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.

see none other than Ethan standing in the hallway. He had a thick book tucked under his arm and was in

going to check on

that I wasn’t being truthful, but he didn’t say anything about it. “Alright,”

“Goodnight.”

Ella’s room for a few moments in case he was still watching, and once I counted ten of her

the bed when I arrived. His shoes were placed neatly on the floor

long

in the house,” I replied as I walked over to the bed. I pulled the blankets back to get in, but just then, there was a knock on

Edrick called

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

as she walked over to the bedside table to

his head. “Nope. Just

reached out to help Edrick take off his tie. “Well, darling, these pills should help

pause before Edrick nodded. “Yes, actually. I hardly need the pills anymore

“Really?” she said. “Oh, that’s

expected Edrick to reveal our sleeping arrangement to his mother. The thought of it made my heart race, but thankfully, he didn’t. “I’m not sure,” he

you have that au pair to thank,” Verona said. I watched, 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 was here? I pictured her walking over to the closet and yanking the doors open, revealing

door and

sleeping better,” she called over her shoulder. Her hand lingered on the doorknob for a moment; I swore that her eyes met mine through the slats of the closet door as she glanced over, making me clap my hand over my mouth

Edrick said, breaking his mother’s gaze

Verona replied

that she wouldn’t poke her head back in. As the adrenaline left my body, Edrick calmly stood and moved the tray of milk and pills over to the dresser, then began to

suddenly, taking me by surprise. “Those two boys are known for being a

just had a sincere talk

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