#Chapter 238: Love and Secrets Revealed

Kendrick's phone starts to ring and he takes it out of his pocket to check the caller ID.

"I have to take this," he said, looking between the two of us. The weight of business seemed to follow him even in moments of supposed time away.

"I'll step out into the hall," he continued as he excused himself.

Left alone in the room, Lucas and I exchanged glances, the unspoken tension lingering between us.

"Lucas," I began, my voice soft, "we need to be careful. Kendrick said the world of royalty is treacherous, and we can't afford to let our guard down."

He nodded, his eyes expressing a mixture of concern and longing. "I know, Shana. But I can't help worrying about you."

Before I could respond, Lucas threw himself at me, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that carried a wave of emotions. I sighed against his touch, realizing how much I had missed him in the whirlwind of palace intrigue.

It had felt so long since the two of us were alone. A wave of shame hit me as I realized how much I truly miss