Unable to look her mistress in the eye any longer, she lowered her head into her hands, barely able to hold back her tears. A whirlwind of emotions stormed through her. In a matter of hours everything had changed. She had gone from deliriously happy to distraught. Her head was spinning so badly that all she wanted to do was get back into bed, pull the covers over her head and forget about everything. Not for the first time did she wish she was back on the mainland.
A thought hit her then, It’s always been impossible for me to stay away from him. Even after he had locked her away in the tower and she had been angry at him, she hadn’t been able to stop herself from looking at him whenever he wasn’t looking at her, longing for his company whenever he wasn’t around, hating him whenever he was in the room because she couldn’t allow herself to be with him.
What is wrong with me? she wanted to scream out loud.
“It was impossible for me to stay away from him,” she realized out loud. Although she could feel Delilah glaring at her, she couldn’t help but add, “It was fate.”
Utter silence filled the room. Fleur held entirely still, not daring to look up for fear that she might be burned by Delilah’s gaze.
“None of it matters now,” Delilah declared and it was impossible for Fleur not to look at her. A determined expression had crossed the lady’s face and she stared intently at Fleur. “None of it matters because you are going to go and fix it right now.”
Relief washed over Fleur in an instant and she began to nod. “Yes, yes, I’ll do anything. Just tell me how to fix this and I will do it.”
A malicious smile crossed Delilah’s face then and she practically purred, “Go to the king and tell him you wish to have nothing else to do with him.”
Fleur stared in astonishment, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"And you think that will be enough?" she asked. "You think he will give up?"
Delilah's expression darkened. "What makes you believe you are any more special than any of the hundreds of girls who have passed through his bed?"
Fleur's chest tightened then. What is she trying to say? she wondered but deep down she knew. She was saying that she was no better than any of the courtesans and loose women who prowled the palace and local towns looking for their next noble target.
"I am sure that if you spoke to Theo, you would understand that it's not like that," Fleur insisted. Still the tears burned her eyes and she continued to struggle not to let them fall.
"You are on first name basis with the king of the Summer Isle now, are you?" Delilah scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. She glared at Fleur then, an ice blue glare that chilled Fleur to the bone. "You are going to go to King Theo and tell him that everything is over. Then you are going to get on the first boat out of here. Do I make myself clear?"
I can't do that! Her heart wanted her to scream the words but her head had her nodding. If she were to deny Delilah now, she knew it would end badly. She could still feel the burning where her fingernails had dug into her arm and she didn't dare to glance down for fear of what she might see.
"I will go first thing in the morning," she promised. At least then she could come up with some kind of plan, hopefully to get out of her predicament, before the sun rose.
"No." Delilah paused to shake her head and then added, "You will go now or I will have you dragged directly to the docks and thrown onto the next boat."
As if she saw the tears in Fleur's eyes she continued, "Don't be sad. At least I am giving you the chance to say goodbye."
Goodbye? How can I ever say goodbye to him? Fleur knew that even if she were to be parted from him her heart and her soul would never let him go. He will always be with me.
It was with that she realized something, no matter where I go, he will always be mine.
It was comforting and upsetting in equal measure. What Delilah was asking her to do would hurt like hell but she knew one thing for certain, whether she was around or not, Theo would never be Delilah's. She had known it from the moment she felt him inside her. The kiss of the fated mates had been their first sign but ever since their time on the beach she knew one thing for certain, he will always be mine.
"I will do as you ask," Fleur said, sucking a deep breath as she resolved herself to what she must do, hoping that she was right, praying that fate had other plans for her that didn't involve getting on a boat back to the mainland. If he and I are meant to be, fate will prevent me from leaving.
She had not allowed herself to believe in fate the first time she had kissed the king but now she realized she had to put all her faith into it.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Delilah sneered and she yanked Fleur from the chair. "Quickly before he goes to his bed."
Chapter 13 - Theo
It was well past midnight when he finally retired from his study and began to make his way to his private chambers. Only a hallway separated the two rooms and he found he was half-way down it when he heard footsteps idling toward him. They sounded soft, lingering, hesitant even and when he paused to glance over his shoulder, he was surprised to find Fleur standing beneath one of the firefly lanterns.
This time he made doubly sure that it was her before calling out, "Fleur? What are you doing out here?"
She didn't answer and Theo's heart which had soared at the sight of her suddenly dropped into his stomach.
"What is the matter, my love?" he asked at the sound of a sniffle which suggested she had been crying.
"Please, don't call me that," she said so quietly that it was barely audible.