Chapter 25: Stayover
Moana

The night was finally over. By the time we all returned to the banquet hall, many of the guests had left. Ella, following her territorial outburst in the garden, seemed to have completely exhausted herself and now slept soundly on my shoulder as I carried her.

“Oh, tired little thing,” Verona said in a hushed tone as she came up to us.

“We should get going.” Edrick’s voice was cold and stern; I could tell that he wasn’t particularly happy with me, although I wasn’t sure if it was because I was spending time with Ethan earlier that night or because I got involved with the two wolf pups. I wasn’t particularly happy with him, either — not after what he supposedly said to Kelly about me.

Verona frowned. “Stay the night,” she said. “There’s no need to drag a tired little girl home when we have plenty of space here. You can leave tomorrow, after breakfast.”

Edrick glanced over at Ella, then back to his mother and nodded reluctantly.

Verona showed us to our rooms. Ella’s was situated next to mine in a lower level of the house, while Edrick’s room was directly upstairs. After I put Ella to bed, I returned to my room and wondered if Edrick still expected me to fulfill our sleeping arrangement even though we were in his parents’ home. As I was wondering this, as if on cue, I received a text message from Edrick asking when I would be coming upstairs.

I let out a deep sigh, wishing that it wouldn’t have to be my responsibility for us not to get caught, before changing into the silk pajama set and slippers that Verona had laid out for me, which was incredibly kind of her. As I felt the cold, smooth silk on my skin, I wished that I could keep the pajama set.

Cracking open my door, I poked my head out of my room to make sure that the coast was clear before sneaking out. I took extra care to walk quietly as I made my way toward the stairs.

“Looking for something?” a familiar voice said from behind me.

in the hallway. He had a thick book tucked under

to check on

as though he could tell that I wasn’t being truthful, but he didn’t say anything

“Goodnight.”

into Ella’s room for a few moments in case he was still watching,

shoes were placed neatly on the floor and he was working

you long

blankets back to get in, but just then, there was a knock on the door. My eyes widened; Edrick silently pointed toward the closet, indicating for me to hide. I quickly ran over to the closet and quietly closed

Edrick called

carrying a tray in her hand, and on it was a glass of milk and an orange bottle

thought I heard you talking to someone,” she said as she walked

his head. “Nope.

“Well, darling, these pills should help you sleep. Has

nodded. “Yes, actually. I hardly need

a small gasp. “Really?” she

thought of it made my heart

stunned, as the old woman’s gaze flickered over to where the blankets were pulled down on my side of the bed. Did she know I

toward the door and started to leave

lingered on the doorknob for a moment; I swore that her eyes met mine through the slats

mother’s gaze away from the

darling,” Verona replied before leaving the

moments passed before I came out, once I was certain that she wouldn’t poke her head back in. As the adrenaline left my body, Edrick calmly

taking me by surprise. “Those two boys

over to the bed and taking my slippers off. “I don’t know. I just had a sincere talk with them. I think they just need someone to play with them more to

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