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Chapter 39

{Two months later}

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We were all gathered at the meeting room for the annual conference of the royalties.

All except from the Inks who were fashionably late.

Noel kept trying to have small talk with me but my nerves always went in the way so he eventually stopped.

We were prepared to be neutral and show no emotion.

We had practised good and I thought I was getting the hang of it until Canton and Elvina appeared from their portal.

His sudden presence made my stomach churn and my breath got caught on my throat.

He is almost three months older than how I left him.

Even from afar, I can distinguish the dark circles under his eyes and how his figure looks worn out.

He must not be getting a lot of sleep lately.

The more he got closer, the more the exhaustion was greatly portrayed on his features. The paleness of his skin betrayed the feelings behind his always blank expression.

I frowned at his appearance.

"I know I should apologize but it wouldn't be honest from my part" Canton said and refused to glance my way.

The coldness that he greeted us with is forcing me to reminisce my first day in Ink Blood, when the icy tone of his voice would freeze a whole kingdom dead.

When we were total strangers.

The distance between us makes it incredibly hard to reach him.

I force myself to stay in my position, next to Noel and behind Quinn and not run to his arms.

But my body is urging me to go.
I can feel the adrenaline rush to my bones.
How my heart beats slightly faster now that he is in the same room as me and how my feet tremble at the fact that I'm not moving.

I need to feel the warmth of his arms wrapped around my waist.

I need to feel safe again.

I need to feel like I belong.

But I know that I can't.

And he still won't acknowledge me.

His eyes won't dart to me, not even once.
Not even by accident.

"King Canton, Elvina. We appreciate the attempt of an apology. Welcome" Elian decided to be the first one to break the ice as he obtains the only link between the other two dimensions.

Canton and Elvina dismissed him and sat down on the two vacant chairs that were  intented for them.

Quinn and Cress both rolled their eyes at the same time while Elian kept sporting a grin on his face, possibly glad to see his favourite king again.

Pictures of them getting..personal.. before my own eyes flooded my mind but I refused to get jealous.
Not the time or place.
So I just decided to ignore them for now.

Flare and a Moccassin guy I do not recognise were standing behind Elian, guarding him closely.

I wonder where Santos is.
I begun inspecting the floor for his shadow but he was nowhere to be found, thus I directed my gaze back at Canton who cleared his throat.

We all waited for him to talk but no words were coming out of his mouth.

He glanced a bit upwards and raised a questioning eyebrow. "What? Stop looking at me, I will not hesitate to use my knife" he threatened.