CHAPTER XVIII
THE FOURTH TERM
“Alexis.”
Troy’s voice is a whisper behind the entry door in my reading room.
I look up in horror and glance at Keane standing on the other side of my bed. His brother has finally come to find me on my own, except I’m not alone…
Keane stiffens at the sound of his knock, his full body standing up tall as he drops the bedsheet he had in his hand back onto the bed.
His eyes flick towards the arch in my room and then fall back on me, his quiet gaze reverting into the standard look of Discerni indifference as his features turn cool and tense.
I don’t know what to do.
I could ignore Troy completely, but if I do then he’ll just try to find me again tomorrow and probably in some shadowed corner or staircase which will ultimately be worse for the two of us, for me.
I still don’t know exactly what I want to do when he catches me alone, but the anger I felt for him since Fumagalli is slowly starting to rear its head again.
I peer at Keane across the bed for direction, looking for any indication that will help me with a decision. The Prince just stares back at me without any emotion, his cold features remaining stoic and unmoving.
“Alexis, you there?” Troy’s voice is low, barely audible behind the door as he knocks again. More horror continues to etch across my face, but this time it’s coupled with a sadness, hating the fact that Keane has to be here to witness this.
Ancients, I don’t know what to do. I can open the door for Troy but not let him enter.
He never has. I can voice my concern about it being so late in the night, now early morning, and tell him to come back at another time.
But I don’t want him to come back, not tomorrow or ever, and I certainly don’t expect Keane to just sit back and listen while I will him away.
How can I expect him to join me in bed after witnessing whatever conversation is about to transpire?
That’s just cruel.
Go, Keane mouths at me, his eyes hard, get it over with.
My eyes widen in astonishment before I shake my head fiercely.
Absolutely not.
Keane scowls and takes a silent step around the bed, then another, and picks up my discarded robe from the ground.
He walks over to me with his hands outstretched, willing me to cover my body which is now only clad in my emerald night slip.
I cross my arms in front of my chest in silent defiance and shake my head again.
Stop, I mouth, he’ll go away.
Keane gives me a small, quiet smile, but the rest of his features still remain unreadable.
He reaches for one of my arms and pulls it towards him, drawing it quickly into the sleeve before he pulls the other side over my shoulder.
I watch him in anger but shrug into the fabric, feeling as his hands grip the robe over my chest and shield my body completely.
He grabs the tie around my waist and secures it tight with a frown.
“Alexis?” Troy whispers again.
Go, Keane demands, but don’t do anything brash.
I scowl and reply to Troy with exasperation in my voice, “it’s late, Troy.”
“I know,” the Prince chuckles from outside the door.
Keane gives me another hard look before nodding his head, then turns back to Golem and Storm on the balcony as his hand flicks into the room and extinguishes the moonslight around us.
My feet carry me through the arch in my wall on their own, moving into my small reading room and towards the entry door as my hand starts to shake.
I reach for the handle and pull it inwards, my face reaching around the side of the wood to greet the blonde Discerni Prince.
Troy is still wearing his attire from court tonight, the pale green and white tunic jutting high in a collar around his neck and accentuating the sharp angles of his jawline.
His blue eyes greet mine as the corners of his lips tug into a small smirk, an air of smugness gracing every part of his body as he leans in.
“Will you let me in?” he asks softly as his eyes hold mine, his smirk growing wider.
I watch as his gaze darts down my face and towards my slightly hidden body behind the door. He looks at the robe wrapped tightly around my curves, his eyes dipping even lower to my bare thighs as I stand barefoot before him.
“Have I ever?” I reply with a small bite.
Troy’s cold blue eyes move up to mine as a frown tugs at his lips. I watch as he realizes just now that he’s never actually been inside my room and has only ever walked me to my door.
“As perfect a night as ever,” he smiles in confidence.
“It’s late, Troy,” I repeat with a sigh, “I have to be up early tomorrow morning.”
“Another travel?” he grins, reaching a hand up to the doorframe next my head and leaning in closer.
“No,” I shake my head and feign a yawn.
Please just leave.
Troy lifts his other hand from his side, his fingers taking the front of my hair as he tucks it behind my ear.
“You were beautiful tonight, Alexis…” he says softly, “you had the full of the court wrapped around your finger.”
My body recoils from his touch, that deep anger seeping through me as I remember everything I’ve learned about this man. Troy immediately pulls his hand away with a frown, his blue eyes narrowing on mine as his brows furrow in thought.
Shit, I forgot about his summoning.
“You’re angry,” he says quietly, bringing his hand up to his jaw to rub against the blonde stubble there, “with me. Why?”
“No,” I reply with a small smile, pushing away the anger with difficulty, “just tired and exhausted. It’s been a long night. A long travel in general.”
“Then tell me about it,” he says sensually and leans in closer, his chest covering the empty space between us.
I grip the handle of my door and shake my head, “not tonight, Troy. Perhaps another time.”
Troy frowns again and moves his hand from his jaw to softly grab the bottom of my chin. He tilts my head up to meet his gaze, his blue eyes beckoning me to talk to him, to engage with him, to touch him…
Wait.
What?
No.
Why would I want to touch him?
I pull my chin out of his grip in confusion, not understanding that small feeling of desire that called for me to touch him. Troy grimaces and pushes his other hand off the doorway to look at me thoughtfully, his eyes darting across my face.
“Something’s changed,” he watches me coldly.
Yes.
So much has changed. Namely my new awareness of the Woodlands Court he covets and the knowledge that he’s only been meeting with me to gain insight into my travels. Did he think I would never find out? Would I have, if I hadn’t met Keane?
Another flood of anger pushes through me, but this time I let it grip my chest and own it. I hold his cold blue eyes with mine and stand taller behind the door, angling my shoulders back as the two of us watch the other with cool features.
“Whatever you’ve heard, Alexis,” he says quietly, “it’s not the full truth.”
I laugh at the comment, “I guess I’ll have to find out for myself when I travel to Woodlands next.”
Troy fists his hands at his sides, “my brother Desmond has the tendency to exaggerate things, Alexis. Whatever he’s told you…”
Desmond, my mind races.
He has no knowledge of Keane and I.
Good.
“Again,” I lift my brows, “I hope to learn more when I visit.”
“When will that be, then?” he looks at me with a new softness in his eyes, “when will you travel?”
“Soon,” I nod.
Troy gives me a solemn look, continuing to watch me in thought, “then I will travel with you. Put whatever thoughts are currently in your mind to rest.”
Ancients, that would be a disaster.
I give him a small smile as if appreciating the gesture.
“You’ll visit with your normal traveling crew?” he inquires.
“I will.”
“I’ll host them, too. Come to La Cour and we’ll hold court for you there. I’ll make sure it’s nothing like the brash Warrior Court you’ve had to spend time at.”
La Cour is the capitol of Woodlands Court to the far north, resting just under the Northern Forest. It shares a border with the Kingdom of Aireal, and I have no doubt that it is anything like the brash Warrior I have come to love.
“If we do, I will be sure to reach out to you,” I give him another smile, hoping it’s enough to end this conversation. I will my mind and body to feign emotions of appreciation at his gesture, hoping that he’ll feel them.
Troy nods his head slowly and finally takes a step back, “I’ll be in Bardot for another few days entertaining the Livyatan delegation. You’ll let me know when you plan to leave?”
“Yes,” I lie, forcing a grin to my lips that I don’t feel.
Troy lets out a small breath, “then I’ll see you around, Alexis.
Don’t hide from me, beautiful. I promise that whatever you’ve heard is not the full truth.
We can spend more time with Prince Isham.
He’s extremely interested in getting to know you.
He told me he wants to take you back with him to visit Livyatan when he leaves. I can arrange that travel together.”
Wants to take me…
Of course he does.
My body tenses at the thought of the Leviathan Prince even as my lips reply as calmly as possible. “The Prince is an interesting fellow.”
Troy chuckles and runs a hand through his hair, “he is. Save me a dance tomorrow night?”
He’s never once asked that in the time that I’ve been with him.
Fuck me.
“Perhaps.”
Troy laughs again as if I’m playing coy.
“Goodnight Alexis.”
“Goodnight,” I reply, watching him step back into the hall.
“Alexis…” he turns around in hesitation, his features genuinely soft and a bit worried, “is my father’s Golem with you?”
I have nothing to offer him but the truth, “he is.”
Troy’s eyes widen at my admittance, but I don’t let him say anything else as I close the door between us.
My heart pounds in my chest as I swiftly turn around, the moonslight returning in my room through the arch as Keane steps inside from the balcony.
He brings a finger to his lips for me to stay quiet as Golem moves to stand at his side.