Chapter 196: "Elara will be helping us plan for the jubilee too.”

“What’s that?”

I jump so hard the hot liquid in my hand almost goes tumbling out.

Roman’s scent is a wintery thing in my nose as he moves, the action bringing a light gust of wind to caress my cheeks when he stops behind me, steadying the cup in my hands with his and his voice rumbling in my ear when he leans low to ask, “What’s wrong?”

My heart is pounding.

My pulse is racing but all the same I lean into Roman and ask playfully, “How do you know anything’s wrong? I was spooked, that's all.”

I turn my head to look at Roman’s reaction and he has an eyebrow cocked up, a very funny, skeptical, questioning eyebrow that makes me chuckle and has him holding me even more while we stand. His question still hangs in the air though and just when I'm about to relent with a sigh we’re interrupted by high-pitched chatter and laughter.

The room falls silent the moment the ladies see me and my eyes go wide because they’re looking at me and Roman!

I have a meeting with the Ironclaw females today and