THE KING'S POSSESSION

Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Longing of a King

Isabel turned her back on Lucian after delivering her scathing remarks, intending to leave him to his thoughts. But just as she took a step away, she heard him call her name, his voice softer than she had ever heard it before.

"Isabel... Forgive me... I know I have made a grave mistake... I am sorry for everything I have done to you," Lucian's words were barely more than a whisper, meant only for her ears.

The unexpected apology brought her to a halt. She slowly turned back to face him but with an expression of both of mockery and indifference. "Whatever do you mean? What things have you done to me? We never met before." Her voice was smooth, with a touch of cruelty as she smirked and turned away again, leaving Lucian standing there, stunned.

Never... met before? Lucian's mind reeled as he watched Isabel walk away, the weight of her words sinking in. He couldn't fathom why she would deny their past. Was she pretending? Was this some new game she was playing?

He felt a cold determination settle in his chest. "What are you trying to do now, Isabel?" he muttered to himself, eyes narrowing as he watched her retreating form.

But just as she was about to step out of earshot, Lucian lifted his chin and called out, "Our son is still alive."

The effect was immediate. Isabel flinched and gasped, her hand instinctively clutching at the fabric of her beautiful dress. She stopped in her tracks, the tension in her body evident. Slowly, she turned to face him, her eyes wide with shock and a flicker of hope were expressed.

Lucian's lips curved into a smile, one filled with satisfaction as he confirmed what he had suspected all along: Isabel was merely feigning ignorance of their past. "There was no body found," he continued, his voice calm but edged with a hint of triumph. "And that knight whom you trusted... he vanished as well. I have been searching for our boy ever since I discovered the truth. Isn't it a coincidence?" Lucian's gaze bore into hers, watching every emotion that crossed her face.

Isabel's expression shifted, her initial shock giving way to a storm of emotions she could not mask. Lucian knew he had touched the most sensitive topic he could ever bring up with her, and it was clear he had struck a nerve.

For a moment, the silence between them was thick with unspoken truths and buried pain. Lucian could see the trouble in Isabel's eyes, and it only fueled his resolve. He had shaken her composure, and that was enough for him.

Yet when Lucian expected a response—perhaps a plea, a question, or even a desperate conversation—Isabel surprised him. She stood still for a moment, her chest rising and falling as she took a deep breath. Then, without a word, she gulped down whatever emotions were threatening to spill over and turned sharply on her heel. With her heart pounding in her chest, she walked as fast as she could away from the man she despised with every fiber of her being.

How dare he suspect Tristan of being behind all of this?! she fumed inwardly, her thoughts racing as she made her way toward a nearby entrance to the palace halls. The sound of her heels clacking against the polished floor echoed through the corridor, each step fueled by both of anger and fear. She lightly lifted the skirt of her dress, her movements hurried and purposeful, as she tried to maintain her composure.

Her breath came in short gasps, her mind spinning with the revelation that her son might still be alive. The thought both thrilled and terrified her, threatening to break through the walls she had built around her heart. But there was no time to dwell on it—not here, not where Lucian could see the cracks in her façade.

She headed straight to the nearest vacant chamber, her pace quick and determined, as if trying to outrun the storm of emotions threatening to consume her. The door clicked shut behind her, sealing her away from the world outside. Once she got inside the room, darkness enveloped her, with only the soft glow of the moon filtering through the window. The gentle light cast a silver sheen across the floor, but it did nothing to ease the pain in her heart.

Her steps became slowed and the urgency drained from her movements as the reality of her situation began to settle in. She wrapped her arms around herself as a futile attempt to hold herself together as she moved closer to the window. The sight of the lonely moon hanging in the night sky brought tears to her eyes, each one a silent testament to the sorrow and fear she had buried deep within.

Isabel's sobs were mild, almost inaudible, but the burden of her grief was heavy. She tried to focus on the moon, its light a distant comfort, but the thoughts of her son, her innocent son, kept gnawing at her.

Then, she heard it—a faint creak as the door behind her opened. The sound cut through the silence, but she didn't turn around. She didn't need to see who it was, it didn't matter. She already know who it was.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Isabel remained frozen in place. The quietness in the room was suddenly broken as a pair of strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her back against a familiar, solid chest. The embrace was firm, almost possessive, as if the person behind her was afraid to let her go again.

She felt the warmth of his body seeping into her, his hold on her was tight and unyielding. A shiver ran down her spine when she sensed his nose brush against her neck, followed by the deep inhale as he took in her scent. The intimacy of the gesture, the way he seemed to savor the moment, made her gasp in surprise. Instinctively, she tilted her head back, her eyes fluttering closed as she felt his lips press softly against her bare shoulder.

"Isabel..." His voice was a hushed whisper, thick with longing. "I've missed you. I've missed you so much I'd kill to have you back..." The words were spoken with a raw, desperate edge that sent a tremor through her.

Isabel's breath hitched, her emotions warring within her. The warmth of his embrace, the way his lips traced her skin, stirred something deep inside her—memories of a past that was both cherished and cursed. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to lean into him, to feel the strength of his arms and the passion that had never truly faded between them. But just as quickly, the reality of their complicated history rushed back, reminding her of the pain and betrayal that had driven them apart.