Aleksasha ran into the manor house, the desperate needs for answers gnawed at her despite her anger and dread of what she'd see in Matias's study. This was a matter worth a courier riding his horse to death in the middle of the night. Something so serious that all notions of rest and payment were forgone. Her slippers clicked against the polished wooden floors as she reached the study. She straightened, the door was slightly ajar, despite her slamming it closed earlier.
She pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Her heart beat furiously as she searched for Matias. She released a soft exhale when she found Matias alone at his desk, a glass of wine held idly in his hand. His eyes distant for a moment before he looked to her, his eyes narrowing for a moment until he recognized her.
"Alek," Matias smiled, setting the glass down as he rose up to greet her. "I was going to…"
Aleksasha shook her head and he sat back down as she stormed toward him.
She cut him off, her voice sharp. "Explain? Is that what you were going to do? I've had enough of your promises tonight, Matias."
His brow furrowed, he frowned as he leaned back in his chair looking up at his angry wife. "What's happened? Alek, what's going on?" His voice was full of concern.
Aleksasha stepped closer, pulling the letter from her shawl and slamming it onto his desk in front of him. His eyes flicked down to thew fluttering parchment for a moment by moved upward to her angry reddened face.
"This. This is what's happened. A courier rode here like all hell was chasing him to deliver this message before he disappeared into the night. It's addressed to you but it uses our cipher," Alek blurted out, her voice sharp and cracking the composure she wanted to maintain. She didn't removed her hand from the letter, her body trembling with rage. "Tell me why."
Matias stared at Aleksasha, his expression unreadable. He placed his hand over top of hers. "I need to see the message first, Alek before I can offer an explanation of the why." She flinched as his touched warmed the chill of her hand. Strong, callused fingers entangled against hers. She blushed, and then remembered her anger, jerking her hand away. the letter, his expression unreadable, though a flicker of something—recognition?—crossed his face. He reached for it, but Aleksasha's hand slammed down on it first.
"Why does someone else know our cipher," she demanded, her voice low and trembling. "Was it not ours, Matias? Something between us while you were at war? Or is this just another game for you? Something else private between us that I am forced to share."
Matias's jaw tightened, his gaze shifting from the letter to Aleksasha. He exhaled slowly, pushing himself to stand. "Alek, I don't know what this is about, but—"
"Don't lie to me!" she snapped, her voice rising as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "If this was meant for me, I would have been given it directly. But it wasn't, was it? Who sent this? Why…"
Matias moved and Aleksasha expected him to reach for the letter. But he didn't, he reached for her and pulled her into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her with a sigh. Aleksasha's heart fluttered. "Alek," he said her name softly that made her feel weak. He was too close now. She stared at his exposed chest and blinked looking up at his face as he embraced her like she was something precious he didn't want to let go of. "I've missed you." He kissed the top of her head, and pulled a leaf from her hair.
Aleksasha shook her head. "Don't… you dare… change the subject." She was angry but suddenly lost the will to push him away. She glared at him but remained in his embrace.
Matias let her go once she had calmed. "I don't know the why. I promise you, I haven't told anyone our cipher." He lifted up the parchment in a lazy movement, his attention on Aleksasha. "Give me a moment please, this evening hasn't gone at all to what I wanted for our reunion to be." He saw the shift in her gaze and offered a thin smile. "Let me read the letter, my love and then you can hit me as much as you desire."
Aleksasha blushed furiously, stepping back from Matias and readjusted her shawl around her shoulders.
He lifted the letter and quirked a brow in surprise. "I see." He commented softly as he went through the contents of the letter without using anything to check it.
Aleksasha's heart lifted to her throat, as she expectantly watched him.
Did he memorize the book too?
He set the letter down. He ran his hand through his hair and looked at Aleksasha. "I don't know who sent this," he admitted, his tone controlled and neutral. "But it's clearly a warning. A vague one that suggests someone in my retinue is a traitor. I suspect whomever the sender is felt the need for secrecy and used a book they saw in my possession with the most wear on the spine."
A book with the the most wear on the spine. He was reading it that much?
"A warning about who?" Aleksasha pressed, her voice softening only slightly. "Who would be so close to you to know that but not be able to sign their name?"
Matias's gaze met hers, steady and calm. "I don't have answers for you, Alek. Not yet. But I promise you, I'll find out."
"Promises," she muttered bitterly, shrinking back as if he'd struck her. "All you seem to offer me are promises. Meanwhile, I'm left with daggers and cryptic messages while you entertain—" Her voice cracked as she stopped herself from finishing.
Matias touched the side of her cheek. Aleksasha froze as she stared up at his handsome face. Her shoulders quivered as he gently drew her attention up to him. "You're upset," he said quietly. "Rightfully so. You're more logical than this. Don't jump to conclusions on impartial information, my love."
"My love. Don't patronize me," she hissed, her anger rising back up as she raised her hand to pull his hand away from her face. "Tell me, who you've brought home? What dangerous thing are you playing at with her?" She didn't need to say Selene's name, the venom in her voice was clear. "Matias, tell me you aren't lying to me, even now."
Matias didn't answer immediately. He leaned forward, his broad shoulders casting a shadow over her. Her eyes moved from his face to the way his shirt gapped in front of him, hardened from years of martial training and war. She wanted so much for him to tell her that he loved only her.
Why isn't he saying anything?
When her eyes flicked back up to his face he finally spoke. He pulled an oak leaf from her hair. "That woman isn't someone you need to worry about."
She laughed bitterly to hide her embarrassment, shaking her head. "You don't get to decide what's important to me, Matias. Not when you've dragged me into the middle of this."
Aleksasha turned sharply with such force that her shawl slipped from her shoulders and floated to the floor as she retreated from Matias.
I'm so angry but if he reaches out for me, I'm afraid I won't be able too…
Her hand gripped the handle of the door, her heart pounding but before she could open the door, she felt Matias's hand on her bare shoulder.
"Alek." Her name, spoken softly and commanding froze her in place. His touch was firm but not enough to hurt or restrain her. "Don't go," he said, his voice low, almost pleading. "Please."
She closed her eyes, willing herself to ignore the ache in his tone. "Why shouldn't I? So you can offer me more excuses? More empty promises?"
He sighed, his other arm encircled her waist as she felt his breath against her ear. "Do you truly think I've forgotten you? That you mean nothing to me?" His hand slid down from her shoulder, his touch sparking an urgent need in her to be pressed against his warmth. "You're wrong."
Her resolve wavered as she turned to meet his icy blue gaze. His expression, so often stoic and unreadable in her memory, now carried an unguarded vulnerability and mutual need that pained her heart.
"I don't want more words, Matias," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Because all I see is you letting her take up space that should belong to us. I need actions from you."
His arms pulled her closer and his hands slid up over her arms to cup her face in his hands. His touch gentle as he leaned his face closer to hers. The look in his eyes was full of longing that made her breath catch.
"I love you, Alek," he murmured, his thumb brushing away a tear that slipped unbidden down her cheek. "Every day I was gone, every battle, every letter I wrote—it was all to keep me connected to you. You were the only thing that kept me going. You are the reason my heart beats, my every breath. You are the only thing that matters more to me than my life."
"Then why?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Why does she—"
"She has her reasons for being here," he interrupted, his jaw tightening. "They're not what you think. If you won't take my words then…" He dipped his head down, pressing his lip against hers. The heat of his body enveloped her as he drew her into, kissing her like only she could keep him from drowning.