Chapter 16

I forced myself not to look at Kalen, even though Chelsie draped over him like she belonged there. I should have known what happened last night was all a lie. When I left Kalen’s room, I’d repeated it to myself over and over so I wouldn’t forget. What happened wasn’t real. Whatever had come over Kalen was just a passing thing, maybe even a trick. Watching him let that shallow blonde idiot cling to him. It seemed more likely he’d just wanted to manipulate me, to prove he could.

But knowing that didn’t make it hurt less. Why could I still feel this much pain?

Gritting my teeth, I approached them with a tray of food and drink. Chelsie shot me a smug, self-satisfied smirk, her heavily painted lips curling with contempt. “Just leave it there, servant,” she said, waving me off like I was beneath her notice.

Kalen’s gaze flicked up to meet mine, but his eyes were cold and distant—a stark contrast to everything I’d seen in them last night. Chelsie leaned closer to him, her fingers tracing his