between us.
But he didn’t.
He was the perfect gentleman, polite and charming, but utterly devoid of the heat I’d felt last night. It was infuriating.
“Is something troubling you, Lady Ilyana?” Anderic asked, breaking into my thoughts. “You seem… distracted.”
I plastered on a smile. “Not at all, Your Highness. I’m simply in awe of the complexity involved in planning such an event.”
He nodded. “It is quite the undertaking. But with your assistance, I’m sure it will be a resounding success.”
As we continued our tour, I found myself growing increasingly frustrated. Had I imagined the whole thing? The intensity in his eyes, the passion in his kiss?
Or was this all part of some game he was playing?
I stole a glance at his profile, admiring the strong line of his jaw and the curve of his lips. Those lips that had been on mine just hours ago…
“Lady Ilyana?” Anderic’s voice cut through my reverie. “You’re staring. Do I have something on my face?”
Before I could formulate a suitably sarcastic response to Anderic’s question about his face, a commotion erupted from somewhere ahead of us. The sound of raised voices and hurried footsteps echoed through the marble halls.
“What’s going on?” I asked, turning to Anderic with a raised eyebrow.
He frowned, his golden brows knitting together. “It seems the Elentharian delegation is departing.”
“Oh?” I kept my voice carefully neutral. “Is Lord Callum leaving as well?”
Anderic’s gaze sharpened, pinning me in place. “Yes, he is. Why do you ask?”
I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. “No reason. Just curious.”
But my mind was racing. It seemed about right for the delegation to leave, though I didn’t remember much about it from the past, but Callum? I knew better. He wouldn’t truly depart; he’d go into hiding to continue his nefarious plan— stealing the method of Aetherian steel. But this time I wouldn’t be helping him.God knows what he’ll do now. And it wasn’t my problem anymore.But I knew exactly where he’d be holed up.
The question was, how much should I reveal to Anderic?
