Josephine glowered. “You could have mentioned that before.”
“You were in love,” Benedict said. “You wouldn’t have listened to me if I told you. You had to find that out on your own.”
“I guess,” Josephine grumbled, as Benedict looked back to me.
“There will be a celebratory dinner in honor of my return tonight,” he said. “My brother always does things like that. Any reason to have a party, I think. Though with Grayson the way he is, I can’t help but humor him. Too few good times these days.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I’d be honored if you would attend. The Luna Princess should be there.”
“I’m… not sure…” I said. With how badly things were going with Grayson, it felt dishonest to keep attending events. Likely, sooner rather than later, I was going to be kicked out of this place and left to Calvin’s mercy. I shuddered at the thought.
“You should come,” Josephine said and gave me a weak smile. “We haven’t gotten the chance to know each other well, and… after what happened, I’d like to change that.”
“Ah, see? You might be able to say no to me, but surely not to Josie?” Benedict teased.
He was right.
“Very well,” I said.
Josephine smiled a little wider. Benedict offered us both one of his arms.
“Great, with that sorted, why don’t we head back to the house? I apparently need to make a formal announcement.”
“Sometimes I don’t know why Dad puts up with you,” Josie said, but she was smiling brightly, clearly fond of her wayward uncle.
I could see why. He wasn’t like other royals I’d met so far, charming and laidback. If the whole of the palace could be like him, maybe I wouldn’t feel so unwelcome.
We chatted until we reached the back of the estate, where Prime Beta was waiting, his arms crossed, his face even sterner than usual. His gaze cast smoothly over all of us before settling on me.
“I think you might be in trouble,” Benedict whispered to me.
“You have duties to attend to with the prince,” Prime Beta said, scowling at me. “Those duties should no longer be delayed.”
“I have to go,” I told the others, as I unhooked my arm from Benedict’s.
“Give my regards to my nephew,” Benedict said. “We will reconnect with you, Luna Princess, later this evening at my-event.”
I lowered my head with respect. “I will see you there.”
Prime Beta continued to glare.
After parting with the others, I walked to Grayson’s room with Prime Beta behind me. I could feel him watching me, likely willing to give chase if I would try to run. I wasn’t going to run, but a feeling of dread was building up in my stomach.
Grayson didn’t actually need me to attend him. More likely he wanted to scold or punish me. Perhaps he wished to say more cruel things to me, or make more wild assumptions.
Regardless, the prince’s will could not be denied – not if I wanted to keep my head attached – so I went to his room, opened the door, and entered.
The head doctor was already there, inspecting a series of bottles and vials laid out on an end table. Each vial contained a liquid of a different color.
“I’m assuming Benedict didn’t say where he found these potions this time,” Grayson said.
“No,” the doctor replied. “I’m not sure even the prince himself remembers.” The doctor set down the last of the bottles. “But I have tested them. They appear harmless. Placebos, most likely. I don’t think they will do any harm.”
Grayson turned up his nose. “I’m not taking any of these.”
I frowned a little, suddenly even more uncertain. Benedict had seemed like a kind man, who had shown valid concern for his nephew. Did Grayson not trust him?
Lillian’s POV
Grayson lifted his gaze and saw me. Frowning, he asked, “What took you so long? I sent for you over an hour ago.”
“My apologies, Alpha,” Prime Beta said, stepping into the open space beside me. “Prince Benedict had engaged her in conversation. She was difficult to approach.”
Grayson exhaled but said nothing else about it as he returned his gaze to the doctor the medicines./1
“I could run more tests if that would make you feel more comfortable, Prince Grayson,” the healer said. “But I can assure you they contain no known poisons.”
“You believe your uncle would poison you?” I asked. The glare I earned from Grayson immediately made me wish that I had kept my mouth shut.
“I don’t trust anyone,” he said. “Even if Uncle Benedict has good intentions, he is far too trusting of those medicine men and women he listens to. Any one of them could have tampered with whatever medicine these are supposed to be. As I’m not actually injured in any way anymore, it isn’t worth it to even try them.”
I closed my mouth, recognizing the sense he was making. Perhaps I too had a reason to be cautious then about the medicines Benedict wanted to give me, to help me with my pregnancy.
A pregnancy I hoped wouldn’t ever actually be required of me. I only wanted to be with my true mate, and with how cold Grayson was, that could never be him.
My true mate was someone who would treat me with warmth and kindness. Not cruelty and mistrust.
“Dispose of these,” Grayson said to the doctor. “But do it in such a way that it seems I had taken them. No one should know the truth.”
“Of course,” the doctor said. “At once.”
“I’m sure Benedict has good intentions,” I said, remembering how nice he had been to me.
Grayson cast me a withering look. “You don’t know anything.”
Prime Beta looked at me without emotion. The doctor glanced at me with a hint of sympathy. With both of their looks, embarrassment rose up inside of me.
Grayson had been right though. What did I really know about this? He would know his uncle better than I would, though I still hoped that Benedict’s kindness had been genuine.
The doctor gathered all of the medicines into a bag. Grayson looked impatiently from him to Prime Beta and finally to me.
“Everyone leave,” Grayson said. “Except you, surrogate.”
The doctor hurried now, gathering the rest of his things, before bowing a little at Grayson and heading toward the door. The Prime Beta waited for the doctor to leave first, then followed him out, closing the door behind him, leaving me alone with Grayson.
I tried to stand straighter, prouder, but really I was nervous. I could only hope it didn’t show on a face I struggled to keep emotionless. I wasn’t as good at maintaining a cool outward composure as Grayson was.
For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other.
Then, Grayson spoke, “You’ve been avoiding me.”
That was true, but I knew admitting it wouldn’t earn me any favors. I kept my mouth shut.
“If you are hoping to preserve your innocence, you have a strange way of going about it,” he said.
We were standing on opposite sides of the room, and yet I still felt like he could see right through me, His blue eyes were piercing and intense, and I shivered under his full attention, suddenly feeling very cold.
And, at the same time, somehow, very, very warm.
“I have not and will not betray you,” I said.
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