Court Of Shadows and Lies

28. The Prince of Letters

I glanced at him once again, feeling a mix of amusement and intrigue. The boy makes commitments already. What are we? Lovers?

A scoff escaped my lips, and I smirked at the absurdity of it. How had I managed to pull a loyal ally so quickly? Perhaps my charm was more effective than I thought.

But there was a nagging thought at the back of my mind. I need to tell Duke Anton about this, even though he warned me against delving into the Serene bloodline. They are cursed, yet he doesn’t seem like one of them.

I tilted my head, studying him closely. “Do you know what you are?”

He looked up at me, brow furrowed. “Human? You said.”

I raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. “Yes. But... why do you possess such dangerous powers?”

His gaze dropped to his hands, the weight of my question hanging in the air. “Not this is the first time I ever used it... I didn’t know I had some sort of power.”

So he truly has no idea.

I chose to keep that knowledge to myself for now. “I guess you don’t know who you are, then,” I mused, a hint of intrigue creeping into my voice.

He shook his head slowly. “I don’t remember how I did it... I only remember burning the place and you on the floor. I took you. I ran away.”

The way he spoke made it sound so simple, yet the gravity of those actions was anything but.

"And you thought to save me?”

His eyes flickered with uncertainty, as if he were weighing his response carefully. “I couldn’t just leave you.”

I felt a strange warmth bloom in my chest, a feeling I was quick to dismiss. “You do realize that you risked everything to come after me, don’t you?”

Serene looked down, a hint of shame creeping into his expression. “I didn’t think... I just acted.”

“Impulsive,” I said, a smirk playing at my lips. “That’s a dangerous trait to have, you know.”

He didn’t reply, instead picking at his food, his brow still furrowed in thought. I could see he was wrestling with the implications of his actions.

“But I suppose it worked out for you in the end,” I added, trying to coax a smile from him. “You’ve ended up in a much better situation.”

His eyes darted back to mine, a flicker of defiance in his gaze. “Is this better?”

I paused, considering his question. “Well, that depends on how you see it. You’re free from that place, aren’t you? You have me.”

He leaned forward slightly, a glimmer of vulnerability in his expression. “But I still don’t know what that means.”

I studied him, the confusion and curiosity etched into his features. “It means you have a purpose now, Serene. You’re not a toy for nobles anymore. You’re with me.”

“Why me?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I shrugged, allowing a hint of mischief to dance in my eyes. “Maybe I see potential in you. Or maybe I just enjoy the thrill of danger.”

His expression turned serious, and for a moment, it felt as if the world outside our little bubble had vanished. “I won’t let you down,” he said, sincerity coloring his words.

How intriguing.

“Just remember, Serene,” I replied, leaning in slightly, “trust is a delicate thing. Don’t make me regret this.”