Chapter 71: Help Me?
"You heard everything," Prince Zen said as he stepped back into the bedroom and saw the girl sitting on the bed with her head bowed.
He smiled faintly as she did not even look up and could not help but comment, "Little fire. You are too presumptuous to eavesdrop like that and then pretend that you did not hear anything."
She lifted her head slowly, her face the very picture of innocence. She looked at him as though she had done nothing wrong. Zen moved to the large chair and sat down, keeping his eyes fixed on her. With that expression, anyone who did not know better would really think he was wrongfully accusing her and she had been wronged.
But of course, he knew better. So, he didn’t speak again. He just watched until she faltered, her gaze dropping, and finally said, "I apologize, Your Highness."
Zen leaned back, still staring at her and scoffed," So quick to apologise? I don’t think you are sorry at all."
Her little face pulled into a frown, as if she was thinking carefully and Kael waited before she added, "I thought you wanted me to eavesdrop."
His eyes narrowed. "And what made you think that?"
"You left the door open," she said. "The walls and doors here are soundproofed. No voices can get through. Even the messenger earlier only opened the door a crack to tell you about the visitor. But when you left, you didn’t close the door and in fact, left it wide open. And you told me to wait here. So... you wanted me to hear it."
He watched her stare
He watched her stare, his face impassive, giving her nothing to read. The silence stretched long enough that she shifted uncomfortably on the bed, her hands tightening on the sheets. Finally, his voice cut through the quiet.
"So," Zen said, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "What did you understand from what you heard?"
She blinked at him, caught off guard, and for a moment looked genuinely confused. Her lips parted, closed, then finally opened again as she spoke slowly. "That... that person who came here is going to be the Luna of the Stormhold Pack. And that you... like her."
Zen gave a sharp scoff, the sound closer to derision than amusement. "I like her?" He leaned forward, resting his elbow on the arm of the chair, his gaze cutting into her. "What part of that interaction made you think such nonsense?"
Emira hesitated, but under his stare she forced herself to answer. "She slapped you... and you were not angry. You only threatened to throw her out, but you did not punish her. Anyone else would have been killed for that. And... and..."
Her voice trailed off, as if she did not want to talk. But Zen wanted to know if his guess for her cleverness... had indeed been correct.
"And what?" Zen pressed in a low voice, keeping his voice neutral.
Her eyes darted away from his, but she whispered, "Even when you were talking to her, your voice softened."
Zen laughed at the absurdity of that claim. In contrast to his usual talking to others, one would think that he had been cold... He tilted his head mockingly, "My voice softened? Tell me then, little fire- do I not talk to YOU nicely? I am sure, I talked to her quite angrily."
Emira looked up at him and then away again. She opened her mouth, then closed it, and Zen narrowed his eyes. It seemed the little fire wanted to argue that point.
"You know, I will not let you go without an explanation."
Emira darted a glance at him and then sighed," You pretend to be angry. And you pretend to be nice. You are the Hunter of the Stormhold Pack, and everyone knows of the coldness that lurks beneath your calm exterior. I have not seen that side of you, but I have seen your anger when you spoke for me. And that is not what you showed to...to the Luna."
"She is not the Luna yet." Zen pointed out. But Emira said nothing. It didn’t matter if the lady in question was Luna or not. The fact that she was the fated mate of the Alpha of the Stormhold Pack...and the Hunter of the pack was enough...
"Why do you think I allowed you to listen in then?"
Emira shook her head this time. She didn’t know. Or rather she did, but she didn’t want to say it. Because admitting it would hurt.
She had only known the two princes for less than a month, but in that short time, they had saved her and looked after her more times than she could remember. More than anyone else had ever done in her whole life.
Whether it was because of fate, accident or ancient magic, her own manipulation or just because of who they were, the truth was simple-they had become her saviours.
And a small part of her heart wanted it to stay that way. Thinking of them like that made it easier to accept her place. Made it bearable to stay bound to them without feeling completely humiliated and helpless.
But if her guess was right, then Prince Zen had left that door open on purpose.
Which meant it hadn’t been kindness at all. Or rather not just kindness at all. It had been deliberate. And if that was true, then everything she wanted to believe would fall apart. And somehow, she did not want to let go of this little warmth that she had just had.
"You are insulting your intelligence by remaining quiet, little fire. And mine, because I am sure, that you are quite smart. Tell me."
"You...." Emira paused and looked up at the man before saying softly," You are very cruel, your highness."
"Sometimes there is kindness in cruelty, I would say," he answered softly.
Emira looked away and then at him again, not debating that. Yes, there was indeed kindness. The little warmth that she was craving and trying to hide away did not belong to her. It was just a mirage. And it was better to break that mirage than let her live in it.
"You want to use me. Either to make her jealous or something else..."