Page 81 of Destiny Redeemed
“Then check the Black Maiden Inn near the western gate. He might be there too.” Another location I remembered from my past dealings with Callum.
Lennox departed within minutes, the sound of hoofbeats fading into the distance.
Anderic turned to me, his gaze intense. “How did you know about those places, Lya?”
Oh. So he was going to question it after all.
I sighed, suddenly aware of Anderic’s intense gaze boring into me. How could I possibly explain how I knew about Callum’s secret hideouts without sounding completely insane?
I have to tell him soon. I can’t delay this any more.
“I’ll tell you everything, Eric. I promise.” I rubbed my temples, fatigue washing over me. “But not tonight. It’s late, and time is crucial. Lennox needs to find Callum before he causes more trouble.”
Anderic studied me for a long moment, the candlelight casting shadows across his face. The silence stretched between us until he finally nodded.
“You were right about him all along. I should have listened sooner.” His voice carried a rare note of regret. “We should rest. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
We made our way upstairs, our footsteps echoing in the quiet house. At the landing, we paused before two closed doors—two separate bedrooms. The air between us suddenly felt charged, heavy with unspoken questions.
I cleared my throat. “We should probably take separate rooms.”
Anderic didn’t respond, his expression unreadable in the dim hallway. The silence grew until it became unbearable.
“So… I’ll be going then.” I took a slow step toward the door on the left, my hand reaching for the handle. “Goodnight, Your—”
In three swift strides, Anderic closed the distance between us. His hand caught my wrist, spinning me toward him. Before I could process what was happening, his lips found mine.
The kiss was nothing like I expected from the golden prince. It wasn’t gentle or hesitant—it was demanding, hungry, as if he’d been holding himself back for too long. His hands cradled my face, thumbs brushing against my cheeks as his mouth moved against mine. Heat bloomed wherever he touched, spreading through my body like wildfire. I melted against him, my fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt as I rose on my tiptoes to meet his fervor.
When we finally broke apart, I was trembling, my breath coming in short gasps. Anderic’s eyes had darkened to midnight blue, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
A slow, devastating smile spread across his face. “Goodnight, Lya.”
And then he was gone, the door to his room closing with a soft click, leaving me standing alone in the hallway, fingertips pressed to my tingling lips.
Sleep proved impossible. I tossed and turned, replaying the kiss in my mind while anxiety gnawed at my insides. How would I explain everything to Anderic tomorrow? The time travel, my not-so-good past, the future I was desperately trying to prevent—it sounded crazy even to me.
Then there was Callum’s disappearance. If history repeated itself, he was probably working with the enemy this time. And Commander Maxwell was waiting at the mines… the man who’d slaughtered my family without remorse. The man whose loyalty I wasn’t too sure about.
After hours of restless turning, I surrendered to insomnia. Perhaps some fresh air would clear my head.
I slipped from my room only to find the main room illuminated by a single candle. Anderic sat at the makeshift dining table, methodically cleaning his sword, his golden curls falling forward as he worked.
I approached cautiously. “Can’t sleep?”
He looked up, those impossibly blue eyes finding mine in the darkness. The corner of his mouth quirked upward. “You too, hm?”
I lingered in the doorway, suddenly uncertain. The memory of his lips on mine made my skin flush despite the cool night air. Anderic looked different in the candlelight—less the intimidating crown prince and more just a man, his sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular forearms as he worked.
“Worried about tomorrow?” I asked, stepping into the room.
Anderic set his polishing cloth aside. “Among other things.” His eyes found mine, searching. “Join me?”
“So…you think something might go wrong too.” I slid into the chair across from him, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I’ve always found it odd—how people prepare for violence so meticulously. Cleaning weapons, polishing armor…”
“It’s not about the violence.” He rotated the blade, checking its edge. “It’s about control. Preparedness.”
“And do you feel in control, Your Highness?” The question slipped out before I could stop it.
