Page 24 of Kings
The two weeks that had elapsed since Ella had come clean with Axel went by faster than she could handle. Each day, she told herself she was going to find a way to tell Bishop, but there was something keeping her from it.
She wasn’t sure why, either. He wasn’t the type to lose his temper, but he stood to lose a lot by the revelation. He was the Empress’ son, and then there was the fact that everyone would be wondering whose baby it was. Axel’s reaction had been a pleasant surprise, but if telling Bishop went as wrong as she feared it would, she wasn’t sure she could take it.
Keeping up with her classes was hard enough, but at least having Axel cover for her made things easier. No one ever questioned him.
She was half-considering whether she wanted to skip her first class, but before she could come to a decision, she saw the note slid underneath her door. At first, she assumed it was from one of the guys, but the elegant scripted form of her name on front made her doubt it. The envelope was even sealed with red wax and when she saw the Empress’ crest, her heart started racing.
Ella tore the envelope open and studied the handwritten invitation within.
Dear Ms. Doe,
You are cordially invited, at the request of the Empress and her consort, to attend a gathering on the evening of the 27th as the guest of honor. The gathering is set to take place in the Grand Ballroom of Felidae Academy. Black tie formality is expected.
Sincerely,
The Empress’ Court
A ball? Andshewas the guest of honor?
As far as events that would definitely be ruined by random bouts of vomiting, this was definitely the top of the list. Panic surged through her as she hastily got dressed and tucked the envelope into the pocket of her blazer.
The first person she thought of turning to was Sterling. Axel wouldn’t understand her anxiety surrounding colony functions. He was at home everywhere he went, and Bishop had been born into that world.
When Ella arrived outside his office, she hesitated, wondering if she was making a mistake. She had tried to give him space. Tried to avoid doing anything that would put pressure or suspicion on him, but sometimes she thought of those blissful moments spent in his arms and felt more homesick than she ever had for the Hill estate.
Before she could change her mind and turn back, the door to his office opened. “Ella,” he murmured, his gaze traveling over her. It was so easy to convince herself she’d imagined all the desire that had ever been there when they were apart, but now that it was right in front of her, she felt the ache even deeper in her chest. “Is everything alright?”
His voice was full of concern, and it took all the strength she had not to fall into his arms.
“I…” She trailed off when she realized she’d all but forgotten why she was there. When she remembered, she pulled the envelope out of her jacket and handed it to him. “I got this.”
Sterling looked over the invitation for a brief moment before handing it back. “A prestigious invitation, indeed,” he mused. “What seems to be the trouble?”
She stared blankly at him. “I can barely make it through a colony gathering without humiliating myself, let alone being the guest of honor.”
He gave her a knowing smile and stepped back to allow her to walk past him. “Come on in.”
Ella breathed a sigh of relief as she walked into his office. It felt good to be alone with him again, even if it was only in an academic capacity.
“Would you like something to drink?” he asked, holding out a chair for her to sit.
“No, thanks,” she said, sitting down across from his desk. He leaned against the edge, watching her closely.
“Are you sure you’re alright? You look a bit pale.”
“I haven’t been sleeping well,” she admitted, deciding not to confess that he was one of the things that kept her awake at night.
“You don’t have anything to be worried about,” he said gently. “If Natalia didn’t think you were ready, she wouldn’t have extended the invitation.”
“How do you know?” she asked.
“Because I’m the one who suggested it to her.”
Ella stared blankly at him in disbelief. When she finally realized he wasn’t joking, she blurted out, “Why?”
He gave her a knowing smile, leaning back. “You’re marked now, by two toms who would make fine kings,” he said quietly. There was something almost sad in his tone, but she told herself she was just imagining that, too. “It’s about time for the colony to see you in a more prominent role.”
At first, Ella wasn’t sure what to say. She’d viewed the summons as a curse, but knowing he was the one who’d arranged it, she wasn’t sure how to feel either.
