His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 69: We Should Talk

I sigh loudly, my head lounging back as the bath water’s scent curls around me, but it doesn’t rid me of his smell. It doesn’t wash away the feel of his touch or halt the wanton throb between my thighs.

Eryx did relieve me of my heated state, but by not mating, I feel empty and needy still. It is highly frustrating and not something I should be focusing on when my brother has been called away about another attack or by the idea that Soren could return at some moment on orders by Deyanira.

With a huff, splashing the water with my hand, I started washing up and climbed out of the bath. Lying around like that won’t make me feel better, nor will mulling over issues I cannot do anything about yet. For now, I will focus on the present.

Dressed in my nightgown and a robe, my hair still braided in a bun from earlier, my feet hit the cold floor as I emerge from my bed chamber and take a few steps down the corridor until I am before my slave’s room. I knock on his door and wait. Nobody answers. Is he asleep?

My gaze flicks to Kharis who has been quietly patrolling the hallway, or more like pacing up and down. "Are you to guard us tonight?" I ask, my arms folding over my chest as I watch him and wait for Theo.

"Us?" Kharis stops, tilting his head. "You, Princess. I am only here under your orders. I will return to patrol from outside, I am in need of some air."

"You do not need to ask, Kharis. Go, I will be sleeping soon anyway."

He watches me for a while, and then a grin grows on his face. "Ah, sweet dreams, Princess."

My brows furrow, but he bows his head and leaves without any further comment. Now that nobody is pacing beside me, I knock on the door again, wait a few more moments, and then open it, popping my head inside.

Theo’s room is bare and dark if not for a single candleholder lit on the small window sill. Theo’s head whips around, his actions pausing. His bed is rumpled, and he is shirtless. "Ida," he breathes and quickly finishes doing up his breeches. "I was changing."

"You could have called out for me to wait," I say softly, keeping the door between us, my body still outside in the corridor.

"I cannot let a Princess wait!" He mocks, but I can tell he also means it. His station is far below mine, and by others, it would be considered a punishable offence. Whether we were childhood friends or not, I wouldn’t punish someone for making me wait. He was simply changing.

"Yet you made me wait," I say dryly, arching an eyebrow.

I was concerned about Theo’s welfare, but perhaps there was no need to be. Then again, I don’t expect he would openly show that he was affected by tonight and Countess Willowby’s advances.

"Ah, that I did," Theo says, rather tiredly, as his hand goes to the top of his head, almost as though to rake his fingers through his hair, but he stops, seeming to realise he still has it pulled back.

"We should talk," I say, getting straight to the point and tugging out the bottle I was hiding behind my back. "Wine?"

Theo arches an eyebrow. "I remember the last time you had wine..."

My eyes widen as I open the door before holding my spare hand up. "Nothing like that will happen! I promise!" Goddess, why did I think drinking would help? I’m not about to climb into his lap or anything though, but Theo’s memories of me must be full of my drunk-self trying to take advantage of him.

That’s not what he needs right now!

"Shame," Theo murmured, grabbing a shirt where it hung on a wooden chair and started following me outside, pulling it over his head. I force my gaze away from his flexing muscles.

"How do you feel?" I ask, a little pathetically and as though I am walking around shards of glass. Theo arches a brow as I gesture to the sofa and start pouring two glasses of wine on the coffee table. I expected him to wait, but Theo crouches before the fireplace and sets it alight in the meantime.

I don’t push him to answer me. If he wants to, he will.

Theo slumps back on the sofa with a loud sigh while I sit down with a little distance between us, careful not to get too close. Bringing the glass to my lips, I try not to observe him too much over the rim of my glass at his side profile. He hasn’t removed the golden choker Eryx gave him, and it is a reminder of one of the Prince’s small schemes and how much attention Theo got because of it—well, besides his good looks.

"You don’t have to do that," Theo says, reaching forward and grasping his glass of wine.

"Hmmm?" I lower my glass to my lap and stare back at him.

"Protect me..." He gestures at the space between us. "I don’t feel... I’ve had worse before. Not... Not all of them I disliked."

He looks away at my shocked expression and gulps down most of his wine. I place my glass on the table and grab the bottle, leaning towards Theo and refilling his glass before topping mine up and capturing his gaze. "Consent is consent. There is no in-between. I will not have you believe it is okay if you can’t say no."

Theo chuckles lightly, but it is dry and without humour. "I am a slave, Ida. I have no rights."

I frowned at his response and took a long swig of the wine, closing my eyes to the taste. "I’m sorry."

"For what? It is not your fault."

"I’m sorry these things have happened to you..." I didn’t want to think about what he had to endure. If Countess Willowby’s actions were to go by, Theo would probably have dealt with many similar situations before. I frown. He must have felt so alone. "Slavery should have been abolished years-"

"Should have..." Theo interrupts, leaning his head back, arm lounging along the back of the sofa, hand by my head. "It doesn’t change anything. And don’t put this on yourself, Ida. It is my unfortunate circumstances that led me down this path."

"I told you I would protect you," I whisper, then shake my head. He shouldn’t have to hear this. It isn’t about me. I turn my head to stare at him. "I will free you, Theo. I have promised you that, and I will not break that promise."

Theo’s fingers brush along the back of my neck. "I know," he voices quietly, his eyes soft. "You have never broken a promise to me or anyone."

I blink back in surprise at that. Have I not? Promises are sacred, though. My word proves my worth.

"Tonight..." I clear my throat, changing the subject a little. "What happened?"

"Er.... You kind of walked in on it, Ida..." He muses while those fingers create small patterns on the back of my neck. It had become a habit the past few days. I had been tense the first time he did it, but it feels so natural now, especially since we have started to sit up at night and talk about whatever is on our minds.

"Not that," I sigh heavily, rolling my eyes. At least I know Theo doesn’t seem to be affected by Countess Willowby, though my anger simmers beneath my skin at the idea of others taking advantage of Theo because of his station. "Tell me in truth what happened. Did you trap her tonight to help me?"

Theo tilts his head, those blue eyes wide and innocent. Until they’re not, and that mischievous smirk of his tilts the side of his lips. It makes my stomach flutter a little, and my breath catch. It was planned!