Marriage Alliance With The Lycan Monarch
Chapter 32: Deliciously Inviting

Chapter 32: Deliciously Inviting

"It’s a futile encouragement because I’ll never."

I found myself saying that, but all I could think about was Talia’s revelation about him tending to me in my time of illness. I have thought through it all the way here, but there’s nothing that could tie an ulterior motive to it.

Then why?

"Why?" I voiced.

Drevon tipped his head in question.

"Why did you take care of me?" I asked.

He pulled me close, and like a feather, I fell into his arms, holding tightly when I thought I would fall. I felt my feet come off the floor, and my butt met the surface.

How did we get to the table so fast?

Drevon rested his hands on my sides and leaned down to me. "If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me. After all, you don’t trust me."

"There’s no harm in trying," I replied, trying to ignore how close we were.

He reached for the hairpin holding my hair in place. "Have I told you how beautiful you look today?"

"N-No."

"Forgive me for being slow. It’s hard to think clearly when you’re in my space." He pulled the pin, and my hair fell gracefully behind me.

A glint shone in Drevon’s crimson eyes as he watched my hair descend. The adoration in his gaze got me speechless; it was the purest I’ve ever seen.

If he kept looking at me like that, I might faint. I’m already feeling lightheaded, but that soon faded away when his finger brushed my forehead down to my ear, taking some loose curls with it.

My insides scorched, and my lips came apart slightly. I hoped to ask what he was doing, but I unexpectedly lost my voice. His hand grazed my cheek, almost like he was trying to ingrain the feel of my skin. I closed my eyes in bliss, allowing myself to get lost in his touch.

It was deliciously inviting, and even though my mind screamed at me to pull away, I found myself leaning more into it.

"Words won’t work on you, Eloise." I felt his breath on my face.

I flicked my eyes open, finding my voice, but it came forth like a whisper. "Touch won’t either."

He snickered. "This is not a brew, Eloise. This is you on fire because I made you so."

Our lips almost touched, but he didn’t make any move to kiss me, coaxing me far deeper into this spell that had taken over my entire body.

I wanted it to stop. I wanted him to step away...then why was I eyeing his lips like it was the only thing I wanted to feel? Drevon did the same to mine too, but we didn’t make any tries to seal it.

A second was all it took for Drevon to make the move, and at the first brush of our lips, a voice came from the door.

"Monarch, Lady Sloane is here to see you."

It was a wake-up call for me. I pushed against his chest and grabbed the table to get down, refusing his hand when he offered.

"I-I should leave, you’ve an important visitor."

"I don’t want to see her, stay."

"She is your betrothal," I said as bile filled my throat.

"And you’re my wife," he gritted.

"A wife you married on a whim. An ornament you brought back from war," I said the words more firmly so that I could process it myself.

Drevon was about to say something, but a tender voice came.

"Drevon?"

I chewed the inside of my mouth as I turned away and hurried to the door.

"Eloise!"

The doors opened the moment I was close. Sloane stepped in without hesitation and stopped when she saw me.

A sweet smile took over her lips. "I must have come at the wrong time."

Her timing was perfect.

"Lady Sloane," I greeted and breezed past her without looking back.

Talia hurried to my side, but I didn’t ease my steps. I had to when I grew lightheaded, bracing my hand on the wall for support, closing my eyes, and exhaling sharply.

"Are you alright?" Talia asked behind.

"Yes," I replied.

What happened back there? Drevon and I almost kissed! And this time it wasn’t under the effect of the brew.

What’s wrong with me?

I shouldn’t be feeling these things, and I certainly should not entertain any of his sweet words. Grow up, Eloise!

~•~

A knock came at the door. Talia and I both looked at each other.

It’s been hours since I arrived safely back in my quarters. I’ve been in a foul mood since I left Drevon’s study. I do not wish to be disturbed.

"Who’s there?"

"It’s Lady Sloane."

I froze. What is she doing here? I frowned deeply. Drevon made his wing off limits because of me, but I was beginning to doubt that, because as it turned out, Sloane was roaming freely like a mouse.

If she’s still here, does that mean she has been with Drevon all this time?

"My lady?"

"What?" I replied darkly.

"She’s still waiting."

"And she can wait out there till the end of time."

Talia cleared her throat. "Isn’t she of some high rank? Do you think you can refuse her?"

Talia spoke wisely. However, I didn’t care; the pent-up irritation was already reaching its limit, and suddenly I had the balls of a lion.

Why was I so worked up about this? It’s none of my business if he spent an eternity with her.

Did he place her on the table and try to kiss her too?

I shivered at the thought, shaking my head to get rid of the twisted image.

"Talia, open the door."

"Why me?"

I shot her a glare. "You haven’t been much of a handmaid these days, if you have followed me inside that study, I wouldn’t be in this distress. Tsk!"

"I would’ve followed you."

"Then why did you not?"

"The monarch," she trailed, gulping.

"What?" I urged.

"H-He’s terrifying."