The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 16

Ella & Liam

Ella

I staggered under the weight of the pile of clothes in my arms, nearly stumbling over my own two feet as I carried it down the corridor. It was a long journey from the west wing to Alexander’s bedroom, but I had refused help from the servants, insisting on doing it myself.

Truthfully, I just didn’t want to admit that without my wolf, I was far weaker than I once was. My arms were already tired and my legs felt like they might give out just from two trips carrying clothes like this.

I was just rounding a corner, the pile of clothes blocking my line of sight, when I suddenly bumped into something. My feet stumbled on a trailing scarf, and before I knew it, the clothes were cascading around me as my arms windmilled out to the sides.

Someone caught me before I could hit the floor.

“You keep falling today, don’t you?”

I looked up to see Liam staring down at me. He gently set me upright, his hands lingering on my shoulders for a moment.

“Are you alright, Ella?” he asked, his eyes searching my face.

My cheeks reddened, but I quickly nodded and began gathering the clothes. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired, that’s all.”

Liam stooped and helped me gather the items. His face flushed as he held up a silky negligee, which I quickly snatched away and hid amongst the pile.

“What is all of this?” he asked. “I saw you carrying more clothes earlier. Are you moving rooms or something?”

I hesitated. How could I tell Liam that I was moving things from my real bedroom, which was a mere guest suite located in the west wing, to Alexander’s room-the room I hadn’t set foot in until a few days ago?

Finally, I managed, “I had some of my clothes stored in a room in the west wing. I’m sorting through stuff.”

Liam, however, looked entirely unconvinced. He stood, holding a bundle of clothes, and leveled me with that knowing gaze of his. “I think it’s time you tell me the truth, Ella.”

I bit my lip, suppressing a sigh. Damn him and his uncanny ability to see right through me. That camp his father had sent him to as a kid hadn’t erased that part of him, it seemed.

“Alright,” I finally sighed, glancing around. “But not here.”

and followed me into a nearby room. It was a small reading room on the second floor that overlooked the courtyard below. Buttery sunlight spilled across the soft furniture, illuminating dust motes that were lazily floating

down the pile of clothes I was holding and

the chair and

was my best friend when we were kids, and although we hadn’t seen each other in over a decade, he still meant so much to me. I

him.

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I settled on a

We have been sleeping in separate rooms for a while now. It’s only recently that

“Is

it again, unsure of what to say. Mistreating me? Alexander was certainly cold and

I perched on the edge of the armchair across from Liam. From this angle, the sun

outside the barn. “So you’re saying you don’t

didn’t love each other. I hated to admit it, even to myself

my father had been quietly taking far more money from Alexander than I thought he was. Far more. I had married a man who didn’t love me just so my father could siphon as much money as

must have been all the confirmation Liam needed, because he suddenly leaned forward and grasped my hands in his. His eyes never left mine as he said, “You need someone better, Ella. A man

as though I would prefer no man instead. At least

I finally said, staring down at our joined hands. “Politics are

lie. But this time, I wasn’t lying. Not really. It was an incredibly complex situation, one that sometimes felt like it had

said after a moment. “If he’s cruel

not hurting me.” I met my friend’s

Something must be going on that

“I’m fine.”

Liam sighed softly. “Ella…”

I let out a bitter laugh, because it was true. I was

leave him, then?” Liam

or the contracts or any of it. He wouldn’t understand, and besides… With Alexander’s election coming up, I couldn’t risk anything. If Liam knew the truth, he might get mad and refuse to give

what he wanted, then maybe he would pull out of the contract

Alexander would go against our contract, but it wasn’t a risk I was willing to

election coming up, I don’t want to cause

he’s using you to

“It’s not like that…”

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