Chapter 64
~ NYSSA
As I came to, the first thing I felt was the softness of the bed underneath me.
I sat up with a curse, mentally chastising myself for falling asleep in Rowan’s room after making such a big fuss about staying anywhere but.
“Stupid,” I whispered under my breath. “Now you look like such a hypocrite p>
I dragged myself out of the bed. I had no idea where I was going but I knew I needed to get out before he woke. My bare feet padded across the thick rug and p>
Rug?
Rowan’s room didn’t have a rug.
I paused for the first time since waking up and took in the room I was occupying.
The first thing I noticed was that the walls were a soft off-white color, very different from the beige walls in Rowan’s room. The bed I’d gotten up from had white and pink sheets and not black, and most importantly, the desk was bare of documents.
I was still in my clothes from the trip, but someone had taken off my shoes and placed them neatly in front of a wooden door that I knew led to the closet along with my box.
My cheeks warmed when I realized that Rowan probably did all this. He could’ve left me in his room and blamed it on the fact that I fell asleep. Instead, he honored my wishes and brought me here.
The Rowan I thought I knew would never have done that.
“Maybe he’s changed,” my wolf suggested.
“Or maybe I just never knew,” I shot back.
I stepped out of the shower to find a familiar dark haired girl standing in the middle of my room. She hummed to herself as she arranged the sheets and placed a glass of what looked to be lemon water beside my bed.
“Leah?” I asked and she jumped.
“Hi! I’m so sorry, I knocked but you didn’t answer. I heard the shower running. I thought I’d be able to leave before you p>
“It’s alright,” I assured her, holding out my hands to show her I meant no harm. “Breathe please, I was just surprised to see you is all p>
She took a deep breath, her shoulders sagging on her exhale. “I’m glad that you’re back. It was a bit surprising how you just disappeared one night p>
I smiled tightly, not wanting to relive that gods awful night. I’d done everything I could to push it into the recesses of my mind.
I could see the curiosity in her eyes so I turned away before I could feel compelled to respond.
“I’m glad to be back,” I said simply, reaching for the first piece of clothing I found in my bag.
It was a short white sundress with simple straps and a floral print of the skirt. The neckline was generous enough to show a hint of cleavage but nothing that could be deemed as too inappropriate.
I decided it would do and began dressing.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her flush pink and turn away.
I should’ve asked before I started changing but I assumed that lycans were just as open with their bodies as we were.
It was normal to shift in front of the pack, and although I hadn’t yet, I’d been taught to not view nakedness as anything but human anatomy. It was normal for me.
“How have you been, Leah?” I asked, filling the silence to make her a bit more comfortable.
She let out a soft sigh. “I suppose I’ve been as good as I can be. One of the boys who died was a family friend. The King was kind enough to give me some time off p>
I stilled, my hair brush in my hands and turned to her. “What boys? What death p>
“Don’t you know?” she asked and I shook my head. “Two boys were killed by rogues a few days ago. It’s why the King left. They say he went to find the rogues and kill them p>
I knew there was a reason that Rowan returned. I got so caught up in my own shit that I never bothered to ask.
The thought of two innocent children dying because of those bastards was… I couldn’t even begin to imagine.
No wonder Rowan was so intent on ending the rogues as quickly as possible and finding out who was behind it but. His pack was attacked.
I was shocked that he hadn’t said anything, especially when I was blamed. He should have sides with Henry and advocated for my death, after all, I was the one to blame on paper.
It made his defense of me even more endearing and that only made me more curious as to who was truly behind all those attacks.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said finally. I wasn’t sure what else to say to her that would take away the pain.
She smiled softly. “It’s alright. The rogues are gone and the pack has one more reason to celebrate p>
“One more?” I asked, brows knitting in confusion. “Is there another p>
“Of course,” she said, a short laugh escaping her lips. “You and the King. Everyone has been talking about it since last night. There isn’t a single soul in the palace who doesn’t know p>
My cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink at her words.
Had they seen him take me into his room?
I was half asleep for the most part last night but I could’ve sworn that the hallways were empty.
Or had he told the pack something?
Surely, he couldn’t have. We returned last night, when would he have found the time? He was just as exhausted as I was.
I turned back to Leah who was biting back a smile as she folded up the blanket.
“I don’t understand. There’s nothing… Rowan and I I stumbled over my words, unable to find a proper way to say it. “What did he say p>
“He didn’t say anything but… he didn’t have to. Look at where you are p>
“I’m in the palace, what does that have to do with anything p>
She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “I meant the room you’re in. Don’t you know p>
“No, am I supposed to p>
“This room has been empty for decades. It’s the Queen’s chambers p>