Celine's fingers curled into the silk sheets beneath her as she stared at the door Damian had just walked through.
The unfamiliar scent of leather and cedar surrounded her, a stark reminder that she was not in her own chambers. Panic surged momentarily until the events of the previous night flooded back, the attack, the monstrous wolf, and then... Damian.
The scent of him still lingered in the air, he had carried her here. He had saved her and yet, he had walked away.
Her body still hummed with awareness from where his hand had brushed against her. A single touch, brief but searing. He had looked at her as if he wanted to devour her.
Then he had left.
Celine exhaled sharply, her heart pounding against her ribs. "Damn him".
She wasn't going to sit here and drown in confusion.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Before she could respond, the door creaked open, revealing a young maid with wide, curious eyes.
"Good morning, my lady," she murmured, keeping her gaze lowered. "King Damian requests your presence in the dining hall once you're ready."
Celine nodded, her throat dry. "Thank you. I'll be there shortly."
The maid curtsied and left, leaving Celine to her thoughts. Her mind raced with questions, but one thing was clear, she needed answers, and Damian was the key.
She stepped out of Damian's chambers, her mind was still spinning, her body was too aware and the scent of smoke, leather, and something distinctly Damian still clung to her skin.
She wasn't sure what had just happened.
One second, she had been in his arms, trapped in that unbearable heat, drowning in something unspoken and the next, he had thrown distance between them like a blade.
Celine sighed, pressing a hand to her temple, this man was going to drive her insane.
She took a step forward…
A small figure stood at the end of the hallway, staring at her with wide eyes. It took Celine a second to recognize her.
Lilian, one of the palace servants.
The lady blinked. Once. Twice.
Then a slow smirk spread across her face.
Celine's stomach dropped.
"Oh. My. Goddess." Lilian gasped dramatically, her brown eyes sparkling with mischief. "Did you just…" She gestured wildly toward Damian's chamber doors.
Celine opened her mouth. Then closed it.
Lilian's grin widened. "Had a busy night with mr. Handsome, didn't you?"
Celine's heart skipped in her chest.
" What?"
Lilian's grin widened more as she noticed Celine's surprised expression, "Oh, don't worry princess", she added clearly enjoying herself, "its not like you're hiding a secret or anything."
She moved closer and whispered "Did you and the… King finally…"
Celine's heart skipped at the mention of Damian and she quickly masked her feelings. She had barely been able to look at him in the eye and now she was facing a servant making jokes about them.
"No!" Celine blurted out. "Absolutely not! That is not…"
Lilian giggled.
"Oh, this is priceless," she whispered gleefully. "You look like a startled rabbit. My Lady, your face is red."
Celine's breath caught, she had no idea on how to answer this, she knew what exactly Lilian was implying to.
She flew her hands to her cheeks. "It is not!"
Lilian tilted her head, crossing her arms. "Sooo… what exactly were you doing in King Damian's room?"
Celine stiffened.
"I…I was…"
Lilian leaned in. "Were you warm?"
Celine blinked. "What?"
"Oh, you know." Lilian wiggled her eyebrows. "It can get chilly at night. Maybe the King was just providing some warmth?"
Celine gaped. "Lilian!"
The lady laughed, shaking her head. "I'm just saying! One minute, you're unconscious and being carried into his chambers, and the next, you're stepping out at sunrise. That's quite the story."
Celine groaned, rubbing her temples, this was not happening.
Lilian gasped again, suddenly grabbing her hand. "Wait! Did he…did you…" She lowered her voice, whispering dramatically. "Did you kiss?"
Celine choked.
"Absolutely not!"
Lilian pouted. "What a waste of a good scandal."
Celine exhaled sharply, pulling herself together.
"I was attacked," she muttered, dead serious now. "Damian saved me. That's all."
Lilian blinked, her teasing smile fading.
The warmth in her eyes shifted into something softer. "You were attacked?"
Celine nodded.
Lilian frowned. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Celine said quickly. "Just… tired."
Lilian studied her for a long moment, then sighed. "Alright. I'll stop messing with you. But I have one last question."
Celine braced herself. "What now?"
Lilian grinned.
"Was he as handsome up close?"
Celine groaned.
Lilian chuckled, "I'm only teasing princes." She winked.
"Wait," Celine said slowly, "you're …"
Lilian couldn't help herself anymore, and a small Lough escaped her lips. "Oh Princess, she giggled shaking her head. "I was only messing with you, did you think I was serious?"
Celine stared at her processing what had just happened. Lilian had been teasing her all along. It was just a playful jab.
"You're horrible," Celine mattered but she couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips.
…
After the encounter with Lilian, Celine headed straight to the dining hall.
The dining hall was a cavernous space, dominated by a long wooden table that could easily seat twenty. Today, however, it was set for two. Damian stood by the window, his back to her, the morning light casting a golden hue over his dark hair.
"You're here," he stated without turning, his voice devoid of emotion.
Celine squared her shoulders, refusing to be intimidated. "I am. We need to talk."
He turned then, his golden eyes locking onto hers, a storm brewing within their depths. "There's nothing to discuss. You were reckless last night. It won't happen again."
Anger flared within her. "Reckless? I was attacked, Damian. And you… " She hesitated, the memory of the massive wolf flashing in her mind. "You saved me."
He strode toward her, closing the distance between them in two swift steps. "And I won't always be there to do so. You need to understand your place here."
"My place?" she echoed, disbelief coloring her tone. "I am to be your queen, yet you treat me as an inconvenience."
His jaw tightened, the muscle ticking with restrained anger. "This bond between us…it complicates things. I cannot afford distractions."
"Distractions?" Her voice rose, the hurt evident. "Is that what I am to you?"
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "You are... more than that. And that's the problem."
Before she could respond, the doors swung open, and Lady Rose entered, her presence commanding attention. Her sharp eyes took in the scene, a sly smile curling her lips ss if she had won.
"Am I interrupting something?" she purred, her gaze lingering on Celine.
Damian stepped back, putting distance between them. "Not at all, Lady Rose. What brings you here?"
She sauntered forward, her eyes never leaving Celine. "I came to see how our future queen is faring. After last night's... incident, I was concerned."
Celine met her gaze head-on. "I'm fine, thank you."
Lady Rose's smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Such spirit. I do hope it doesn't lead you into more trouble."
Lady Rose's smile was poison.
She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with false sweetness as she looked between Celine and Damian. "You seem troubled, Your Majesty. Did I walk in on something… delicate?"
Celine stiffened, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
Damian, however, didn't flinch. Did anything ever shake him? His golden eyes remained unreadable as he turned to Lady Rose. His patience seemed to wane. "Is there a point to this visit, Lady Rose?"
She turned to him, feigning innocence. "Merely ensuring the safety and well-being of our future queen. After all, appearances must be maintained."
The way she said queen, as if the title tasted bitter on her tongue, made Celine's jaw tighten.
"That's generous of you," Celine said, her voice edged with sarcasm. "But as you can see, I'm perfectly fine."
Lady Rose's eyes glittered with amusement. "It's good that our the Lycan King is so… protective of you."
With that, she glided out of the room, leaving a tense silence in her wake.
Celine clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "She doubts me. They all do."
Damian's expression softened marginally. "They doubt what they don't understand. Prove them wrong."
She met his gaze, determination hardening her features. "I intend to."