Chapter 17
17
T he Eastern palace was shrouded in darkness when we arrived, the only light coming from flickering torches that lined the stone walls. To my surprise, Ronan was waiting for us with Henry by his side.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, noting the slight tension in Ronan's posture.
“You left the mooncakes with me,” he said, holding up the box. “I thought you wanted to share them with Selene and Henry.”
“I do,” I replied, taking Selene's hand and leading her towards them.
Ronan's gaze flickered between us before he spoke again. “Is everything okay?”
I forced a smile and tried to ignore the knots in my stomach. “It will be.” I turned to face Henry and raised an eyebrow at the young boy. “And what are you doing up so late?”
Henry squirmed beside Ronan. “I heard some commotion and came out to investigate,” he admitted sheepishly .
I ruffled his hair fondly. “Come on, it's time to go back to bed now. Everything is under control.”
“Can I at least have a mooncake before bed?” he pleaded, his eyes wide and hopeful.
I laughed. “Of course. Selene, would you mind escorting young Mr. Henry back to his room?” I asked, gesturing towards their direction.
Selene nodded, her eyes cautiously meeting Ronan's before she led Henry back inside.
Once they were gone, I took Ronan's hand and pulled him into my bed chamber, shutting the door behind us. “You're becoming bolder,” I commented dryly. “Did anyone see you come here?” My heart raced at the thought of being caught together, but I couldn't resist him any longer.
“I was careful,” he whispered.
My hands trembled as he guided me towards the bed. We sank down onto the soft blankets and for a moment, all worries faded away in his embrace. Our breaths mingled in the hushed chamber, the tension between us palpable yet exhilarating. Ronan's touch ignited a fire within me, a fire that threatened to consume all reason and restraint. I leaned in and captured his lips with mine in a fervent kiss that spoke of longing and desire.
His fingers traced patterns along my skin, setting every nerve aflame as we succumbed to the intoxicating dance of passion. The world outside faded away as we lost ourselves in each other, our hearts beating as one in the darkness.
I sighed contentedly as Ronan trailed his lips down my neck, sending shivers down my spine. His touch was electric, igniting a hunger within me that I had suppressed far too long. The room grew warmer with each passing moment, the air thick with anticipation.
“I want you more than anything,” Ronan murmured against my skin, his voice husky with desire. “Now that I’ve had a taste, I can’t seem to get enough.”
I met his gaze, my eyes filled with a silent plea for him to continue. “I want you,” I whispered, my voice hardly more than a sigh.
With a hunger that matched my own, Ronan's hands roamed my body, worshipping every curve and dip as if he was committing them to memory. The exquisite sensation sent waves of pleasure coursing through me.
As our bodies moved together in a dance as old as time, an overwhelming rush of emotions flooded through me. Desire mingled with love, creating a potent elixir that bound us together in an unbreakable embrace.
Ronan peppered kisses down my body, leaving a fiery path in their wake. His lips stopped as he removed my cloak and roughly pulled my dress apart, revealing my bare skin to the moonlit room.
I trembled under his gaze, feeling exposed and vulnerable in his arms. The desire in his crimson eyes was all-consuming, making my heart race with fear and curiosity.
With a gentle caress, Ronan lifted me onto the bed, our bodies pressing together as we indulged in our desire. The air was filled with a haze of lust and longing.
We moved together in a frenzied dance, our bodies syncing with the rhythm of our hearts. Each touch and kiss were a testament to our deep connection, a bond forged in the heat of passion and burned into our souls. But just as the embers of our love blazed brighter, a sudden noise shattered the tranquility of our stolen moment. Shouts outside my bed chambers jolted us apart with wide-eyed panic.
I held my breath, praying an unwelcome visitor hadn’t discovered our secret liaison. Ronan's hand tightened around mine, his expression a mix of concern and determination as he moved to block me from anyone who might barge into the room.
When I heard the sound of steel against steel, I quickly grabbed a sheet and wrapped my body, afraid of what was to come. Ronan deftly slid into his trousers and barely had time to fasten them before the doors to my bed chambers burst open and Caelan stormed in.
“I knew it!” he growled. His expression was murderous as he glared daggers at the shirtless Crimson Clan warrior standing beside my bed. “How dare you touch her!”
The few days of privacy Ronan and I had shared was long gone.
Ronan tensed and fisted his hands. “You must not have realized it yet, but I’ll break it down to you here and now in very simple terms. Leila is mine. Always has been and always will be. No matter what you try, she’ll never be yours!”
Caelan swung his sword at Ronan, who easily dodged his sloppy strike. Unarmed, Ronan was forced to rely on his instincts and evade Caelan’s vicious attacks.
“You have no right!” Caelan shouted, each word punctuated with wild sword swings. “This woman is my prize! My birthright! I will not allow you to take what’s mine !”
I watched in horror as my one-time friend attempted to murder the man I loved. I started to step between them to break up the fight, but Ronan gripped my arm and prevented me from interfering.
Viktor ran inside, his eyes wide at the scene before him. “I’m sorry, Your Highness! I tried to stop him, but—”
“Stop me ?” Caelan scoffed. “You should have stopped him ! He’s an animal!”
When Caelan stepped forward to attack Ronan again, I ripped my arm out of his grasp and held it up, seizing Caelan’s blood. He froze as I slowed his circulation, and he stumbled as if he was drunk.
“S-stop this,” he stuttered. “Lyanna!”
“I can’t do that,” I said. “You crossed the line, Caelan. I don’t know how far you’re willing to go, but I bet I can go further. So don’t test me.” Closing my fist to tighten the noose on his veins and emphasize my point, I released my hand and flung him out of my chambers. He crashed against the hallway wall hard enough to dislodge a portrait, the glass shattering as it hit the floor.
Ronan cut into my view and gently gripped my shoulders. “Leila, stop,” he pleaded. “I’ll handle him. Don’t worry.”
I glared up at him. “ You’ll handle him?” I repeated. “How? You’re not even armed! Or dressed, for that matter. If he hurts you—”
“He won’t,” he promised. “I just don’t want you involved. If your family ever questions us about what happened here, I want the fault to lie with me, not you.”
“Who cares whose fault it is?” I shouted in frustration. “He’s going to tell everyone about us!”
Ronan furrowed his brows. “And? Do you have a problem with that?”
I didn’t know how to respond. The proper answer would be of course I don’t mind . But the truth was different. I did have a problem with it. If our relationship was made public, we would be criticized and cursed by all of Valoria. The Valorians still held deep-seated prejudices against the Crimson Clan. Prejudices that wouldn’t disappear overnight.
Noticing the turmoil within me, Ronan’s grip on my arms softened. “Leila?” he said softly, his eyes searching mine. “Whatever comes our way, we'll face it together. I'm not afraid of Valoria’s judgment or what anyone else thinks. My only fear is losing you.”
His words, sincere and fearless, sparked a courage within me I didn't know I possessed. “Ronan,” I whispered, “I … I'm scared. Not of being with you, but of what the world will say when they find out about us. Of the wedge it might drive between my family and me.”
He lifted my chin and forced me to meet his gaze. “Leila, love is a force far stronger than any prejudice or opposition we might face. If we stand together, there's nothing we can't overcome.”
Viktor, who had been a silent witness, finally spoke up, “Your Highness, if I may, your happiness is what truly matters. Those who care for you will see the truth of your hearts.”
Ronan nodded in agreement. “Exactly. And if Caelan or anyone else tries to harm you or tarnish your name, they'll have to answer to me.”
I looked between Ronan and Viktor, their unwavering support forming a shield around me. It was then I realized that whatever battles lay ahead, I wouldn’t face them alone. With newfound resolve, I turned my attention back to Caelan, who was slowly regaining his bearings, his face a mask of confusion and fury.
I stepped forward, mustering as much dignity as I could while still wrapped in a bed sheet. “Caelan, this ends now. My heart belongs to Ronan, and nothing you say or do will change that. If you have any respect left for the friendship we once shared, you'll stop this madness.”
Caelan scowled angrily. “You don’t know what you want, Lyanna. You’re obviously confused!”
“No, you’re the one who doesn’t know,” I said calmly. “Leave now, before I truly feel like ending you. ”
Dusting himself off, he stormed out of the Eastern palace just as Henry crept inside. “Miss Leila?” he whispered as he took in my disheveled room. “Are you okay?”
I tightened my grip on the sheets wrapped around me and gave Henry a reassuring look. “Everything is fine, Henry. I’m sorry if we woke you up.”
He shook his head. “Do you … do you want me to follow him?” he offered quietly.
“No,” I said adamantly. I had no desire to put the child in any danger. “Caelan is unstable and dangerous. I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
“She’s right, Henry,” Ronan concurred. “I know you want to be Leila’s spymaster, but some things are best left alone.”
Henry nibbled his lower lip. “Okay.” With a nod, he turned and headed back to his room.
Once he was gone, I looked at Viktor. “Keep an eye on him. I don’t trust that Henry will leave it alone.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Viktor bowed and exited my room.
Alone now, with the silence of the night wrapping around us, I turned to Ronan. His presence was a comforting constant in the whirlwind of events that had just unfolded. The room felt smaller somehow, the echoes of the confrontation still lingering in the air.
“I think it’s best if you return to the Northern palace,” I said, avoiding eye contact. “Everything’s about to change.”
He nodded. “Why don’t I have lunch with you here in the Eastern palace tomorrow? If we come out in the open before Caelan says anything, it’ll be less scandalous.”
“You’re right.” I nodded. “Let’s do that.”
With those final words, Ronan leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. Slipping back into his shirt and shoes, he left and closed the door with a soft click.