Forbidden Lovers

The Last Time

"I just heard my beautiful Lady here won the duel with you today, Arthmael." Robert held Evelyn's hand in his, kissing her knuckles softly but his eyes were on Arthmael.

And Evelyn knew why her husband was being this nice tonight— the royal family was having dinner with Sir Vincent, King Robert's best friend and his daughter Lady Katherine, and some other noblemen as well. It was more than obvious to her he wanted to leave a good impression, act as if everything was perfect. Even go as far as act as if he was in love with Evelyn.

Yet, the way Arthmael grabbed the edge of the table until his knuckles turned white and closed his eyes for a tortuously long second, hiding his wolf's appearance, it broke something inside her. Only seeing Arthmael being close to Estelle was torture to her, how was he feeling while Robert kept complimenting his dear wife all dinner?

Slowly, she pulled her hand away from Robert's, hoping Arthmael would notice.

"Yes, Her Grace did." His voice was strained and throaty, as if only saying those two words had been the hardest thing he had ever done.

"How many years since someone won a duel with Arthmael? I can't remember." Julian chuckled softly and so did most of the others after him.

"I bet you're one of the best fighters too, Prince Julian." It was Katherine who spoke and Evelyn fought the urge to roll her eyes at how obvious the younger girl was being. She was almost begging for Julian's attention when it was so obvious he wasn't into her at all.

"Something tells me it was Arthmael who actually wanted Queen Evelyn to win." Silence followed Vincent's sudden words, tension rising in the air. "We all have seen how much he respects her, after all."

Panic kicked her senses but looking at Arthmael, he looked almost relaxed. Like he had been expecting something like this from Vincent, and he actually had. Vincent had always loved provoking people.

"I do respect our Queen, you're right, Sir," he said, his voice deep and strong. "And I think everybody else should. But you're mistaken if you think I let her win today because I simply did not."

"If Arthmael says so, then it's true," Robert interrupted and there was not even the smallest sign of him doubting Arthmael's words, not even for a second. "Besides, I believe Evelyn is stronger than she lets us believe, right, my beloved?"

Evelyn only nodded once, the never-ending endearments making her beyond uncomfortable.

The dinner kept going just like that, with small pointless conversations, and Evelyn was happy when it was finally over. But even as she stayed in her room, even under the soft bed sheets, Arthmael's black eyes kept haunting her. It was as if he was the center of all her thoughts now; and he actually was. She didn't even know how she had ended up like this. He was her true mate, of course she had expected to feel some kind of attraction to him, but did everyone feel like this towards their mate? Like they didn't even remember how their life before meeting them was?

Evelyn doubted that. Maybe it was only her. Maybe it was her stupid heart, deprived of love, starting to beat for him more day after day. And that was damn frightening.

Wrapping her satin robe around her body, she grabbed a candlestick and headed to the biggest library of the castle. If there was something she loved about this creepy, big, dark castle, it was the libraries and the never ending books she never knew existed before.

However, what she least expected to see inside the library was her mate, choosing a book from one of the bookshelves and her heart instantly started hovering inside her chest at just the sight of him. Would it ever stop doing that? She doubted that.

He didn't even seem to notice her there, too focused on choosing one book. And when he finally did, his arm reaching to grab it, Evelyn moved faster; with a snap of her fingers, the book was already in her hands.

Arthmael narrowed his eyes deeply, before taking her in, his eyes moving from her face to her long, elegant body under that nightgown. She was so goddamn breathtaking, he had to swallow down hard and practically force himself to look at her face instead.

And the way her lips had risen up into a small teasing smile didn't help at all.

"Weren't you the one to say magic was cheating, your grace?" He let out a small chuckle, crossing his arms in his chest and leaning on the bookshelf. And only that caught her breath on her throat a little.

"That only applied to dueling." She grinned, making her voice flirty as she never one broke eye contact with him. "Besides, I wouldn't let you get the book that I wanted."

"Really?" He arched a brow, his voice teasing. "Then how exactly is the title of the book you wanted this much?"

Evelyn curled her bottom lip between her teeth, searching for a way to look at the cover of the book in her hand without breaking eye contact. And this time they both busted into laughing at the same time.

Slowly, she walked towards the only couch there was in the big hall, sitting down in there comfortably. "I didn't know wolves liked to read fiction, though. I thought you only knew how to fight and shift and be these possessive hot-headed beings."

This time Arthmael wasn't able to hide the amusement behind his deep chuckle. "So we're possessive hot-headed beings, huh?" He ran his hand through his loose dark hair, is muscles flexing under the silk white shirt.

"Aren't you?" She gave a shrug, trying to hide the blushing on her face. She had such a big mouth sometimes.

"We are." This time it was Arthmael who shrugged. "We are possessive, you're right, especially towards our mates."

Meeting his intense black gaze now was almost impossible so Evelyn moved her eyes away. "Yeah, I figured as much," she murmured. "Sit down though, I told you I don't bite wolves."

Once again, Arthmael chuckled, finally sitting down on the couch beside her. Nothing would happen with just sitting down there, right? They could just talk like civilized people, it wasn't that hard.

Hopefully.

"You didn't let me win on purpose today, did you, Commander?" She broke the silence suddenly.

Reaching up, he brushed a strand of black hair that had fallen on her face behind his pointy ear. "No, Evelyn, I did not." His fingers had already started stroking her cheek slightly and she closed her eyes at the contact. So much for just talking.

He just couldn't keep his hands to himself despite knowing how guilty he'd feel afterwards.

Surprisingly, it was Evelyn who softly moved his hand away. "I'm glad, then." She smiled just a little.

"Have I ever told you how beautiful you are, Evelyn?" The words left his mouth by themselves, no matter how much he wanted to keep his mouth shut. What was wrong with him, knowing that them, this, could never happen, yet pushing it just to see how she'd react? Just to let her see how much he actually wanted her.

Her hands kept shaking slightly. "I don't think you have, Arthmael, but I should go. It's late and..." she trailed off, but Arthmael knew exactly what she meant. Yet it didn't mean he wanted to let her go... not yet, at least.

"I was actually hoping you'd read something for me." The smallest hope behind his voice was devastating. "You took my book, after all," he tried cracking a joke, and failed.

"Arthmael—"

"It's just a book, Evelyn." He didn't know what he was doing himself, but letting her go right now, he couldn't imagine that. "You'll just read and I'll just hear you. That's all."

By the way her shoulders fell, Arthmael knew she had given up.

And he kept observing her as her eyes moved through the lines of the book, not having the slightest idea about the storyline because he had been so focused on her smooth melodious voice instead.

Evelyn could feel his eyes at her the whole time, but instead of making her uncomfortable, it made her feel needed. Beautiful. He had said she was beautiful. And he had no idea how exactly it had made her feel. He had absolutely no idea what every single word of him could to her.

She wasn't sure when he had laid down on the couch and leaned his head on her lap, neither when she had started stroking his hair softly, still reading.

But somehow, they had both fallen asleep together at that small couch, and only when Arthmael woke up a few hours later, when the sun was rising on the sky, he realized his arms were tight around her waist and hers curling in his hair. Every atom of his being was screaming at him to stay like that for just a bit longer, but the night was over.

So was his dream.

Softly, so he wouldn't wake her up, he walked to his room, thankful there was no maid or guard around. Stealing a blanket there and covering her beautiful body with it.

To leave her there, that was the harder part but he had to do this too.

Arthmael stroked her hair softly, scared to wake her up. "Ah, little mate, what have you done to me?" He asked, and just like that, reaching up, he covered her lips with his, feeling how soft and delicious they were. "This has to be the last time, Evelyn, I can't do this anymore. I just can't, you have to understand me. Please." This time, he left a last kiss on her forehead and walked away, out of the library.

Not knowing Evelyn had actually heard. Not knowing she clung the blanket that smelled like him to her body desperately, tears filling up her eyes.