Chapter 164
~ ROWAN
Nyssa frowned in her seat, staring at the doorway where I stood, but not at me.
I made my way over to her, letting a hand trail softly down her cheek as I placed a kiss atop her head.
“Don’t worry about Aria, she will be fine,” I assured her softly, pulling her to het feet. “We have a few hours before dinner and I’d like to spend them with you p>
“No p>
“We can… wait, what p>
I blinked twice, wondering if I heard her correctly. I waited for her to take the words back or at least tell me that it was a fucking joke, but none of that happened.
She stared straight at me, her expression soft and patronizing. “You need to go to your sister p>
I raised a brow. “Why p>
“Just… trust me on this one, okay p>
I frowned deeply, hands crossed over my chest as I waited for her to explain but she never did. She just shot me an awkward smile and took a step back, creating some distance between us. The action frustrated me and when I stepped forward, she held up a hand to stop me.
“Just… do it, okay? When you’re done with her then we can talk p>
It was clear there was more to this than she was telling me, and unfortunately, I knew her well enough to know that she wasn’t going to tell me more than she already had.
I sighed, running my hands through my hair. “How bad is it? Whatever this is p>
She shrugged. “Bad enough, I guess p>
“Is it important p>
She nodded. “Very p>
I closed the distance between us, and this time, she didn’t stop me. I placed a kiss atop her head, letting my lips linger there for a moment before turning away from her and disappearing through the doorway, heading up the stairs to Aria’s room.
I tried to mind link her first, to let her know that I was coming, but her wall was firmly slammed shut between us, and no matter how hard I tried, she did not budge.
I got to her room and knocked but I didn’t receive an answer.
“For fucks sake, Aria, open the damn door,” I snapped, pounding harder. I heard her moving inside, but not once did she acknowledge my presence. “Can you just fucking answer me so I can at least tell Nyssa that I tried p>
I heard her move then, and the door opened, just by an inch. “Nyssa sent you p>
“Why else would I be here p>
She opened the door further a little, standing in the middle of the doorway with her hands crossed. “What did she tell you p>
“Nothing! Only that I had to see you. I’m hoping that you will tell me what the fuck is going on p>
She was silent for a long minute, staring at me with an expression that I could not name. After what felt like hours, she sighed. “It doesn’t matter, tell Nyssa that I’m fine p>
She made to shut the door but I stuck my leg into the crack, pushing it open even wider.
A sound of protest escaped her, but I was already walking into the room, ignoring her demands for me to leave.
“You shouldn’t be here!” she snapped, “Get out p>
I lowered myself onto the edge of her bed. “Not until you tell me what the fuck is going on p>
I couldn’t remember the last time I willingly stepped into her room. It had always been her solace from everyone… me included. Even when she was a child, I never came in here unless she asked me too. I’d almost forgotten just how messy she was; clothes were strewn over her bed and her chair, papers lay scattered on her table and her shoes weren’t even in the closet.
“Rowan, I want you to get out,” she reiterated. “Right now, please p>
“Nope,” I drawled, leaning backwards on my arms. “Your best is actually fucking comfortable. I could sleep here p>
She grabbed the nearest thing to her which happened to be a shirt and threw it at me. I caught it effortlessly and tossed it over to the rest of the clothes on her bed.
“If you want me out of here, you’re going to have to try a lot harder than that p>
She groaned loudly, pulling at her hair with enough force that for a moment I thought she’d rip it from her scalp.
“Are you really not going to leave?” she asked and I nodded. “Fine, I told her I missed spending time with you p>
I waited for her to finish the statement, but when she didn’t speak, I was left confused. There was no way that could be all, that wasn’t nearly enough to have her storming out of the room.
“You’ve lost me,” I said simply. “That doesn’t explain shit to me. Did Nyssa say something p>
She groaned aloud. “Of course not. She’s fucking perfect. She sent you to me for fucks sake p>
My brows furrowed in confusion. “Then what is the problem p>
“There is no fucking problem! I just she exhaled deeply. “I need you to leave, Rowan, please. I’ll get over it sooner or later, okay p>
She wouldn’t look at me as she spoke, and it was clear from her voice that she was not getting over it… sooner or later.
“Maybe we should talk… you and me p>
“We are talking p>
“Not here.” I stood to my feet. “Come on, we’re going somewhere p>
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t p>
“I wasn’t asking… let’s go p>
She frowned, and for a moment, I thought she would refuse. After a long minute, she sighed. “Whatever, let’s go p>
She stepped out of the room then stopped in the hallway, turning back to me with her hands crossed over her chest.
“I’m not doing this for you,” she said defiantly. “This is because Nyssa sent you p>
I rolled my eyes, the corners of my mouth quirking upwards in amusement. “Good, because I’m doing it for her too p>