Royally Not Ready(68)

“Yeah, I just . . . I wanted to make sure you were okay. You haven’t spoken to me since, you know, the blow-up, and I wanted to make sure you weren’t mad at me.”

His tense brow knits together. “Why would I be mad at you?”

“I don’t know.” I play with the hem of my shirt. “But you just seemed like you were.”

“No, Lilly, I’m not mad at you. I’m just trying to figure out the logistics to your welcoming and what we have to go over in the next week or so. I’m busy.”

“Oh, okay.” I look up at him. “Just seems like you’re pulling away after what Brimar said.”

Keller’s jaw grows tight. “What he said was completely out of line.”

“I know, and he apologized. I just think tensions are high and I understand that. We all want to stay safe, but I don’t want you pulling away,” I say as I reach out for his hand, but he steps away. “Keller . . .”

“I have work I have to do, Lilly. It’s late, why don’t you get some sleep?”

“Are you really going to let what he said put distance between us?”

“What he said was correct. For a moment, I lost sight of that.”

“When? Because last thing I remember, you’ve rejected me in every way you can.”

“Not because I want to,” he says quietly.

Frustrated with the man in front of me, I say, “Just forget it. Glad you’re fine, just a moody asshole like usual.”

I turn toward my door, but before I can retreat, he grabs my wrist. “Lilly, I’m trying to do what’s best for you.”

I shake free of his grasp. “How can you do what’s best for me when you don’t even know me?”

His eyes narrow. “I fucking know you.”

“If you did, then you’d realize I don’t care about your status. You act like in order for me to be happy, I need to be fulfilled by a man who has gold in his pockets and a prestigious title. That couldn’t be further from the truth, but you don’t seem to recognize that.”

He doesn’t seem to recognize the kindred spirit we share. He doesn’t notice that when he’s around, I feel protected, I feel seen. I feel as though I belong. He doesn’t notice how I light up when he walks into the room, because he reminds me of happiness—of the days my parents swept me up in moments of pure joy. He puts me at ease, offers me support, and pushes me outside of my comfort zone.

When he doesn’t say anything, I toss my hands in the air and go straight to my bedroom, where I lean against the door and take a few breaths. Absolutely infuriating. I hate that he thinks he knows what’s best for me when he truly has no idea.

God, he makes me want to scream. Shaking my head, I move toward the bathroom, but through both our jammed doors, I spot him sitting on his bed, his fingers pulling on the strands of his hair.

Damn it.

Damn these non-working doors.

And damn this man.

This infuriating, insufferable man.

I will not feel bad for him. I will not give in to the slump of his shoulders or the way his muscles contract as he tugs on his hair. Nope. He’s an idiot, therefore, he can be an idiot by himself.





CRASH.

I jack-knife on my bed, sitting up in a perched position, my heart hammering from the sound of broken glass echoing through the stone walls.

What the hell was that?

Eyes blurry, sleep still fogging my mind, I don’t realize what’s happening until I’m dragged out of bed and onto the floor.

I let out a scream, but then a large hand covers my mouth. When my eyes finally focus on the dark, menacing figure above me, I notice that it’s Keller.

“Shh,” he whispers. “Don’t make a fucking sound.”

My lips seal shut, my heart in my throat as fear pulses through my veins.

“What’s happening?” I whisper.

“I don’t know,” he whispers back. “But we’re not to move until we get an all-clear from Lara or Brimar.”

Lying on top of me, Keller’s large body eclipses mine, acting as a shield. Strangely, his weight isn’t pushing me into the floor, because he’s planking over me, protecting me.

“Keller . . . I’m scared.”

“I know.” His thumb caresses my cheek. “I got you, though. I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I clutch the hand that’s cupping my cheek as my body shivers under him.

“Shhh,” he says calmly as he strokes my cheek. “I’m here.”

From below, I hear Lara and Brimar clear rooms, their feet shuffling around. I stay stiff as a board under Keller, trying not to move despite my shaking legs.

“Clear,” Brimar says in the distance.

“Clear,” Lara says, their voices growing closer.

My teeth chatter, and adrenaline’s pumping through me now.

“It’s okay,” Keller whispers.

“Clear.”

“Clear.”

And then, the creak of stairs. I grow even stiffer under Keller.

“It’s probably Brimar,” he whispers.

“Has Rogue secured Gisla?” Brimar calls out.

“Secured,” Keller replies.

The door opens to my bedroom and Brimar says, “Clear. Safe to come out.”