Chapter 145
[ 1,088 words ]
Arabella:
Toby immediately let go of my hands.
“Your Highness.” He bowed quickly. “We were just worried about Maya and…”
“Toby.” I touched his elbow. “Let me talk to him.”
He looked at me, his lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t say anything, but the warning in his eyes was clear.
Don’t tell him.
“Please, Toby.” I gestured toward the doorway. He hesitated for another second before giving me a small nod and walking out.
Lucien stepped aside to let him pass before turning back to me.
“I didn’t mean to intrude,” he said quietly. “But you both looked worried about something.” He walked toward me. “What is it?” I tried to smile, but my eyes suddenly filled with tears.
“I was worried about Maya. That’s why I was crying.” I quickly wiped beneath my eyes. “Toby thinks she might need some security, so he wanted me to ask if you could post a few guards outside her room.” I shrugged, unable to hold Lucien’s gaze for long. “H… he’s our friend… he’s worried about her.”
Lucien didn’t answer. When I finally looked up, he was still watching me and somehow, his silence made me feel worse than if he had called me a liar.
I chewed my upper lip, not knowing what to do. Then I suddenly held his arm. “I swear I won’t hide anything from you, Lucien. But… just give me some time.”
The palace was already full of lies and liars. I couldn’t become one of them just to keep something from Lucien. Maybe I couldn’t tell him everything yet, but I could at least stop lying to his face.
So, I looked him straight in the eyes this time.
“I’m not ready to talk about it yet,” I admitted. “But I swear I’m not doing anything behind your back or planning to run away again. I just need a little time to understand something first.”
Lucien watched me for a few seconds before giving a small nod, then he reached up and ruffled my hair.
“It’s okay, Princess. You don’t have to tell me anything right now.” His hand dropped. “Go see Maya. She was regaining consciousness when I last spoke to the doctor.”
My eyes widened. “Really?” I didn’t even wait for his answer.
I turned and ran out of the waiting room, forgetting about him and everything else for a moment. Maya was awake, and I needed to see for myself how much harm I had caused my friend.
***
“Hey. I’m good. Stop crying.” Maya raised her hand and wiped the tears from my cheek. That only made me cry harder.
“You’re lying in a hospital bed,” I mumbled, holding her hand. There were bandages down her neck. “You don’t look good.”
“Wow. Thank you.”
A laugh escaped me through my tears. Toby, who was standing on the other side of her bed, folded his arms. “I still think this is her fault.”
Maya frowned. “Excuse me?”
“You wanted to cook popcorn faster, so you somehow invited two dragons to help.”
Maya stared at him for two seconds before picking up the pillow beside her and throwing it at him.
Toby caught it against his chest. “See? She’s perfectly fine. Always the violent one.” I chuckled, but my eyes were filled with fresh tears when I looked at her.
Maya noticed it. “Ara!” Her teasing disappeared. “Come here.” I bent down, and she wrapped one arm around me. “I’m okay,” she whispered. “Really. These are only minor burns and will heal within two weeks.” I closed my eyes and hugged her carefully.
For now, that was all I needed to hear. I hugged her a little tighter, grateful that this time my stupidity hadn’t cost me my friend.
***
I was coming back from the hospital canteen with two cups of coffee, one for me and the other for Toby.
Lucien had already offered to have everything sent over from the palace, but I had refused. I needed to walk around for a few minutes anyway. I had just turned into Maya’s corridor when I spotted Amy and Jasmine walking ahead of me.
I slowed down.
“First that lizard, and now those two dragons,” Amy was saying. “Ever since she came back, strange things have been happening around here. Don’t you think we should ask Lucien to do something?”
My fingers tightened around the coffee cups. Jasmine shook her head. “I don’t think Lucien hasn’t thought about it.”
Amy glanced at her. “Then why isn’t he doing anything?”
“Because it’s Arabella.” Jasmine gave a dry laugh. “You know your brother. He’ll need more than a few strange incidents before he starts questioning her.”
I stopped walking. So, they had noticed too.
Careful not to spill the coffee, I called after them. “Ladies.” Both of them turned abruptly at my voice, and the moment they saw me, their expressions changed.
I didn’t give either of them time to recover. I gave them my best smile and shrugged. “How are you?” Then I raised the two cups slightly. “Coffee?”
Amy and Jasmine exchanged a quick look.
“No, thanks,” Amy said. “We don’t take coffee from people who summon lizards and baby dragons.” She finished with a smug smile.
Jasmine didn’t join her and looked away, as if she wanted nothing to do with the conversation.
I glanced around and spotted a small ledge along the wall. I walked over and placed both cups on it. After dusting my hands together, I turned back to Amy.
“Summoning lizards and dragons? Really?” I let my gaze travel over her from head to toe. “So, according to you, I’m the one summoning them? Because someone told me you’re half witch and half Lycan?” I raised my brows. “What if it’s you? Or your mother?”
“Excuse me?” Amy’s face twisted with anger. “What did you say?”
I shrugged. “What? Your mother is a witch, and you are a half-witch.”
“How dare you?” She took an angry step toward me, her eyes flashing. “How can you accuse me or my mother of something like that? Hold your tongue, Arabella. Don’t forget your place.”
I tilted my head. “Hold my tongue? You should’ve held yours before blaming me. Do accusations only hurt when they’re about you?”
I stepped closer and casually reached up, pretending to fix a strand of her hair. “Come on, Amy.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “A woman who can sneak into people’s dreams, but summoning a couple of dragons is suddenly impossible?”
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