Chapter 46: Scent of forgotten shadows
It was past five in the evening, and Ruelle sat curled up on the worn velvet couch, her knees tucked beneath her. The low rumble of thunder rolled outside, shaking the windows with its distant warning of a storm. Faint echoes of muffled laughter outside the heavy wooden door could be heard.
Dane had left an hour ago, hovering like an older brother Ruelle had never had the opportunity to know. He made sure she ate and rested. Now alone, she read a book Hailey had passed to her two days ago. Her friend’s words were, "I was told it was going to be helpful in Seduction Techniques class," but just a few pages in, her cheeks burned.
This was the type of book that, if caught reading outside Sexton, women would be dipped in a bathtub of holy water. Yet she couldn’t deny the curiosity that tugged at her as she flipped to the next page.
’...her breath hitched as his lips brushed her ear, his voice low and commanding. His fingers teased beneath the edge of her dress, tracing the line of her thigh—’
"Feeling better?"
The deep voice startled her, and Ruelle slammed the book shut, fumbling to shove it behind her pillow. Her wide eyes flew to the doorway. There stood Lucian, his tall figure half-shadowed against the dim light of the corridor. His dark cloak hung off his shoulders, dripping rainwater onto the floor, his expression neutral but sharp enough to set her heart racing.
"I—" Ruelle cleared her throat, her cheeks burning. "I didn’t hear you come in."
"I noticed," Lucian replied dryly, stepping fully into the room. "I hope I didn’t interrupt anything important," he added, his tone as smooth and cool as the storm air outside. His gaze flickered to the pillow briefly, then to her flushed face.
"No, I was just reading," Ruelle said quickly, her voice uneven. "I’m feeling better. Dane made sure I rested."
"I see," Lucian murmured. He then turned towards the open door and instructed someone outside, "Bring it in and set it by the bath."
Soon, Ruelle noticed two guards step into the room, carrying a tall, polished wooden divider between them. Without a word, they placed it neatly beside the bath and straightened as though awaiting further orders.