Chapter 38: Wet…and naked
"Pay him no heed," Hezekiah said gently, offering Belle a warm smile to comfort her.
"No, he is right. You must claim me, so people like him will not dare to look down on me again," she replied, feigning indifference. Yet, unbeknownst to them, a certain someone with sharp ears overheard her words and smirked to himself.
"I would be glad to witness that," Quinn murmured under his breath as he continued on his way.
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Later that night, Belle managed to convince the guards to grant her two hours of solitude. While Hezekiah was understanding and agreed to her request, she knew his men were still keeping watch from a distance. Still, it was better than having them follow her every move.
Roaming through the garden, she sighed, her gaze drifting to the moon. Its glow reminded her of that perilous night in the cave. The full moon had made them vulnerable in ways she couldn’t forget. If her calculations were right, there shouldn’t be another full moon for another month.
She couldn’t help but wonder how he had endured it, if he truly had. It was a painful ordeal, one she wouldn’t wish upon anyone. Yet, what puzzled her most was his avoidance since that night. Was he upset that she pushed him away? Or had he finally grown tired of pestering her?
Though she should have welcomed his absence, she found herself unsettled by it. What was his reason for the sudden distance? She, of all people, had the right to be angry for he had endangered her life. So why was he the one acting withdrawn?
Frustrated, Belle kicked at the air and groaned aloud. It annoyed her to no end that he occupied her thoughts so persistently. She knew she wouldn’t find peace unless she confronted him or discovered the reason behind his behavior.