His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 14: Questionable Date (1)

Since the ’meeting’ aka blackmail and heated session with Eryx, neither Soren nor Theo questioned me about it. They remained quiet, continuing with their day as usual. I didn’t know how I felt about it.

Were they giving me space, or didn’t they care about what happened between the Alpha Prince and me? Soren was blunt and stoic anyway, and Theo was completing tasks that Margarette dished out to him that she was meant to do. He was just doing his job.

Goddess, I was so self-absorbed. I wasn’t anyone important to either of them, just their master.

Now, I was dressed in the finest silks, a pale green dress I knew would match Eryx’s eyes. It arrived the evening after our little talk when I refused to read any messages sent to me by one of his men. A small note came with the boxed dress:

Wear this.

E.

Very romantic and without further explanation.

It was so exquisite I was almost ashamed of my jewellery adorning my neck, it lacked the same appeal; it almost looked tacky.

The dress wrapped around me, hugging my figure with only ribbons tightened together on my back to keep it from falling to the ground, the sleeves were flowed down my arms and almost met the skirts on the ground; only two golden strings tied together at the elbow to keep the billowy fabric from completely sliding off my arms.

A white fur shoulder wrap also came with the assemble, which partially hid some of the dress’s beauty, but I would not complain; it kept the chill in the air from my shoulders and chest.

Walking along the dark, empty corridor of my palace, the lighting dimming from the lack of candles and oil lamps—strangely, it was rather comforting—I was startled when the doors creaked open, and Eryx was waiting directly outside in the snow.

The snowflakes fell to his cheeks, kissing them before melting away and others dissolved in his black strands, damping them. His eyelashes were beginning to fill with flakes making those green eyes more striking.

"Idalia," Eryx greets me with a silky voice that slides across my skin like a lover’s caress. One word. My name. I almost forget to breathe. He was so intense. Then I remembered this was all a part of his scheme.

"Prince..." I trail off when he arches an eyebrow. "Eryx."

We may not get intimate to prove to others there is some sort of growing relationship between us, but his proximity and scent alone erupts flames within me. Eryx takes my hand, kisses it and places it against his arm. His lips scorch my skin and zaps a tingling sensation to my core. I ignore it as we stroll further along the cracked pavement.

Huh, the path is usually slippery from ice. Did Margarette actually salt the area like I’ve always instructed? I shook my head. That’s impossible. Somewhere along the years, I’d grown accustomed to walking gently, locking my legs, readying myself for a fall.

Did I miss it? Absolutely not.

"Is your knight to come on our date, too?" Eryx’s voice brought my attention back to him. He was looking behind us at Soren, who was following us from a distance, providing us privacy.

Date? It was no surprise after opening that box with such a beautiful gown inside. I’d never been on a date, and I was sure I never would. The dress may be beautiful and like nothing I’d ever worn before, but it wasn’t real.

Not that I wanted it to be, anyway. I’d much prefer to stay in my palace, figuring out my next steps to escape this cruel existence.

Soren’s head snapped to attention instead of scanning his surroundings—there wasn’t much to note here besides the white fields and some of the forest that acted as a barrier between my desolate palace and the grandiose of the main palace.

"Soren..." I trailed off, unsure whether I wanted to call the knight off. Eryx was still my enemy. He may be on our grounds and possibly acting as the Sun and Fury’s diplomat, but I didn’t trust him. For one, he was blackmailing me for what, I do not know yet.

After listening to Eryx’s ’offer’, I decided I would follow through with this little act only so I can observe him, discover what it is he is truly after and hopefully use it against him. Play him at his own little game. I don’t know if I can pull it off, but it was a great distraction from the misery of my life.

I still plan to run away with Theo. In the meantime, I will spy on Eryx in case he might cause harm to my brother. The kingdom of Ice and Claws is brutal with treacherous lands, and the people and mostly everyone has turned their back on me, but strangely, Alaric and I share a strong bond. It is the only reason I have stayed for so long.

"I’m afraid I cannot do that," Soren spoke up before I could make my mind up. "My duty is to Princess Idalia."

Eryx looked at me, his eyes glinting. "I’m hurt, Idalia. Do you not want any alone time with me?" There was an edge to his voice as he looked at me expectantly. I was meant to obey him. The idea of submitting to him had my back straightening more.

"I was appointed to her highness by the Alpha King," Soren added.

"Soren is right." Eryx’s lips twitched, eyes darkening. It was not the answer he wanted but the one I would give him. "Besides, we cannot walk around without an escort, and it would be stranger and more frightening to others to see the Alpha Prince of Sun and Fury roaming around the palace beside their Princess without any protection."

Even if they didn’t particularly like that Princess. Double standards and all.

"You make quite the convincing argument, Lia." If not for the shiver down my spine or fire burning across my cheek from Eryx’s hand sliding along it, I would have commented on his sudden use of a nickname.

Instead, like a fool, I stared back at the Alpha Prince, eyes wide, enthralled by the depths of his darkening green eyes. Eryx was dangerous. His touch was scorching. But I’d faced worse monsters.

My head ripped away from him like his touch physically burned me. Clearing my throat, I focused on the path ahead. "Let’s get this over with, Ryx." My mockery didn’t work like I thought it would.

Eryx chuckled, his deep voice almost like a rumble, eyes bright again as he watched me like I was the most entertaining thing in the world. It only made me narrow my eyes at him more.