Page 52 of Destiny Redeemed
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. When did my life become so complicated? Oh, right. The moment I let myself have feelings for a man.Again. Brilliant move, Ilyana.
Not just any man, but the golden lunatic of Aetheria. Prince Anderic.
The door creaked open, interrupting my internal pity party. Lennox stepped inside, his stoic face betraying nothing as he took up his post near the door.
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of fabric as I shifted in bed. I could feel Lennox’s gaze on me, probably judging my pathetic state.
I kept my gaze stubbornly on the intricate patterns of the bedspread, tracing them with my finger as if they held the answers to the universe. Or at least to the enigma that was Prince Anderic.
After what felt like an eternity, Lennox sighed. “He’s worried about you, you know.”
I looked up, startled. Lennox? Voluntarily speaking? Will wonders never cease today?
“Prince Anderic,” Lennox continued, his voice low. “I’ve never seen him act like this before. When your maid came that night with news of your capture…” He shook his head, a hint of bewilderment in his eyes. “He nearly lost it.”
My heart skipped a beat. I tried to school my features into neutrality, but Lennox’s piercing gaze told me I was failing miserably.
“He’s… never cared for anyone but his goals before. If sacrificing one person meant achieving the greater good, he’d do it without hesitation.” Lennox snorted. “Cold, calculating bastard.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. It seemed even the stoic captain had his moments of candor.
Lennox’s eyes met mine, his gaze intense. “But for you? He didn’t care about anything else. So give him some space. I’m sure he’s feeling these emotions for the first time too.”
My heart thundered in my chest, and I felt heat creep up my neck.Damn it, Ilyana, get a grip.
Unless Anderic said those words directly to me, I had no right to feel like this. No right to let my heart twist over something unspoken.
Heat crept up my neck, spreading across my cheeks. I quickly wiped at my eyes, realizing belatedly that they were damp. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, my voice betraying me with a slight quaver. “What Prince Anderic does or doesn’t do is of no concern to me.”
Lennox’s lips twitched. “Right,” Lennox drawled, his tone dripping with disbelief. Without another word, he returned to his post by the door.
The room lapsed back into silence, but this time it felt charged with unspoken truths. I fidgeted with my blanket, stealing glances at the door, hoping to see a flash of golden curls.
But Anderic didn’t return.
As the hours ticked by, my anxiety grew. Where was he? What if something had happened? What if—
A messenger arrived, whispering something to Lennox. The captain’s face remained impassive as he nodded, dismissing the messenger.
“Prince Anderic won’t be back tonight,” Lennox informed me. “He’s been called away on urgent business. I’m to guard you in his stead.”
My heart sank. Of course, he did. He was a prince, after all. He had responsibilities and a kingdom to run. He couldn’t spend all his time babysitting a reckless woman.
So why did it feel like I’d been punched in the gut?
I nodded, trying to ignore the pang of disappointment in my chest.It doesn’t matter,I told myself sternly.You have more important things to worry about than some prince’s mood swings.
I needed to plan how to deal with Gareth.
Chapter 13
I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing with plans to confront Gareth. That weasel was likely rotting in the palace dungeons by now - a place I knew all too well from my previous life. But I couldn’t exactly waltz down there alone. Between the guards and Anderic’s infuriating overprotectiveness, I was about as free as a bird in a gilded cage.
Speaking of cages… My gaze drifted to Lennox, ever-vigilant at my side. A spark of an idea ignited. Why not use my—Anderic’s loyal watchguard to my advantage?
“Lennox,” I said smoothly, propping myself up on my elbows. “I’ve been cooped up in this room for days. Surely a little walk wouldn’t hurt my recovery?”
He raised an eyebrow, unmoved. “Your safety is my primary concern, Lady Ilyana.”
