Chapter 147: HER WARNING 2
Lumina stood before her chamber door, her fingers lightly touching the carved frame. For the first time, she had walked these halls alone, guided only by the memory she had mastered while being guided by Stella.
The bottle of antidote clutched tightly in her hand, she placed it against her chest.
She knew she would have to explain herself to Stella and eventually to her husband.
He would get mad at her for putting herself at risk, but she needed to take action.
She had lived for years with the people who should have killed her for years, she was not about to give Adam the chance to make her scared, she had planned to give him that warning never to mess with her.
The door swung open with a soft creak just as a shadow fell behind her.
"Ashen," she breathed, relief flooding her voice. But his expression was not relieved.
Before she could speak, he swept her up from the floor, his arms wrapped around her in fury.
"Ashen..." she gasped, clutching his robe, but he said nothing.
He carried her straight through the outer chamber, ignoring Stella’s startled cry.
"My lady!" Stella’s voice broke as she fell to her knees. "I am sorry... by the time I was back you were not there! I am sorry I couldn’t protect you!"
Ashen didn’t even glance at her, his steps long and fast, until they reached the inner chamber. The door shut behind them the moment they were in his chamber.
"Where were you?" He asked with fury burning in his eyes.
Lumina could feel the tension in his body, the restrained anger. Instead of answering, she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her cheek against his chest.
Her hands trailed lightly up his robe, tracing the muscles beneath the fabric, and she kissed the curve of his neck.
"Lumina," he growled, catching her wrists but she bit him softly just below his ear, making him shudder.
"You think you can distract me?" he mumbled, though his coldness was already fraying.
She felt his hold loosen and tried to step back, but he caught her again, this time sweeping her into his arms and laying her gently on the bed.
Her blindfold slipped away, leaving her eyes open, her lashes damp from the air.
She smiled faintly. "I was home all day. Don’t be angry with me."
Ashen stared at her, his eyes narrowing. The room fell into a deep silence until his voice broke it.
"Are you... trying to use your powers on me?" Lumina’s lips parted in shock.
"What?"
"Your charms might work on other people but not on me." His mouth curled in a faint smirk.
She cleared her throat aware that he had caught her and no matter what her power didn’t work on Ashen.
"Don’t fool yourself," he let out quietly. "If just any powers worked on me, I would have been dead long before we met."
Her mouth turned into a pout as she spread her arms wide but he glared at her instead.
"I am not holding you, I am still mad at you.." but again she made those puppy eyes with her pouty lips.
Ashen exhaled sharply, crouching closer. "You were meant to check the ceremony arrangements. Instead, you went to Adam’s chambers." His hand reached for her, tugging gently at the robe at her neck, checking for any mark.
Lumina only leaned forward, resting her head against his chest.
"Why are you being clingy?" His tone was softer now, almost confused.
She gasped softly, a hint of mock offense in her voice. "Clingy? I am with my husband. Is it wrong to hold him?"
He blinked once, then sighed, surrendering. "No... never. Forgive me."
She turned her face away, pouting like a stubborn child.
To say her gesture did not amuse him would be a lie. A small smile tugged at his lips as he knelt before her.
"I should be the one angry, but somehow my wife has turned it around."She glanced at him sharply.
"Are you saying I..."
Her words were cut off as he kissed her lips softly, lingering there.
She smiled against his mouth, but before she could melt into him, his voice murmured against her lips.
"Tell me, Lumina. You went to Adam?"
Her smile faltered, and she sighed. Reaching into her sleeve, she pulled out the small glass bottle.
"I got this from him," she admitted.
"An antidote. I need the full cure before he gains too much control, so I thought of getting a sample from him, so I could help Lord Drex faster in his findings."
Ashen’s eyes darkened, but there was pride there too. "You helped yourself again."
The smile faded from her lips. "Are you angry?"
"Of course not." He brushed a hand through her hair, his voice warm.
"I am proud to have a wife who will fight for herself. But I wish you would let me fight for you too."
Her fingers clenched lightly on his sleeve. "If I had waited, his aides might have abducted me and hurt me and you... You would get mad and cause a.. an uproar." she let out looking down.
Ashen grinned as he sat beside her on the bed, pulling her gently until her head rested on his shoulder.
"Did he touch you?"
She hesitated for only a moment before answering. "No... I attacked him first."
He leaned closer to her for a while and he locked his lips with hers then not a fleeting brush this time but a deep, consuming kiss.
His hands cupped her face, tilting her head to deepen it. She parted her lips for him, her fingers fisting in his shirt, pulling him closer.
"My lord, dinner is ready!" Stella’s voice rang nervously from outside.
Lumina pushed against his chest, her lips swollen, her breathing ragged. Ashen only smiled, pressed one last kiss to her forehead, and stood.
He lifted her easily from the bed, carrying her back to the dining room.
The maids had already prepared a single plate, as they always did, husband and wife rarely ate apart.
Ashen placed her gently on the chair beside him and they began to eat.
The silence broke when one of the younger maids rushed in and whispered something urgently into Stella’s ear.
Stella gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Ashen’s gaze fixed on her.
"What was that about?"
"Erm... nothing," Stella said quickly, but her eyes betrayed her.
From the corner, Ero let out another low gasp, and that was enough for Ashen’s patience to snap.
"Are we now keeping secrets in this house?" He asked.
Lumina only reached for his hand, smiling faintly urging him to eat, not minding their gossip.
But he was staring at Stella now, "I won’t repeat my question." he said angrily.
She wilted under the pressure, "Princess Rhynera’s room burned completely and before they could save anything, everything was lost. Even the arrangements she bought for the First Flame Festival." The room went quiet.
Ashen froze, She noticed his wife had not even said a word his gaze flicked to Lumina. Only then did he understand without a single word that his wife had been behind it.