When we reached the entrance, the Duke turned to me, still pale but managing a shaky smile. "Lady Ciara, you have… exceeded our expectations," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "We are in your debt."
"Damn right you are," I muttered under my breath, crossing my arms over my chest. "But let's skip the groveling. What do you want?"
The Duke cleared his throat, looking even more nervous now. "Ah, yes. We would be honored if you and Lady Cassandra would stay as our guests for the night. We have the finest accommodations, and it would be a chance to show our gratitude."
I raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Cassandra. She was looking at me with a mix of curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place. Maybe she was waiting for my reaction, or maybe she was hoping for a different outcome. Either way, the thought of staying here another minute, let alone a whole night, made my skin crawl.
"Thanks, but no thanks," I said, smirking as I saw the relief flash across Cassandra's face. "I've got better things to do than play house with you lot."
The Duke looked taken aback, his face flushing slightly. "I-I see. Well, if you change your mind—"
"I won't," I cut him off, already turning away. "Let's go, Cassandra."
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded, hurrying to catch up with me. The Duke and Duchess watched us go, probably relieved that they wouldn't have to deal with me anymore. As we walked away, I could feel Cassandra's eyes on me, like she was trying to figure me out.
"What?" I asked, not bothering to look at her.
"Nothing," she said, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "Just… you really know how to make an exit, don't you?"
I snorted. "If you think that was impressive, wait until you see this."
Without another word, I grabbed her hand and concentrated on the familiar pull of my teleportation magic.
The world blurred around us, colors and shapes twisting into a vortex of light. For a split second, I felt the dizzying rush of energy, then everything snapped back into focus.
We were standing in the courtyard of Leora's castle.
Cassandra blinked, looking around in surprise. "Well, that was… quick."
"Yeah, well, I don't like to waste time," I said, letting go of her hand. "Besides, those people were getting on my last nerve. Spoiled brats, the lot of them."
She laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You really don't hold back, do you?"
"Why should I?" I shot back, smirking. "Life's too short to pretend to like people I can't stand."
Cassandra smiled, but there was something in her eyes, a glimmer of… disappointment? I couldn't tell, and honestly, I didn't care enough to figure it out. I was just glad to be back at the castle, away from all that noble nonsense.
"Well," Cassandra said, her voice a little softer now. "Thank you for the escort, Lady Ciara. I'm sure the Duke and Duchess will be singing your praises for weeks."
I shrugged, already turning to head inside. "Whatever. As long as they don't call me again, I'll be happy."
She didn't follow me, but I could feel her watching me as I walked away. There was something in her gaze, something that made my skin prickle with unease.
I hated it when people looked at me like that, like they were expecting something from me that I wasn't willing to give.
I pushed the thought away, focusing instead on the feeling of the cool stone beneath my feet and the familiar scent of the castle.
As I walked through the halls, I let myself relax a little. The tension from the journey slowly melted away, replaced by a sense of relief.
But then my thoughts drifted to Aeliana. I wondered what she was doing, whether she had missed me at all while I was gone.
The idea of seeing her again sent a thrill through me, one that I wasn't sure I liked. It made me feel vulnerable, and vulnerability was something I couldn't afford.
"Focus, Ciara," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. "You've got a job to do. Don't let your guard down now."
As I reached my quarters, I couldn't help but glance out the window at the garden below. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden light over the flowers and trees. It was peaceful, the kind of peace I rarely found in my chaotic life.
For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to sit out there with Aeliana, just the two of us, talking about nothing and everything. It was a stupid fantasy, but it was one I couldn't shake.
With a sigh, I turned away from the window and headed to my room. I had a feeling this was going to be a long night.
---
The manor had been an opulent prison, a gilded cage where the Duke and Duchess paraded their wealth with ridiculous abandon.
Their proposal for us to stay was laughable. I wasn't interested in playing the role of the honored guest; the very thought of it made me want to gag.
So, I had no hesitation when I turned down their offer. I was relieved to be out of there, and Cassandra's smirk as we left told me she was just as glad.
The teleportation back to Leora's castle was as smooth as ever, the world warping and bending before settling into the familiar stone courtyard.
Cassandra's reaction was amusing, but her amusement didn't last. She looked at me like she was trying to figure out a puzzle that didn't have a solution.
"What?" I demanded, catching her gaze.
"Nothing," she said with a chuckle. "Just... you're a hard person to figure out, Ciara."
"That's the point," I replied, not wanting to delve any deeper. The less she knew about me, the better.
We parted ways at the entrance to the castle, her lingering gaze on my back a reminder of the questions she had that would never be answered. I didn't owe her or anyone else any explanations.
Inside, the familiar shadows of the castle wrapped around me like an old cloak, comforting in their predictability.
The clatter of my boots on the stone echoed through the halls, each step taking me further from the memories of the day's events. I had other things to think about, more important than dealing with a bunch of spoiled nobles.
But my thoughts betrayed me, drifting back to Aeliana. Every time I thought I had her out of my system, she found a way to creep back in. I could almost see her in my mind, sitting somewhere in the castle, probably working on something or laughing with Leora.
That thought stirred something in me something I wasn't sure how to deal with. I'd never been one to dwell on things like this, on feelings or connections.
But Aeliana was different. She was more than just another conquest, more than just a passing interest. And that scared the hell out of me.
I shook my head, trying to clear it. This wasn't like me. I didn't get attached. I didn't care. Yet here I was, wondering what she was doing and whether she'd been thinking about me too.
"Stupid," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "Get a grip, Ciara."
But even as I tried to push the thoughts away, they lingered, stubborn and insistent. I had to see her, had to know what she was thinking. Maybe then I'd be able to get some clarity, to figure out what the hell was going on in my head.
Before I knew it, I was heading towards her quarters, my feet moving on their own accord. The corridors seemed longer than usual, each step filled with anticipation and a bit of dread. What was I even going to say? It wasn't like me to seek anyone out, to care enough to go out of my way. And yet, here I was.
As I neared her door, I paused, suddenly unsure. The reality of what I was about to do hit me like a punch to the gut. I'd never cared about anyone this much before, and the vulnerability that came with it was uncomfortable, to say the least.
"Fuck it," I muttered under my breath, pushing the door open.
When I saw her, the tension that had been knotting in my chest loosened slightly. She was sitting by the window, the last rays of sunlight casting a soft glow on her hair. She looked peaceful, content, and for a moment, I just stood there, taking it all in.
She turned, her eyes widening slightly when she saw me. "Ciara," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I wasn't expecting you."
"I wasn't expecting to be here," I admitted, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me.
There was a silence, not awkward but charged with something unspoken. I could feel the weight of everything that had happened between us, everything that hadn't been said. But words weren't my strong suit, so instead of talking, I crossed the room and pulled her into a kiss.
It was desperate, almost rough, like I was trying to erase all the doubts and fears that had been plaguing me. She responded in kind, her hands tangling in my hair as she kissed me back with equal fervor.
When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathless, our foreheads resting against each other. I could see the questions in her eyes, the things she wanted to ask but didn't. I wasn't sure I had the answers, but I knew I didn't want to lose this, whatever it was.
"Stay with me," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with emotion.