Chapter 67
BRIANNA’S POV
I never asked him to come spend the night here. I never asked him to read to me. But he wouldn’t listen. He never stopped reading. I found it hard to admit, but I kind of enjoyed his company. I usually slept alone in this cell, my only companion being the crickets chirping outside, whispers of the night and my thoughts that were eating me up from inside. But that night, his smooth, deep, soothing voice filled the air inside the room. Filled the air around me. Lulled me into a relaxed mood.
He got more excited with each page he turned, even though I didn’t say a word to him. Surprisingly, I started enjoying the book too. He had said it was one of his favourites, and now I understood why. He kept reading until I finished braiding my hair and eventually fell asleep.
The streak of golden light pouring in from the small window fell on my face, making my eyes flutter open. On waking, I saw him sleeping on the armchair. He covered himself with a blanket and had the open book precariously lying on his chest as he snored softly. I had thought that at some point, he’d eventually leave that night after I had slept, but it turned out he didn’t.
My gaze lingered a bit on him, a small soft smile on my face as I observed his features. He looked so peaceful just like the first time I had seen him in his garden. His features were softened in the tranquillity of his sleep. His face, framed by his dark, tousled hair and beard, appeared angelic in the gentle glow of the light that poured into the room. With each peaceful breath he took, his chiselled jawline and high cheekbones seemed to harmonize. He was breathtaking. He was perfect. Like an angel.
I couldn’t help thinking why was he like this? Sacrificing too much for me. I did not doubt that all other Alpha kings at that auction hall would have treated me as Hermes did. But Sebastian was like…a dream come true. The exact opposite of them. He was too different. No matter how hard and far I pushed him, he always came back. Even though his wife was making my life in this castle a living hell all because of him, he still wouldn’t give up on me. Why?!! All because he loves me? A love that was dangerous and impossible.
My entire body was trembling, almost uncontrollably. I gripped the bars to steady myself and faced down when the entrance door clicked open and someone entered.
On raising my head, the shock of seeing Catherine struck me like thunder. She had that same horrified look on her face she had the time she saw Sebastian comforting me in bed when I had that terrible headache.
“This can’t be happening,” I muttered under my breath.
She was wearing make-up and had on a sexy mini-dress that made me think she was returning from an outing or a party. But the sun had just risen. Wasn’t it too early for that?
“You!!” Her murderous gaze shifted to me as she came closer to the bars, curses falling out of her mouth. She seemed ready to break the bars, pull me out, and tear me to pieces. “You devil!! You witch!! Are you happy now? You have succeeded in taking my husband from me. Are you satisfied?!!” Her screams echoed through the room. “You’re as good as dead. I’m going to kill you.”
“It’s not what you think,” I pleaded, trying to calm her, even though I knew it was like pouring water into a basket. She’ll never listen to what I have to say. She never did. “He was just reading to me. Nothing more… I swear… I didn’t ask him to stay… He did it willingly.”
“I’m going to kill you!” She kept saying, not listening to a word I was saying.
“Move away from the bars,” Sebastian said, getting up and setting aside his blanket and the book that was on his chest. His voice was strong, though his face showed signs of grogginess from sleep. Catherine’s yelling must have awakened him. “Leave her alone. She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“I can’t believe you, Sebastian,” Catherine scoffed, looking at him with disbelief. She approached him angrily, poking a manicured finger into his chest. Sebastian remained unfazed, meeting her gaze sternly. “I waited up all night for you in bed, but you never came. So, this piece of garbage is the reason you didn’t come to me,” she turned to glare at me before facing Sebastian again, hitting his chest, but he still didn’t budge. “I’m not well, for goodness sake. You’re my husband. I need you now more than ever, but you keep spending more time with her. Why?!” She cried out.
“You can insult her all you want,” Sebastian retorted firmly, his chin thrusting forward. “Say whatever you like. But she’s decent, unlike you, a royal slut who sleeps with strangers in her marriage bed.”
That pulled a tight string in Catherine. She stepped back and sliced her hand through the air to land a heavy slap on Sebastian’s cheek which turned pink from the impact.
But that didn’t stop Sebastian from continuing to talk. He clenched his jaw so tight in rage I feared they’d go numb. I had never seen him that angry. And I feared he might do something he’ll end up regretting later to Catherine.
“Please stop this,” I cried out, but it fell on deaf ears.
“The only reason I haven’t divorced you is because of the Alpha King rule that stops me from doing so. But don’t be so comfortable. Now that I caught you red-handed cheating on me, I have every right to take up a second wife to be my Luna. And you can do nothing to stop me.”
I gasped, freezing in shock. From Sebastian’s words, he had caught her cheating on him with Ken Johnson. Catherine had warned me to keep my mouth shut, which I did. But I knew Sebastian would find out eventually. Now that he did, he couldn’t divorce her because of their Alpha King rule but had plans on taking a second wife. Is that what their Alpha King rules permitted?
Catherine’s anger became a scalding fury. She tried to slap him again. But Sebastian held her wrist just in time as if he was expecting it, stopping her intending move.
Their glaring gazes were stuck on each other, the intensity of their anger growing with each passing moment when the entrance door squeaked and the guard who usually stood watch outside the door came in, his face etched with concern and curiosity as he wondered what was happening between his Alpha King and Luna.
“Your Highnesses, is something wrong?”
“No,” they answered at the same time. Catherine forcefully freed her wrist from his clutch. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. Leave! Your presence isn’t needed now,” Sebastian directed at the guard who bowed and left in an instant.
“I just need you to understand one thing,” Catherine drew back his attention. She took a step forward, now standing very close to him, Sebastian’s towering figure overshadowing her. But she didn’t appear intimidated. Her gaze fixed on him, never breaking away from him even a second. “If I can’t have you, then no other woman can.”
She pulled back and glanced at me, her lips curving into a satanic smile before she confidently made her way out of the room.
Sebastian didn’t say anything. He started packing the blanket, the book and some other things he came with angrily into the small bag.
“Sebastian, please don’t---” I tried to say something but he beat me to it.
“Brianna, you don’t have to say anything. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not your fault,” he said without maintaining a steady gaze on me.
Although I didn’t know what to say, I wanted him to look at me. I wished to see his hurt eyes return to the sharp, vibrant ones I knew. I didn’t want them to keep fighting because of me. And now that he knew about her cheating, things would surely get worse.
He grabbed the bag and left without looking back to say goodbye like he always did. Moments later, the guard standing outside the door came in and carried the armchair away with him.