Chapter 52

Celia

My heart drops inside my chest, plummeting to the bottom of my stomach. My ears grow hot as I watch Soren grow closer and closer towards the door, his eyes latching onto mine from within the darkness and shadows of the hallway.

Does he know that it’s me? Have I been caught for snooping in on his conversation? What will he do with me if he finds out?

I straighten my back and step away from the door, my heart pounding inside of my chest. I can hear each and every heartbeat in my ears, thumping on the inside of my chest. Turning on my heel, I direct myself down the hallway and walk as fast as I can without my steps being loud or shaking the floor.

I look around at the paintings on the wall. They are new and definitely were not chosen by Soren or any of his servants. It had to have been Bianca who chose the decorations that now hang on the walls.

I sigh and turn my eyes away, unable to look at the constant reminder that Soren chose her over me. The revelation still stings if I am to be honest with myself. It is something that I have to come to terms with, especially seeing how Soren and I are now confirmed to be fated mates.

The thought is dizzying and it makes my head feel light as if I am about to pass out and collapse onto the floor. I have to keep moving, though, and put as much distance between Soren and I before he realizes that I was eavesdropping in on his conversation with his Beta.

Footsteps are loud and dominating from behind me. I suck in a breath and try to quicken my pace, to make myself look busy while staring at the abstract Lycan paintings that hang on the walls. Fingers curl around my wrist and stop me from walking, drawing me back towards a familiar figure.

“Celia,” Soren’s voice is low and gentle with a hint of playfulness to it. I turn and look up at him, my face remaining as neutral as possible. “What are you doing?”

I do not immediately respond. Instead, I take a quick glance around the hallway and try to find an excuse that will help me get out of this tricky situation.

“I’m looking at the new decorations,” I blabber, unable to meet Soren’s gaze.

“Oh?” he muses with a small breathy chuckle.

A comfortable silence falls between us. Soren slowly pulls me closer and closer to the point where I am able to feel his body heat on mine. His touch is gentle and it sends sparks down my arm, cascading across my body.

“You aren’t looking at the decorations, are you?” Soren quietly asks. I shake my head. “How much of the conversation did you hear?”

“I didn’t hear much,” I softly respond, letting out a quiet sigh from my lips as my skin tingles from under his touch, “I was just passing by and heard your voice so I lingered for a bit. I’m sorry if it was an intrusion.”

“It is okay, Celia,” he looks down at me.

Soren’s touch is hot against my skin and yet my body shudders, shivers, and tingles at his presence. My mind wants me to move towards him, to close the small distance between us and to fully give in to our fated mate connection. But I can’t, not after all of the things that we have been through together. It just feels too soon.

Soren nods his head down the hall, gesturing towards the office door that sits open down the corridor. He takes a single step backwards, his hand still connected with mine, and he laces our fingers together. We begin to walk back down the hallway with him leading and with me following.

“Come on,” he says from over his shoulder, his voice calming down the nerves that prick and tingle inside my muscles and bones, “we have something to discuss.”

I open my mouth to argue, to decline his invitation, but no words come out. I am completely under his control as he guides us back inside the office.

His Beta sits in one of the chairs in front of the desk, his fingers moving at an incredible pace against the glass screen. He immediately stands and bows to us when we enter inside the room, Soren gently easing me in front of him before closing the door behind us.

“The princess deserves to be a part of the planning,” Soren declares to his Beta, who simply nods in return.

He drops my hand and moves behind his desk, gesturing to the chairs inside the room. I take my spot on a plush chair, the material soft and comfy. I adjust my self to be comfortable and turn my gaze to him, slightly nodding my head as if he needs my permission to speak.

“Bianca has escaped from prison and is on the run. We have soldiers ready to capture her at any given moment,” Soren’s revelation sends chills down my spine.

I heard it before, yes, but with him telling me directly that Bianca is out in the world makes me feel so uneasy. Nodding, I digest his words and continue to listen.

“It is too dangerous for us to be on our own and we will be able to protect each other if we are together,” Soren leans against the desk. “I was thinking that we could go to one of my properties, one that Bianca doesn’t know about, and we can stay there until she decides to give up.”

“Okay…” I breathe out, still nodding along.

“What do you think about it?” Soren asks, his eyes never leaving mine.

I bite my lip and roll it back and forth between my teeth, unsure if this is Soren showing me that he trusts me or if this is one of his many power moves as Alpha King to assert some kind of dominance over me.

On one hand, he is showing me all of his cards, giving me all of the information that he knows. On the other hand, though, he could be luring me into a trap that I will never be able to come back from.

If that were the case, why did he save me after Bianca stabbed me? Why wouldn’t he ensure that I would die inside of his arms and use my identity and plight as the missing princess to gain more power?

We are fated mates. That is something that I must put into consideration. It is a truth that neither of us can deny. There will forever be a string that connects us together whether we like it or not.

“I think going to one of your properties is a good idea,” I breathe out after weighing the options inside my mind, “will you please alert the Duke of my location, though?”

“Of course,” Soren nods, quickly giving into my very small demand. “So, are you willing to hide away with me until Bianca decides that it isn’t worth the fight anymore?”

“Yes,” I respond, nodding my head, unsure if I should feel safe inside his arms or if he has just thrown me into a wolf’s den.