His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 83: Poisonous Butterfly (1)

I’m frozen to the spot.

All thoughts have gone blank as I stare back at Soren’s rough yet handsome features. My lips part and shut as my mind scrambles to say something, anything. Do something!

But my mind is completely empty. All this time, I’d worked up a script in my head about how I would interact with him, be a badass Princess or something of the sort. Reality is completely different. All I can do is stare at him in shock, like a complete fool.

This is the man who’d thrown those daggers at my head and attempted to kill me in the woods under Deyanira’s orders. I was sure of it. Those marks I’d seen confirmed it. I want him to tell me it’s not true and that there is a simple explanation for all of this.

I do not.

Soren’s hardened expression cracks a little after I take a few steps away from him, intent on fleeing him like a coward instead of facing him. My knight uses my surprise to his advantage and takes my hand. He leads me away with rushed steps, around another corner until we are in a small alcove, the shadows hiding us.

Soren looks around us, scanning the area before fixing his attention back to me. "Your Highness..." He whispers, his brows furrowing. "Your heartbeat is so fast... Are you unwell?"

Of course, he can hear my heartbeat. It’s thudding rapidly from the adrenaline now pumping in my body, watching Soren as a threat. I do not comment as my hand slips from his aggressively.

Soren either does not note my reactions to him or looks past them. Unaware that I know what he has done, Soren bows low. "I’m sorry I have been called away for so long. Especially after last night’s attack." His head whips up, and he steps closer, concern flashing across those features as he looks me over. "You are not hurt... I heard Eryx has given you men for protection."

I continue to stare at him, wondering what else he might say.

"I would not trust them, but you are safe. That is all that matters..." He continues blubbering on about my safety, last night’s attack and how he kept wanting to check on me. It was only through updates in mind-links that he was aware of my health.

Look at me, Soren. Really, look at me. Do you not see the emptiness in my eyes, the disgust beginning to crawl under my skin now that I am so close to you. Look at me!

Soren’s eyes flicked to mine like he answered my silent command. His throat bobs. "Please," his voice drops. "I can explain everything."

I tilt my head to the side. About what?

"I will tell you everything. But it’s too dangerous right now." He looks behind him in case anyone else might overhear or is passing by. "I... She will start to wonder where I am..." He drops his head and reaches for my hands again; this time, I step back, out of reach, only for my back to hit the wall.

Panic springs from my body at the action. Did he trap me here?

Soren’s eyes widen slightly, but his usual stoic expression falls back into place. "Queen Mother will invite you to tea tomorrow-" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"You tried to kill me," I interrupt, my voice solemn, low, and unlike myself as I stare at him unblinking.

Soren freezes.

I can’t blink. I can’t look away from what he might do or say or if there is a change in his expression.

Then he instantly drops to his knees, head bowed to the ground with a thud. "I can explain. I will. Please. PLEASE, Your Highness. We cannot speak of this here," he pleas from the ground.

I didn’t mean to say it, especially after being thrown off guard so much. But seeing Soren in front of me, the betrayal became so raw again that it was like my heart was being crushed again. And now he was confirming it by begging at my feet.

If he wanted to, he could simply kill me now, finish the job and get his reward from Deyanira...

I shook my head to those darkening thoughts. Spiralling is what will get me killed. I’m a survivor, I do not fall prey so easily.

"Your Highness!" Boots thud against the ground, echoing and growing closer. Cohnal appeared in front of me almost two seconds after he called for me.

The Beta wasn’t breathless, but it was clear he had run to me from the Guest Pavilion. His eyelashes still had some snowflakes on making him look like an ethereal creature.

Cohnal steps in front of me protectively, offering me his forearm, shielding me from Soren as he steps us to the side and away from the wall where I’d felt trapped. "You did not call for me," Cohnal accuses over his shoulder.

It was the same tone he used with Kharis, and it relaxed me immediately. "You said you were on the night shift," I shrug, feeling more and more like myself. "I wanted to give you more time to rest."

Cohnal clicks his tongue and says something in Solfyran. Probably a curse word. "That does not mean you should go around by yourself..." Cohnal looks down at Soren, eyes glinting darkly at him. "Is he bothering you?"

Soren was sitting back now, digesting the conversation between us.

"Soren was just leaving," I say calmly.

"Wait," Soren shuffles forward on his knees, about to reach out, but a curved blade shoots out, stopping beneath his chin.

I gasp as the blade glints under the low lighting held firmly and comfortably by Cohnal, whose expression isn’t masked and with the intent to kill. What made the Beta act so ferociously? He must know that this is my knight, the one Faidon and Kharis had been replacing for a while.

"Please. I am loyal only to you. I will explain everything once she is gone." Soren pleads with his stare, unfazed by the blade or glaring Southern Were in front of him.

It could be a trap, a planned death-

"Please," he rasps, his expression crumbling as he finally sees the distrust in mine. "Poisonous Butterfly!"

I blink back at the word, my mouth going slack as my eyes flick between his.

"Poisonous Butterfly," he whispers, pleading with me.

"Alright," I say, my voice thick with emotion, but my chin raises, and I turn from him without looking back.