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.”

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

the pile of clothes I was holding and gestured for Liam to sit. He hesitated, but

the chair and gestured for me to speak. “I’m

carefully considering my words. Of course I wanted to tell Liam everything; he was my best friend when we were kids, and although we hadn’t seen each other in over a decade, he still

him.

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settled

“Alexander and I… We have been sleeping in separate rooms for a while

blinked. “Is

unsure of what to say. Mistreating me? Alexander was

armchair across from Liam. From this angle, the sun haloed his golden hair. “It’s just… a complicated situation. It’s hard to love someone who you feel obligated

earlier outside the barn.

out loud made my chest hurt. Yes, we didn’t love each other. I hated to admit it, even to myself

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

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

would prefer no man instead. At least for a good, long while. But

I finally said, staring down at our

I wasn’t lying. Not really. It was an incredibly complex

he said after a moment. “If he’s cruel

I met my friend’s gaze

must be going

“I’m fine.”

Liam sighed softly. “Ella…”

let out a bitter laugh, because it was true. I was fucking exhausted. “It’s tiring, always bending over

don’t you leave him, then?” Liam

With Alexander’s election coming up, I couldn’t risk anything. If Liam knew the truth, he might get mad and

wanted, then maybe he

would go against our contract, but it wasn’t

not that simple,” I said. “With his election coming up, I don’t want to

using you to win

“It’s not like that…”

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