The roses were beautiful and vibrant in the dreary graveyard. The headstone had been polished and the grave had been refilled with fresh dirt and made to look neat. The sight eased something in Basil, but he still didn’t know why he was there looking at Laura’s grave. Grief? Guilt? Some misplaced sense of regret? Wasn’t he happy? Hadn’t he told her that she meant nothing to him? His chest felt tight at the memory. Her shocked expression, the tears in her eyes. *“You are nothing,” he’d told her.* *She lowered her head. Her jaw trembled. Resignation and confusion rippled across her expression. Her shoulders began to relax into a defeated slump. He’d been a little thrilled to see it.* He winced thinking back to that night and rubbing the back of his neck. He’d felt powerful and on top of the world with Delia on his arm and looking down at Laura in her plain dress. *“I care not what happens to you after our divorce.”*He knew now it was a lie, but he turned away from the grave and k
Laurel was nervous. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t shared a private meal with Adolph before, but this was the first time they would be alone together for a meal since she woke up. Sarah was beside herself, bustling around to help her get ready as Laurel tried to figure out why she was so nervous. She hadn’t been this nervous the day they were supposed to get married. Her hands trembled as she fidgeted. “All done!” Sarah cried and froze seeing how pale Laurel had become. Sarah worried her lip and placed a hand on her shoulder, “Miss Laurel?”Laurel looked up then away, “I-I’m fine. I don’t…”Sarah wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close, “Should I send word that you aren’t feeling well?”“No,” she said, taking her hand. “I-I’m just… I’m just being silly. I’ll be fine.”Sarah eyed her suspiciously, but nodded and followed her out of the room to where Sam and Lynn were waiting. Sam nodded politely and they led them down the corridor towards the first floor. Rather than turning to
Laurel woke up, curled up to Adolph underneath the early morning sun. She blinked blearily up at him and smiled at how peaceful he seemed in the early morning light. Birds twittered nearby. The sun was just starting to warm the air. “Adolph?”One of his eyes opened and focused on her before he threw his arm over his face and turned to bury his face in her shoulder.“Go back to sleep before Chasel comes out to interrupt us with castle nonsense.”She snickered, “Oh no, Your Majesty… all the petal jam is gone.”He narrowed his eyes at her and seized her by her waist, tickling her until she shrieked. “You find such an event funny, do you?”She twisted, trying to get away from him and shrieking, “Forgive me, Your Majesty! I was merely joking!”He grinned, watching her laugh and squirm around beneath him. “Oh? Were you? I’m not sure if you’re being sincere in your remorse!”Chasel walked towards the guards he’d set up to keep a guard over Adolph and Laurel’s dinner the night before. The
If there was one thing Delia could be sure of, it was Basil's physical attraction. He was a man, after all. She eyed herself in the mirror, examining every inch of her naked form beneath her robe.She thought back to Eden's comment and huffed. She never thought she'd be reduced to trying to get pregnant by the idiot prince, but desperate times called for desperate tactics. She closed her robe and resolved herself to walk to Basil's chambers. She'd put off sleeping with Basil since they got married with excuses, but that ended tonight.She wondered if Laura had ever slept with Basil and sneered as the thought came to mind. She had no reason to compare herself to a dead woman who was too stupid to use her station to her advantage. The woman hadn't even needed to use any tricks to get there and she'd been ousted with ease.She walked down the corridor to reach Basil's room and found it empty as she entered. She looked around with a sigh before closing the door behind her and going to h
Basil swallowed, hazarding to ask. What he was implying was preposterous, but he needed to know for certain whether or not it was what he was expecting.“We?”Henry nodded, “We.”“But… what about the gardener?”Dorian shook his head, “You know nothing…”Basil flinched and Henry shoved Dorian, “Really Dorian? You’re as bad as your wife.”“That’s why we’re great together.”Liam snickered and Henry let out a long put upon sigh. While he agreed that Dorian and Irene were a match made, ordained, and blessed by the moon goddess, that didn’t mean he appreciated him stepping on Basil’s likely fragile ego. They’d all agreed that they would do their best to educate Basil as a favor to Adolph. The man had nearly lost his life several times over protecting them all and had lost over two decades of his life to a loveless marriage so that he and Raven could raise Liam in peace and safety. Whipping Basil into shape and undoing all the damage Gavin had done over the years was the least they could do
Sarah hurried to gather a simple traveling bag for Laurel. Chasel had given her very specific instructions about what was needed for the journey, so it was an easy task to complete. What worried her was that Laurel had barely said a word after Adolph found her, content to stare off into space for hours at a time without even glancing towards the door no matter what time of day it was. She hadn’t even asked about Lily and the movements of the castle. Sarah had reported to Adolph Laurel’s state and he promptly had Lily take over as much of Laurel’s duties as she could to give Laurel time to collect herself. Everything else was to be put on hold. Sarah agreed that Laurel was in no state to be working, but she didn’t know how to help her either. Sarah had tried to ask her, but Laurel had turned away from her, barely managing to say she didn’t want to talk about it before Sarah decided to leave her with her thoughts and focus on getting her things together. Maybe Adolph had something pl
Laurel and Adolph ate lunch and dinner with the priestess. She was a bit too tired to brave a tour of the temple, but Adolph escorted her to her quarters with a chaste kiss on her cheek and told her to sleep well. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but she awoke refreshed. She slept without dreaming and woke up calm. Maybe there was something to be said about the moon goddess’ presence in the temple. She had never felt so safe while being conscious before. She rolled out of bed and wiggled her toes against the warm stone beneath her feet. It was a bit weird, walking around barefoot, but she left her room in the plain white robes she'd been given. She walked down the corridor and found Adolph lounging beside one of the fountains reading a book. He looked up and smiled at her. “Hello, Laurel,” he said and sat up. “Did you sleep well?”She nodded. She almost didn’t want to get up. After several days of waking up screaming or not sleeping at all, she had begun to wonder if sleep would
It wasn’t an odd question, but the timing felt strange. He was serious when he said it was unlikely that the vampire queen’s forces would try to poison him again, but did she think that they would attack the capital? Or rather, did she believe that he couldn’t protect her?“Why?”Her lips twitched and she nodded at the depiction. Adolph looked at the window and winced. “You don’t think it’s just a metaphor?”“Can you handle a sword?” She asked with a wry smile. He sighed, “I suppose you have a point…”“If something happens,” Laurel said. “I don’t want to be a useless shield.”She looked up at him, “You wouldn’t begrudge me that, would you?”Adolph grumbled. She knew he would never begrudge her anything. “Very well,” Adolph nodded. “As soon as we get back, I’ll arrange someone to train you.”She smiled, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”He growled, backing her up against the wall and leaning in her space. Her face turned red and she let out a shuddering little breath. “Call me by name,” h